Posted on Jul 17, 2015
Japan Moves to Allow Military Combat for First Time in 70 Years - Is this good for the US?
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Is Japan's historic military budget and new war powers good for the United States?
In January 2015, Japan’s cabinet has approved a 4.98 trillion yen (approximately $42 billion) defense budget, the largest absolute sum allocated for defense in the country’s history.
Today (July 17), defying broad public opposition and large demonstrations, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a crucial vote in Parliament on Thursday for legislation that would give Japan’s military limited powers to fight in foreign conflicts for the first time since World War II.
Mr. Abe’s party and its allies in the lower house of Parliament approved the package of 11 security-related bills after opposition lawmakers walked out in protest and as demonstrators chanted noisily outside, despite a gathering typhoon. The upper chamber, which Mr. Abe’s coalition also controls, is all but certain to endorse the legislation as well.
The vote was the culmination of months of contentious debate in a society that has long embraced pacifism to atone for wartime aggression. It was a significant victory for Mr. Abe, a conservative politician who has devoted his career to moving Japan beyond guilt over its militarist past and toward his vision of a “normal country” with a larger role in global affairs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/world/asia/japans-lower-house-passes-bills-giving-military-freer-hand-to-fight.html?_r=0
In January 2015, Japan’s cabinet has approved a 4.98 trillion yen (approximately $42 billion) defense budget, the largest absolute sum allocated for defense in the country’s history.
Today (July 17), defying broad public opposition and large demonstrations, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a crucial vote in Parliament on Thursday for legislation that would give Japan’s military limited powers to fight in foreign conflicts for the first time since World War II.
Mr. Abe’s party and its allies in the lower house of Parliament approved the package of 11 security-related bills after opposition lawmakers walked out in protest and as demonstrators chanted noisily outside, despite a gathering typhoon. The upper chamber, which Mr. Abe’s coalition also controls, is all but certain to endorse the legislation as well.
The vote was the culmination of months of contentious debate in a society that has long embraced pacifism to atone for wartime aggression. It was a significant victory for Mr. Abe, a conservative politician who has devoted his career to moving Japan beyond guilt over its militarist past and toward his vision of a “normal country” with a larger role in global affairs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/world/asia/japans-lower-house-passes-bills-giving-military-freer-hand-to-fight.html?_r=0
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Japan Military Budget
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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There was a time when we essentially provided for Japan's defense. Now I think the reality is setting in that China is a growing threat and we are an undependable Ally. After all, look how we've thrown Israel under the bus.
If there's one thing you should know about the Eastern mindset, it's that Easterners have long memories and they don't forget an offense. The Chinese well remember what Japan did during WWII and karma's a bitch. It's only logical that the Japanese would sense growing hostility from China (as the Chinese move to enforce their claims on the Spratley Islands), and conclude that they need to take more interest in their own defense.
So long as the Japanese aren't renewing their interest to go back on the offensive, we have nothing to worry about.
If there's one thing you should know about the Eastern mindset, it's that Easterners have long memories and they don't forget an offense. The Chinese well remember what Japan did during WWII and karma's a bitch. It's only logical that the Japanese would sense growing hostility from China (as the Chinese move to enforce their claims on the Spratley Islands), and conclude that they need to take more interest in their own defense.
So long as the Japanese aren't renewing their interest to go back on the offensive, we have nothing to worry about.
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SGM Matthew Quick
Those were hard sells and we lost a lot of American blood to gain them as allies...will it take those historic extremes again?
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SGM Matthew Quick I lost an uncle to WWII in the South Pacific. We are very close allies now with Japan and like all things we need to move forward and past those days. I agree a lot was lost! I really don't know what the future holds, none of us do really when it comes to thes type of decisions!
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CSM Charles Hayden
COL Mikel Burroughs, Russia already has more TIG as an ally and recipent of Lend-Lease than Germany, Italy and Japan.
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SGM Matthew Quick
Yes, but the price was nearly half a million servicemembers...will it take those historic extremes again?
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