Posted on 05/06/2016 5:33:33 PM PDT by Mariner
Japan's ambassador to the United States weighed in on the U.S. presidential election debate on Friday by arguing against the "America first" stance of Republican candidate Donald Trump and stressing the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Without mentioning Trump by name, the envoy, Kenichiro Sasae, told a Washington forum Japan had come up unexpectedly in the election debate, showing that nothing could be taken for granted in terms of the long-standing alliance.
"In the presidential elections, there are arguments whether the United States is going for the isolationist stance," Sasae said. "I don't want to see that kind of United States.
"I want to see the United States to be strong and come with a strong robust position, not really thinking of the United States only," he said.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the Nov. 8 presidential election, has portrayed Japan, a long-time treaty ally of the United States, as a free-rider on security. He has suggested Tokyo might need nuclear weapons to ease U.S. financial commitment to its defense, anathema to the only country ever attacked by atomic bombs.
Japan's Minister for Regional Revitalization, Shigeru Ishiba, said comments by one candidate, who he said he would not name, were causing "a lot of concern in Japan."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
With all the associated accoutrements.
Doesn't look to me like they need us for anything except as a market.
Yep. I bet he did. What chumps we’ve been.
David Brunnstrom, this is the guy that is trying to start a war with Japan....we are fine with Japan and Trump has no problem with Japan, just like he doesn’t have a problem with China, the problem Trump has is with the idiots that make these trade deals, and the problem I have is with this idiot and those like him that are writing articles like this and the people that post them trying to start a ‘flame war’ where there isn’t one...
(I said in one breath!!!)
We still have Enola Gay laying around. In great shape too.
Wow, that quote nails it.
Japan’s debt to gdp is about 230% and has been over 100% (considered the tipping point for a currency) for nearly 20 years.
They need the US and it’s trade deficit. They’re in too weak a position to go anywhere near a trade war with the US. Tariffs would kill them.
There’s a new sheriff in town.....
I suspect all foreign nations are unhappy with the “America First” theme of the campaign. They have been getting a free ride for many years. How many have ever said thank you America. Has Europe ever acknowledged that Americans rebuilt Europe after WWII at the expense of ruining many American industries?
This isn’t isolationism - it is self preservation!!
![](http://s32.postimg.org/kfo2gjvnp/screen_shot_2013_07_16_at_11_59_40_am_png_w_444.png")
You believe I am trying to start a flame war?
I couldn’t get past a Japanese criticizing anyone else for putting their country first. The Japanese are the greatest xenophobes on Earth. Even worse than the Germans.
No not you, your one of the good ones, but you know who I mean...
” Japan’s Minister for Regional Revitalization, Shigeru Ishiba, said comments by one candidate, who he said he would not name, were causing “a lot of concern in Japan.”
I know, Shiberu, we’re concerned about red colonel Bernie Sanders too.
The world has been playing us for suckers aided by corrupt US “public servants.”
They have been sucking our jobs and wealth. Both are massively depleted.
Japan????
You mean the Isolationist country that had to be forced by Admiral Perry to trade with other nations
You mean the island that raped Nanking, attacked Pearl Harbor, and beheaded POW’s because they considered them an inferior race?
Japan, of the Bataan Death March?
Japan, who, to this day will not apologize for the widespread enslavement and abuse of the Chinese and Korean “Comfort Women”?
Japan, who will not accept ANY immigrants?
That Japan?
Not trying to be spiteful or anything...just askin’.
Isn’t Caroline Kennedy over there in the capacity of an Ambassador? Something tells me she has something to do with Japan sticking their nose in our election this way.
Of all nations who should be elated that obama is on his way out, near the top of the list is Japan. China is a rising power in the region, and a strong and free America would surely benefit Japan.
Plus, it is out of character for them to interfere this way.
...This isn’t isolationism - it is self preservation!...
Its “Pull your own weight.” The post WWII
free ride is over. Japan is capable of that.
Sure, we should allow Japan and Europe and all other counties to determine who should be President of the US, and we most certainly should not elect someone who actually want to put America first. (/sarc)
I hope the voters are paying attention and are figuring it out.
It’s about time we have a president who puts America’s interests first.
The Yaps can swipe at Trump all day long, but they're not swiping at Trump, they are swiping at a pissed off American people.
Swipe away Japan....some day soon the ol Chi-coms will come a knockin. Want a hand? Pipe down.
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