Japan begins major naval exercise with U.S.

Associated Press ^ | 11-07-03

[Brian S]

Japan's navy began a major annual training exercise on Friday, including joint maneuvers with the U.S. Navy, mobilizing as many as 25,000 personnel, 80 ships and 170 aircraft around Japanese shores.

During the 10-day maneuvers -- the largest this year -- the Maritime Self-Defense Force also will be joined by the Navy's Seventh Fleet to simulate anti-submarine, air defense and anti-ship warfare, according to Japan's Defense Agency.

[Semper Paratus]

I know, I know, this execercise was "routine", "it had been scheduled for over a year", sure, OK.

[Cronos]

Strange how the world changes, eh? 60 years ago they were the main enemy, now they're one of our staunchest allies.

60 years ago we bombed then and occupied them (Dem's take a look at those good results and then talk about IRQ), now they're folks who step up to the plate to help us out.

[NicknamedBob]

"...Japan begins major naval exercise with U.S."

Are they starting up with us again?< /josh >

"...but the deployment has been on hold amid concerns about mounting casualties there..."

That used to not be a problem.

[ex-Texan]

Translate this as: "Japan sends a message to North Korea."

Personally, I think we should just nuke N.K. ASAP and stop the crazy diplomatic dance. Sooner the better. You cannot negotiate with a corrupt commy regime that sells missiles and WMD's to the highest bidder. I am way past feeling sorry for N.K. and do not care if they starve in their isolated hell or rot from radiation poisoning. F'em!

Feel free to flame away.

[vanmorrison]

I am always pleased when I read news like this. I studied the Japanese language and Japanese history in college and have been a life-long afficionado of things Japanese. In my opinion, US foreign policy has been repeatedly foolish through the years for having preferred establishing relationships with the Chinese over the Japanese. The Japanese have been the most dynamic Asian country since the nineteenth century, not the Chinese. Even today, the Japanese economy is the second largest in the world in terms of GDP (about half of the US); larger than the GDPs of France and Germany combined. The GDPs of the US and Japan together constitute about 40% of the productive output of the entire world. I believe that the Japanese will become the most reliable and valuable non-Anglo ally the US will have in this century. Look for great things to happen when Japan finally re-establishes itself as a military power.

The fact that is not often acknowledged by the leftist media is that the "coalition of the willing" includes Japan, Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, and many others. This newly-formed circle of power is an unbeatable combination. I believe this is what lies at the bottom of the America-hatred of the French, Germans, Russians, Chinese, and other second-rate countries who have lost their influence.

As an American, I have decided to support those countries that support the US in this war with my business. I, in turn, will reject doing business with those countries that have been false friends, such as France, Germany, Russia, China, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, and similar others. I am now in the habit of "looking at the label" before I buy anything. I encourage other Americans to do the same.

Finally, I would like to reference earlier postings about the perfidy of the Canadians. I will no longer buy anything that I know was made in Canada. The "coalition of the willing" is large,indeed. With other sources available for everything that previously came from Canada, I now refuse to spend any more of my income on Canadian goods. Forget Canada and the Canadians! Let them sell to the French!

[Pragmatist]

Dear Sir,

I absolutely agree with your assessment of Japan. In reality, Japan has been our most consistent ally since the end of WWII. Further, Japan and the US had good relations from 1854 to 1924. Our problems with them from 1924 to 1945 arose largely from Californians demanding a stop to Japanese emigration to this country (offending the Japanese), and Franklin Roosevelt's meddling in the war between Japan and China (none of our business). In my opinion, Japan had far more reason to bomb Pearl Harbor than the South did to fire on Ft. Sumter. The Japanese middle class has always been friendly to the US, and Herbert Hoover noted this fact in a letter to Truman in May of 1945.

Add South Korea to your list of fair-weather friends. Koizumi, in his visit to S. Korea a few months ago inform the South Koreans that "a good relationship with the United States has, is, and will continue to be of the utmost importance to Japan, and Korea should feel the same way."

You are right to mention the relative size of the Japanese economy, and it's significant value to us.

There is significant opposition to militarization in Japan, as you know. Further, even the craziest of the few crazy militarists remaining in Japan do not advocate rekindling their former colonial policy.

It seems to me that we would be better served by a free trade agreement with Japan than we are with NAFTA.

Pragmatist

[bonesmccoy]

from 1939-1941, FDR manufactured the fight with Japan to instigate US entry to the war in Europe.

[bonesmccoy]

flame away...

ok... i'll bite...

you're a misinformed person if you think use of a WMD like an atomic bomb is appropriate foreign policy.

[bonesmccoy]

Wow!

I heartily agree with your sentiments... Frankly, there are more significant US military bases around Japan than there are in California.

If Puerto Rico is a 51st state and Guam is a 52nd state... Japan is the 53rd.

[GATOR NAVY]

Despite your doubts, it is routine. I've participated in many exercises with the JMSDF. All of the service branches operate with their Japanese counterparts on a regular basis. And from what I've seen, I'm glad they're on our side.

[wtc911]

Godzilla sweats.

[Billthedrill]

A ditto to what GATOR_NAVY just posted. Among other duties I had the honor of grading these exercises annually for seven years. The JMSDF is a very impressive group, chronically underfunded and not given the credit they've earned from the people they've protected...but that may be starting to change. I hope so. Good people.

[Semper Paratus]

Considering the threats NK has made to Nippon they will be kicking up their vigilance a few nothces.

[vanmorrison]

I wonder how much opposition there really is among the Japanese people to the idea of Japan re-arming itself, considering that the Chinese, Russians, and now North Koreans have gone mad during the last century. When you take into account the militancy of Tsarist and Soviet Russia and the chaos of Nationalist and Communist China, it is easier to accept the Japanese rationale for the Russo-Japanese War, the Sino-Japanese War, and World War II. Those conflicts weren't solely due to Japanese Empire aggression. There were defensive issues involved as well. Today, with China and North Korea developing new threats, I expect that the pacifists in Japan will be overruled. There have already been Chinese and North Korean air and naval incursions deep into Japanese territory. Given this, I'm somewhat surprised that Japan hasn't re-armed already.