I’d say it’s time for the Japanese to start defending their own territories. We can offer political support, but they’ve got to stand on their own now or they never will.
Disagree. People with long memories have no desire to see Japan rearm the way she did in the 20's and 30's. Or acquire nuclear weapons, which would probably be guaranteed if the Japanese decided to go the rearmament route.
The current arrangement is a lot more comfortable for a lot of people and simplifies our diplomatic relations in Asia.
The ones who need to stand up are the Flips -- they're too preoccupied with fighting the Abu Sayyaf as if they had nothing bigger to worry about, such as resisting Chinese annexation of a big chunk of the Pacific.