Japan Lets Its New Defense Budget Do The Talking Over Island Dispute

TBI ^ | 2-2-2013 | Robert Johnson

[blam]

Japan Lets Its New Defense Budget Do The Talking Over Island Dispute

Robert Johnson
February 2, 2013, 5:11 AM

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) escort ship "Kurama" leads other vessels during a fleet review in water off Sagami Bay, south of Tokyo

Japan's prime minister announced his country will vigorously defend itself against all Chinese threats following a series of confrontations over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu island chain.

Purchased by Japan, the islands' ownership is hotly contested by China, which for several months has sent ships, reconnaissance planes, and fighter jets to the area to face off against Japanese forces. It has become a tense and somewhat dangerous game, with no end in sight.

In response, Japan has increased its defense budget for the first time in 11 years with a focus on Coast Guard expansion and increased surveillance abilities.

The boost in spending is important and symbolic, though not terribly dramatic, rising only .08 percent over last year. It does, however, announce Tokyo's intent to China and any other country laying claim to the disputed island chain.

Increased military power is one of many changes to be ushered in by new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made these most recent remarks during a speech to Japan's Self-Defence Force's in the country's south.

From The Straits Times:

"The security environment surrounding our country is increasingly becoming more severe as we face provocation to our territorial rights," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

"I will take the lead to stand up against the present danger and protect the people's lives and asset, as well as our land, the seas and the air at all costs."

(snip)

[Williams]

.o8 percent is not “at all costs”.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Purchased by Japan, the islands’ ownership is hotly contested by China,”

Purchased from what country?

[Citizen Tom Paine]

The second ship in line is displaying tho rising sun flag.

[Psalm 73]

Helicopter carrier? Their build or foreign purchase?

[BenLurkin]

[rbmillerjr]

Wiki: "The Japanese central government formally annexed the islands on 14 January 1895, naming them Senkaku, or “Pinnacled Pavilions.”[22] Around 1900, Japanese entrepreneur Koga Tatsushirō (古賀 辰四郎?) constructed a bonito processing plant on the islands with 200 workers. The business failed in 1940 and the islands have remained deserted ever since.[21] In the 1970s, Koga Tatsushirō's son Zenji Koga and Zenji's wife Hanako sold four islets to the Kurihara family of Saitama Prefecture. Kunioki Kurihara[23] owned Uotsuri, Kita-Kojima, and Minami-Kojima. Kunioki's sister owns Kuba.[24] The islands came under US government occupation in 1945 after the surrender of Japan ended World War II.[21] In 1969, the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) identified potential oil and gas reserves in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands.[25] In 1971, the Okinawa Reversion Treaty passed the U.S. Senate, returning the islands to Japanese control in 1972.[26] Also in 1972, the Taiwanese and Chinese governments officially began to declare ownership of the islands.[27] Since the islands reverted to Japanese government control in 1972, the mayor of Ishigaki has been given civic authority over the territory. The Japanese central government, however, has prohibited Ishigaki from surveying or developing the islands.[21][28] In 1979 an official delegation from the Japanese government composed of 50 academics, government officials from the Foreign and Transport ministries, officials from the now-defunct Okinawa Development Agency, and Hiroyuki Kurihara, visited the islands and camped on Uotsuri for about four weeks. The delegation surveyed the local ecosystem, finding moles and sheep, studied the local marine life, and examined whether the islands would support human habitation.[24]

[staytrue]

All the ships in the photo have the look and feel of a certain “sameness” about them. My guess is domestic design and build.

[Army Air Corps]

Of course they are flying that flag; it IS the Japanese naval ensign.

[varyouga]

Taiwan. It's not an irrational action from China's point of view.

They see Taiwan as a breakaway rogue state selling Chinese land to a long-time rival, Japan.

This could get ugly...

[Truth29]

"Purchased from what country?"

From a link in the article: The dispute between Asia’s two largest economies reignited after the Japanese government bought three of the islands from a private owner in September. The move set off riots in China, damaging the $340 billion bilateral trade relationship.

[Leaning Right]

It's not an irrational action from China's point of view.

Good point. I wonder how the US would feel if Russia formally annexed a few small ininhabited islands off the coast of Oregon.

[DUMBGRUNT]

More technology is required to produce new Toyotas then a nuclear bomb.

[BerryDingle]

Two things you never mess with is Texas and Japan.

[BerryDingle]

You mean they're flying the meatball?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Taiwan did not exist as a nation in 1895. Please try again.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Thanks! Normally I would have done a search, but I’ve been trying to catch up on all the other topics.

[Viennacon]

In 1972, the islands were placed under Japanese authority under the Okinawa Reversion Treaty. The islands belong to Japan. China is just trying to distract its population from economic instability and the growing wealth gap. They’ll be claiming that the Philippines is part of their sovereign territory in a few years.

I would agree that this could get ugly, and likely will. Some trigger-happy pilot will shoot at something, and then in no time at all, missiles will fly.

[Oztrich Boy]

It’s been the ensign of the Maritime Self-Defense Force since 1954.

[blam]

"Helicopter carrier? Their build or foreign purchase?"

I don't know. I wonder if it can handle the Harrier jet?