Posted on 03/07/2025 5:33:04 PM PST by Cronos
U.S. President Donald Trump complained Thursday that his country's bilateral security arrangement with Japan, signed in 1960, was one-sided. In response, Japan pointed out the cooperative nature of the agreement. “I love Japan. We have a great relationship with Japan. But we have an interesting deal with Japan where we have to protect them but they don't have to protect us,” Trump told reporters.
“That's the way the deal reads. We have to protect Japan. Under no circumstances do they have to protect us,” the president said, adding that Japan was making a fortune off the U.S. economically.
The Japanese government, however, replied that the original security treaty does allow for a joint response for protecting Japan and that subsequent legislation, in 2015, greatly expanded the scope of mutual protection under certain circumstances.
“Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates that Japan and the U.S. will respond jointly to armed attacks on Japan. Article 6 allows the U.S. to use Japanese facilities to contribute to Japan's security and to maintain international peace and security in the Far East,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday morning in response to Trump's comments.
“In addition, the (2015) Peace and Security Legislation enables Japan and the U.S. to help each other seamlessly in all situations to protect Japan,” Hayashi added.
(Excerpt) Read more at japantimes.co.jp ...
This is the way to do it.
It allows for the joint operations, it doe snot require it. The truth still stands the security goes one way, only the USA is required to defend Japan, Japan can chose not to defend the USA.
But yes Japan is showing good diplomacy here.
Leaves out the critical matter of geography of East Asia.
Japan and the allies cover the “frontage” of China. Which blocks at least in part China’s access to the US. Also the allies are there as missile sponges.
I don’t see where Trump’s statement is in error.
Everything mentioned in the article is in reference to defending Japan. i.e. Japan attacked - US helps.
Nothing talks about Japan helping us to defend the US. i.e. US attacked - Japan not obliged to help.
Something lost in translation methinks. I didn’t realize Astoria-English was such an obscure dialect.
I’m in Tokyo now. Japan for first time.
Wow, everything and way more than I hoped for!
Incredible cultural experience.
Does Japan have any cards to play?
China can’t attack the US forces conventionally without eliminating both US and Japanese assets in Japan. Japan will be a missile sponge. Japan can’t avoid “defending” the US.
It can of course shoot off ICBM’s that ABMs in Japan have only a small chance of stopping. But that was always the case.
Good question.
Take a trip to Kyoto if you can
A significant Navy that can supplement US fleets. It can defend US bases in Japan with interceptors and missiles and ASW assets. It has deployable assets to use elsewhere in East Asia for similar reasons. Its a place from which to launch US or its own missiles. It can provide ASW coverage in its own waters, to Korea and Taiwan (I think) if the US needs to run a convoy.
Its got 24 nice submarines for ASW or for attack of Chinese surface vessels. 8 Aegis DDG’s to bulk up US task forces. @30 other DD’s and Frigates for convoy escort.
Hopefully you’re not into sushi! I was so spoiled by what was available in the US and disappointed in Japan.
I thought it was funny, too, that you could point to a picture, but no matter how you said, “Kirin”, it could not be understood.
Japan’s culture is very interesting. Everyone is super polite, but it’s a bit of a facade. Of course we all engage in public politeness, but for them it’s an art and cultural duty.
I was in Japan for the first time in 2018, wonderful people and culture.
Kirin is a Japanese beer.
Yes. You would think the waitress would know that one. ;-)
“Japan’s culture is very interesting. Everyone is super polite, but it’s a bit of a facade. Of course we all engage in public politeness, but for them it’s an art and cultural duty.”
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We could learn a lot from their culture.
“Japan’s culture is very interesting. Everyone is super polite, but it’s a bit of a facade. Of course we all engage in public politeness, but for them it’s an art and cultural duty.”
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We could learn a lot from their culture.
I agree but it has a dark side.
Trump is correct...
Read the verbiage... More like typical State Dept. balderdash/weasel-words...
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