‘Japan and the U.S.: It’s Time to Rethink Your Relationship’

[Valin]

The Marmot’s Hole:

Robert Koehler

September 28, 2012

 

In The Atlantic, Kyle Mizokami—who blogs at Japan Security Watch-–argues very persuasively that the US—Japanese security relationship needs to be brought into the 21st century.

 

(Snip)

 

The only thing I’d add is that it would probably be a lot easier to renovate the US—Japan security relationship if Japan had some regional security partners with whom to work. South Korea would seem the most obvious potential partner, and once upon a time, it seemed this partnership would materialize. Given the way China is behaving, it still might, despite the best efforts of politicians in both Seoul and Tokyo to ensure it doesn’t.

 

The fact remains, though, that the way things are now, any attempt to revise the US—Japan security relationship in a way that boosts Japan’s military role in the region will be viewed quite negatively by just about everyone in Northeast Asia—save for possibly Taiwan—and this will hurt US relationships in the region. Mizokami writes that “A new U.S.-Japan security agreement would demonstrate to Asia that the United States understands the fundamental rules have changed and that America is renewing its commitment to the region,” but unless this agreement is accompanied by efforts to improve ties between Japan and its neighbors (particularly other US allies), the region will view a new US—Japan security agreement not as a renewed US commitment, but rather as a threat and source of instability. And as the region’s former colonizer and potentially the dominant military player (save for China), Japan shoulders most of the burden of soothing the animosity and concern.

[Casino67]

I read somewhere that the China incursion of the rocks/islands have given Japan reason to rethink their lack of any real defense.

 

And, I think Japan's behavior during WWII, is still in the memory banks of China, Korea and Philippines. Japan was very brutal.