Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
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Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#2This, incidentally, was partly a "gift" from Obama to Abe in order to get him on board with the TPP:
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/05/obama-bribes-abe-supp...
It just goes to show just how desperate Obama is to get the TPP signed and the depths to which he'll sink. First tacit approval of slavery in Malaysia and now state department approval of Japanese re-militarization.
All for a trade agreement that grants corporations the ability to sue nation states in secret courts for instituting laws that impede their ability to profit.
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#3This is a good move and will help the US and its allies balance China.
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#4This, incidentally, was partly a "gift" from Obama to Abe in order to get him on board with the TPP: http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/05/obama-bribes-abe-supp... It just goes to show just how desperate Obama is to get the TPP signed and the depths to which he'll sink. First tacit approval of slavery in Malaysia and now state department approval of Japanese re-militarization. All for a trade agreement that grants c…
Amazing what Obama is willing to give up in order to secure 'his' legacy issues. 60 years of post war Asian defense strategy thrown out the window. I don't see this ending well. Japan a has a deep militaristic underbelly and most japanese hate their regional neighbors (South Korea, China). They are our allies but this increases instability in Asia enormously and could lead to a regional arms race between China and Japan and greatly increases the risk of a military conflict in Asia in the next 30 years.
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#5This is a good move and will help the US and its allies balance China.
It could also very easily spin out of control and increase instability in Asia.
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#6This, incidentally, was partly a "gift" from Obama to Abe in order to get him on board with the TPP: http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/05/obama-bribes-abe-supp... It just goes to show just how desperate Obama is to get the TPP signed and the depths to which he'll sink. First tacit approval of slavery in Malaysia and now state department approval of Japanese re-militarization. All for a trade agreement that grants c…
That analysis is pathetically bad. I'm no fan of the TPP, but one shouldn't view every single thing that happens through that lens.
There's a number of things going on here:
1) The South China sea dispute is getting more and more dangerous. Japan wants flexibility in making alliances to counterbalance China in that area.
2) This give Japan the ability to deploy troops (or more likely aircraft) to the Middle East in support of US operations there. That likely to happen in return for more active US support in the South China Sea.
3) There is always the North Korean factor. That really defies any sensible analysis, but one can imagine circumstances where Japan would like to use military forces against NK.
It's true that the TPP is seen in the Asia-Pacific as an anti-China move, but it seems a comparatively minor part in this particular change in Japan's military stance.
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#7This is a good move and will help the US and its allies balance China.
Balance?...
The single most powerful nation needs to balance what?
How about balance itself...
Learn to respect others...
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#8>The opposition’s obstructionist tactics delayed Mr. Abe’s victory until after 2 a.m., but could not prevent it.
Apparently the manner in which the vote was made was "trick play" like, quickly executed without warning, and caught opposition party members by surprise. I wasn't aware that such tactics were available.
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#9[deleted]
Re: Japan’s Parliament Approves Overseas Combat Role for Military
#10This, incidentally, was partly a "gift" from Obama to Abe in order to get him on board with the TPP: http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/05/obama-bribes-abe-supp... It just goes to show just how desperate Obama is to get the TPP signed and the depths to which he'll sink. First tacit approval of slavery in Malaysia and now state department approval of Japanese re-militarization. All for a trade agreement that grants c…
That analysis is pathetically bad. I'm no fan of the TPP, but one shouldn't view every single thing that happens through that lens. There's a number of things going on here: 1) The South China sea dispute is getting more and more dangerous. Japan wants flexibility in making alliances to counterbalance China in that area. 2) This give Japan the ability to deploy troops (or more likely aircraft) to the Middle East in s…
>one shouldn't view every single thing that happens through that lens.
It doesn't.
Abe went from being very cool on the TPP to coming out in favor (at least in public) almost overnight an the only thing that changed in that period in US-Japan relations was the US state department giving Japan approval to re-militarize. There were virtually no changes to the deal.
Ironically the deal might still fail (which Abe probably wouldn't mind since the TPP is not good for Japan), meaning that this negotiating chip was given away by Obama for free.
>it seems a comparatively minor part in this particular change in Japan's military stance.
You are confusing the reasons why Abe wanted to remilitarize (another topic entirely) with the reasons why Obama had the US state department give him the green light.