Looks like the Japanese may be on the verge of changing Article 9.
QuoteJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seems poised for a big win in elections this weekend as his ruling party is closer to a controversial goal: rewriting its American-based constitution to allow for an active military force.
There is some support for the change, but it's not overwhelming. Even so, Prime Minister Abe is making it a big point in his reelection campaign and he looks like he'll win reelection.
QuoteOne constant discussion in Japan has been changes to Article 9, which limits the country's military to a self-defense force. In recent years, the interpretation of Article 9 has been stretched to allow Japan to expand its forces. But its military can't take part in collective actions with U.S. forces, which is a growing issue as Japan and China boost their military spending.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-edging-closer-constitutional-changes-weekend-elections-100210192.html
I for one welcome our new Lexus LFA overlords.
China will not be happy with this, so it must be a good thing.
Wouldn't it be easier for the US to annex Japan. Think of the two combined.
Will their forces no longer be called 'self defense forces' and go back to being called an army and navy?
Quote from: Gusington on July 19, 2013, 06:47:11 PM
Will their forces no longer be called 'self defense forces' and go back to being called an army and navy?
Please. Anything other than People's Liberation Army Navy.
Even IJN might work.
Anything with the old 'I' may cause a few issues, eh?
Quote from: Gusington on July 19, 2013, 07:53:04 PM
Anything with the old 'I' may cause a few issues, eh?
May be.
I can haz a Starblazers!?
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on July 19, 2013, 08:38:38 PM
I can haz a Starblazers!?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_X)
How about a Super X?
no.
Ive been saying for years that these people are going to get pissed off and unleash giant robots across the globe.
Hope someone eventually figures out Robotech Veritech fighters
Quote from: OJsDad on July 19, 2013, 06:11:11 PM
China will not be happy with this, so it must be a good thing.
Truer words were never spoken.
If we really look closely at the situation yes it's fun to taunt the Chinese but as Americans can we really ever trust a militarized Japan?
Quote from: Gusington on July 20, 2013, 08:54:18 AM
If we really look closely at the situation yes it's fun to taunt the Chinese but as Americans can we really ever trust a militarized Japan?
I think so. They're much more like us than the Chinese.
Sometimes weird, but it's in both our interests to work together rather than against each other. Too bad the Chinese can't figure that out.
https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php?id=150027208532999&eid=ASu6nOnsLrYYf1-XZT5DeL0CWm5MmLUnBVYZOcIuiVHJdeYLdSqtgvUuq4bz5saMils&inline=1&ext=1374332355&hash=ASt0LwePwZaNEK6W
http://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2013/05/13/china-and-india-aircraft-carrier-plans-advance/
Articles on the development of British aircraft carriers today, and how India is trying to enlarge their carrier force in facing the Chinese.
Now, here's a thought. Suppose we took one of our recently decommissioned carriers, say Kitty Hawk, and sold it to the Japanese? Wouldn't the Chinese just crap their pants?
Quote from: Gusington on July 20, 2013, 08:54:18 AM
If we really look closely at the situation yes it's fun to taunt the Chinese but as Americans can we really ever trust a militarized Japan?
I think we can trust them to act in their best interests, which pretty much automatically means opposing the Chinese and trying to limit their influence.
Quote from: besilarius on July 20, 2013, 10:02:33 AM
https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php?id=150027208532999&eid=ASu6nOnsLrYYf1-XZT5DeL0CWm5MmLUnBVYZOcIuiVHJdeYLdSqtgvUuq4bz5saMils&inline=1&ext=1374332355&hash=ASt0LwePwZaNEK6W
http://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2013/05/13/china-and-india-aircraft-carrier-plans-advance/
Articles on the development of British aircraft carriers today, and how India is trying to enlarge their carrier force in facing the Chinese.
Now, here's a thought. Suppose we took one of our recently decommissioned carriers, say Kitty Hawk, and sold it to the Japanese? Wouldn't the Chinese just crap their pants?
Heh.
Beijing would go ballistic, and would almost certainly retaliate in ways we really wouldn't like. It's a fun thought, however.
At a time of declining US military budgets, having Japan stepping up and helping fill the void is a big plus.
I made the remark earlier about annexing Japan, but I wasn't joking. I think a combined US/Japan would not only work, but be a very big good fit economically.
China has some thinking to do about how it wants to grow up.
If it truly wishes to be a strategic competitor to the US it should consider that carefully. It has India and Japan on either side. Both strong democracies. Both have no interest in kowtowing or being part of an ancient tribute system.
Knowing what I know about Japanese culture, history, and industry, all of which I admire probably as much as LB...I still don't trust them fully.
Quote from: Gusington on July 20, 2013, 12:00:14 PM
Knowing what I know about Japanese culture, history, and industry, all of which I admire probably as much as LB...I still don't trust them fully.
just up the coast guard sweeps every early december
And probes for giant robots.
You know Japan wins against China the day a 10 story tall Hello Kitty comes out of the ocean on the Chinese coast.
Maybe Japan will invade us with Geisha and Anime Girls.
I, for one, welcome our new Geisha-supplying Overlords...
China is poking Japan with a stick (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/24/us-china-japan-scramble-idUSBRE96N0GS20130724) (yet again):
Quote(Reuters) - Japan scrambled fighter jets on Wednesday after a Chinese military aircraft flew for the first time through international airspace near its southern islands out over the Pacific, in a move seen by Japan as underlining China's maritime expansion.
Ties between China and Japan have been strained by a territorial dispute over uninhabited East China Sea islets and hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a decisive victory in upper house elections on Sunday.
Japan's Defense Ministry said a Chinese Y-8 airborne early warning plane flew through airspace between Okinawa prefecture's main island and the smaller Miyako island in southern Japan out over the Pacific at around noon and later took the same route back over the East China Sea.
"I believe this indicates China's move toward further maritime expansion," Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters, in comments carried on public broadcaster NHK.
Chinese government spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.
The waters around the disputed islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and which are to the west of Okinawa's main island, are rich fishing grounds and the sea floor around them could hold big oil and gas reserves.
Tension between China and Japan escalated last September when Japan bought three of the disputed islands from a private Japanese owner.
Since then, patrol ships and aircraft from both countries have been shadowing each other in the sea and skies around the islets.
That has raised fears of an unintended collision leading to a broader clash.
Abe has pledged to take a firm stance in the territorial dispute, but said in his news conference following the upper house election win that Japan's door was open to dialogue.
It wasn't so long ago that Japan kicked China's ass all.over the place and literally destroyed the country. I know that China has probably the longest historical collective memory probably of any nation on Earth, so...are the Chinese just out for simple revenge?
probably - ask MarkShot
Quote from: Gusington on July 20, 2013, 08:54:18 AM
If we really look closely at the situation yes it's fun to taunt the Chinese but as Americans can we really ever trust a militarized Japan?
They have got shit for a supportive culture twards any bushido type code again
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on July 19, 2013, 08:38:38 PM
I can haz a Starblazers!?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanboy.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F01%2FP1.jpg&hash=40b06eb9be4ef2e6b118dc187d7025cd8db5306d)
Quote from: OJsDad on July 20, 2013, 08:22:49 PM
Maybe Japan will invade us with Geisha and Anime Girls.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvisions.comet-empire.com%2FStoneXmas1_files%2Fimage002.jpg&hash=ec453617417852b9849793d8cdef27752f5d12aa)
thats kinda uncanny Cent.
Quote from: Gusington on July 25, 2013, 12:31:39 PM
It wasn't so long ago that Japan kicked China's ass all.over the place and literally destroyed the country. I know that China has probably the longest historical collective memory probably of any nation on Earth, so...are the Chinese just out for simple revenge?
The name China literally means "middle kingdom."
The Chinese believe in dynastic cycles. China has risen to power and fallen from it more than any other loosely defined nation/culture on the planet.
When they're at the top of their ascendency they expect their neighbors to pay tribute to keep the peace. When they're at the top of their ascendency they believe the world does indeed revolve around the "middle kingdom."
They ain't there yet. They may not be for another thousand years given all the corruption of their current regime.
However, they're "feeling their oats" as it were. The US appears woefully weak, decidedly broke. Our appetite for adventures across the Pacific is pretty low right now. If the fur were to fly with Japan we'd be there for them, but I suspect the Chinese figure a little roughhousing at Japan's expense won't hurt them. That's a safe calculus from my view given our leadership and economic environment.
Quote from: Gusington on July 20, 2013, 12:00:14 PM
Knowing what I know about Japanese culture, history, and industry, all of which I admire probably as much as LB...I still don't trust them fully.
But they must be allowed to buildup militarily if the US is unwilling or unable to counter Chinese power in the pacific. I think trusting the Japanese is the lesser of two evils because you certainly can not trust the Chinese.
Quote from: LongBlade on July 25, 2013, 02:54:01 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 25, 2013, 12:31:39 PM
It wasn't so long ago that Japan kicked China's ass all.over the place and literally destroyed the country. I know that China has probably the longest historical collective memory probably of any nation on Earth, so...are the Chinese just out for simple revenge?
The name China literally means "middle kingdom."
The Chinese believe in dynastic cycles. China has risen to power and fallen from it more than any other loosely defined nation/culture on the planet.
When they're at the top of their ascendency they expect their neighbors to pay tribute to keep the peace. When they're at the top of their ascendency they believe the world does indeed revolve around the "middle kingdom."
They ain't there yet. They may not be for another thousand years given all the corruption of their current regime.
However, they're "feeling their oats" as it were. The US appears woefully weak, decidedly broke. Our appetite for adventures across the Pacific is pretty low right now. If the fur were to fly with Japan we'd be there for them, but I suspect the Chinese figure a little roughhousing at Japan's expense won't hurt them. That's a safe calculus from my view given our leadership and economic environment.
Excellent observation. +1
How about we don't trust anyone...
Quote from: Gusington on July 25, 2013, 06:15:46 PM
How about we don't trust anyone...
But I trust alla
youse guys... :)
(... since I don't have any daughters...)
Quote from: Gusington on July 25, 2013, 06:15:46 PM
How about we don't trust anyone...
*Cough* *cough* FYATHYRIO!
especially them sneaky beady eyes Canadistanians. 8)
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on July 25, 2013, 08:11:11 PM
especially them sneaky beady eyes Canadistanians. 8)
Canadians can be OK.
This guy swam from Canada to Detroit to give us $25,000. That's pretty cool.
QuoteAfter swimming from Canada to Detroit on Monday, a Windsor man is being charged with public intoxication and could face up to $25,000 in additional fines for swimming in a shipping channel.
John Morillo, 47, hopped into the Detroit River after throwing back eight beers and paddled from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Mich. Authorities apprehended the channel-crossing Canuck when he returned to Windsor.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/24/drunk-canadian-man-swims-to-detroit/#ixzz2a710RZ9U
You'd think people would be doing the opposite all the time.
Looks like China hasn't gotten the memo from Japan yet.
QuoteFour Chinese coastguard ships on Friday entered disputed waters near East China Sea islands at the centre of a bitter row with Tokyo, according to a report.
Jiji press said the ships entered waters around Uotsurijima, one of the five islands Japan claims as the Senkakus and China as the Diaoyus around 8.15 pm, staying there for two hours.
The incursion came as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to reset dangerously frayed ties between Asia's two largest economies as they met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Russia.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/06/four-china-ships-in-disputed-zone-report/?intcmp=obinsite#ixzz2eGZfm686
the one that said something about the Japanese Navy having carriers again? ;D