Japan rethinking relations with US

Just found this it could be interesting if this happens do you think they will.

FEB 25 — The Hatoyama government is keen to end the US military presence in the country and chart a new foreign policy course with focus on Asia.

After the ouster of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from power last year, relations between Japan and the United States do not seem as cosy as they used to be.

The new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, and his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) swept to power on the promise of reorienting the country’s domestic and foreign policy.

On the campaign trail, the opposition focussed particularly on the continued presence of the US military on Japanese territory and the continuance of unequal treaties dating to the Second World War.

LINKwww.themalaysianinsider.com...
How would the US government act to this if they end the strong ties they have Im not too save on this situation but some of are American and Japanese ATSers could way in with there thoughts on this thanks.

[edit on 022828p://2010-02-26T14:45:00-06:00262 by mars1]

Nobody got anything to add to this my opinion on this is it's there choice to make how they see fit.
The war ended a long time ago it's time US military moved out if thats what they want.

THANKYOU

The Japanese, including Prime Minister Hatayama, do not want the US to leave completely, although they would like a number of changes to the system as currently construed.

The main Japanese complaints have to do with noise, crimes (including rapes) and other mayhem among the gaijin primarily at the Okinawa base, where the feelings are particularly strong. There are other US bases in Japan -- Hiroshima, Yokoska, etc. -- where the relations with the locas, while often difficult, are not as hostile and are often even quite friendly.

The Japanese resent having to pay large amounts of money for these bases. The neigbors don't like big planes screaming across the skies at all hours, or their daughters running around local bars with jarheads.

On the other hand, the majority of Japanese, including the government, wants the US to stay. Hatayama has not called for the exit of US troops from Japan. He wants base movement and possible troop reduction especially in Okinawa. The problem is that there is no mutually agreed-upon location for the new base. Also, despite the grumbling, the local economy of Okinawa would collapse because it is very depenent on the base. The Japanese grumble about the tax money they pay to the US, but having their own military would be MUCH more expensive and Japan is the developed nation with the highest debt-to-GNP ratio (near 200%). There is NO WAY Japan can even begin to afford the US leaving from a purely economic standpoint. Secondly, the Japanese have negative sentiments about war in general after WWII and an overwhelming majority is against the formation of a new standing Japanese military. (The SDF is stronger than most people realize, and attitudes change, but thats worth throwing out there). While Japan is trying hard to work with China and the ASEAN nations, they still appreciate the US secuirity umbrella and fear Chinese military power. None of these needs will go away. Especially as the already-advanced ageing of the society accelerates, they will not want to sever ties with the US. Its a complex dance. The Japanese are massive US debtholders, but they are also overly dependent on the US for their markets. If there is any real change it will take time and it isn't happening tomorrow.


[edit on 2/26/10 by silent thunder]

reply to post by silent thunder


Thanks for that post silent thunder but i think the people want some kind of change there that's why he was elected is it not.

The DPJ promised to end decades of “passive” behaviour in dealings with the US Hatoyama, after taking over as Prime Minister, showed that he was serious about Japan following an Asia-oriented foreign policy. His government is giving special emphasis to a strong relationship with China, India and other Asian countries.

But you could be right about not all troops leaving Im not too good with this situation but it is a good talking point.

Thinking of this reminds me of when this was in the news.

US warns Japan over relocation of Futenma airbase

The US yesterday told Japan the planned relocation of a US marine airbase and thousands of troops based on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa was not up for negotiation in a further sign of growing tensions over the future of the US military footprint in east Asia.

LINKwww.guardian.co.uk...
That was from Dec 22/2009 so is this like a part of the same thing.

THANKYOU

Originally posted by mars1

Thanks for that post silent thunder but i think the people want some kind of change there that's why he was elected is it not.

These days they are a lot more concerned about the economy than the presence or absence of US troops. Hatayama's grand strategy is a "turn to the east" and reduce their ties with the USA. They want better relations with China, markets for their goods and intellectual property, etc. So he is in a broad sense much less "US oriented" than his LDP predicessors. But he's got to play a gentle game; he can't totally alienate the US because of the reasons I stated above: The economy and politics of a standing Japanese military; lingering mistrust among chinese plus outright fury from many Koreans (northern and southern). The US is still Japan's biggest market like it or not, and they are cross-invested un US holdings, debts, bonds, etc.

So people voted for Hatoyama for "change" in the same general vague spirit as Obama. But now the economic stituation (which has been in the doldrums, to put it kindly, for 20 years anyway) has taken a nasty turn for the worse, espcially in smaller cities and industry towns. They are going through a hard, ugly version of the kind of industrial "hollowing out" the US experienced in th '80s. Plenty of shuttered shops, deflation, "going out of business," and general plunging busines prospects in an already battered economy. The US military is not at the forefront of most people's concerns these days in Japan.

Well my take as an American is that Japan wants to reassurt its national identity. Does this mean they want the US uninvolved in their nation anymore? No, they just want more independence. This includes removing US military bases from their land, equalizing their contracts with USA, and creating their own interests seperate from that of the USA. You could say they are beginning to feal a sense of Patriotism again since WW2.

The only problem with this is that in a volatile region like that the more they remove USA from their nation and create less involvement between the two they will begin to see more countries willing to 'push' them around. North Korea may begin to make threats, China might start agrivating them, and other influential nations may start treating them as 'adults'.

I don't think the fear of another dangerous Japan like that of WW2 is what is occuring.

See what happens when you rethink relations with the US? We fire up that big old Haarp and hit you with a 7.0 mag earth quake!! And thats just the tip of the iceberg!!

[edit on 26-2-2010 by imeddieone4202003]

reply to post by imeddieone4202003


I was just in an earthquake thread and someone linked this thread to HARRP no i don't think that but you never know.

Thanks for your replies guys its helping me to understand this situation a little better.

THANKYOU

This is garbage.
Japan wants to save face.
They, and 1 other leader in Asia, were the only country in Asia who supported the invasion of Iraq. They withdrew. They love America, and they love the policies as well.

George bush, toni blair, and japan. They all share the same views on pre-emptive attacks on innocents. They have alot in common. The share ideas and they must agree on things more then their policies that don't work very well.

This stinks.....Tptb are still the same Powers that Be, nothing has changed in Japan, this is just a smoke screen or a distraction. Why were they in the coalition that invaded Iraq? They don't believe in any of what they are saying.
This almost stinks as much as the conspiracy to invade Iraq.I don't buy any of it. They won't even be one of the to[p ten richest nations in 20 years, and they need a reason why.

They screwed up big time when they supported the Iraqi invasion. Everyone knew the U.S. would stay, like they stayed in Japan. The shot themselves in the foot with their support. It's hipacritical, they've realized....pulled out.
They've already realized that they would be broke without capitalist united states. MAybe they'll stop doing business with the u.s. altogether and just fade away after they sell all their property to others, because they need money. I don't know, maybe I don't know that.

The people pulling the strings behind the scenes in Japan are exactly the same people who were back then, and who have been. Nothing has changed.

Well,after the fiasco with all those death traps they have pawned off on the American people with Toyota on the the front end, I believe the American people may be re-thinking OUR position with Japan.

Toyota has known about the problem with both the accelerator and brakes for years and kept it under wraps.

(I swear all those congressmen were expectig old man Toyoda
to commit hari-kari instead of testifying.)

About the other issue.Japan needs us.With the Chinese people quickly becoming a major player in the world Japan needs to worry.

Their actions in mainland China prior to and during WW2 can not be easily forgotten by the Chinese people.I wouldn't put it past the Chinese to nuke Japan just to say,"WE will never forget Nanking."

Nanking Massacre



[edit on 26-2-2010 by Oneolddude]

That will never happen. Japan considers USA as a big support for any threat around them. Maybe some troops will leave but just for kicks.