Japan's New Prime Minister Faces Controversial Defense Policies

Prime Minister Kishida's controversial remarks may jeopardize Japan's trust with the U.S. amid security policy tensions.

### Japan's New Prime Minister Faces Controversy and Historical Tensions
* 🇯🇵 The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan has launched a new cabinet with Prime Minister Kishida, a seasoned politician with a **12-term background**, stepping into the role amid an **extraordinary Diet session**.
* 🗣 Kishida's election has been marred by controversial statements that have raised eyebrows, particularly regarding his **security policies which have unsettled the United States**.
* 🤔 His unexpected comments about deploying **Self-Defense Forces in Guam** and proposing an **Asian NATO with shared nuclear capabilities** have provoked strong reactions from American officials.
* 📉 Skepticism surrounds Kishida's plans, especially considering Japan's **constitutional constraints on military engagement**, making it challenging to **revise the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty**.
* ⚠ Experts, including Jeffrey Hornung from the Rand Corporation, assert that there is a "**100% chance**" the U.S. will not agree to reconsider the Status of Forces Agreement, which could lead to **friction in the alliance**.
* 💣 The recent appointment of Defense Minister Nakatani, known for his **controversial remarks about military operations in North Korea**, raises concerns about **potential diplomatic tensions with South Korea**.
* 🛩 Compounding these challenges, an unexploded WWII bomb explosion at Miyazaki Airport has highlighted the **historical legacy of U.S.-Japan relations**, revealing the **ongoing risks associated with unexploded ordnance in Japan**.
* 🔍 This incident underscores the need for **better management of historical remnants** and the delicate balance of **contemporary military cooperation** between Japan and the United States.

Hello, this is a mixed bag of news. The new cabinet has been launched as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan was nominated as the new Prime Minister in the extraordinary Diet session. Prime Minister Kishida, a 12-term member of parliament, is noted for his extensive experience in various government roles such as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Minister of Defense. However, he has sparked controversy by making statements that are difficult to understand right after being elected as Prime Minister. Japanese media outlet Nihon Keizai reported that Prime Minister Kishida's security policy has begun to create waves between Japan and the United States, making the U.S. uncomfortable. He has made unexpected remarks about deploying the Self-Defense Forces in Guam and establishing an Asian version of NATO that shares nuclear capabilities with the U.S., openly provoking American sentiments. The trigger for this was an article titled The Future of Japan's Foreign Policy, published on the website of the Hudson Institute, a U.S. think tank, where Prime Minister Kishida expressed his views.

Japan plans to strengthen deterrence between the two countries by stationing the Self-Defense Forces. Regarding the nature of this stationing, it was explained that it would involve setting up training bases. However, this opinion is not only met with skepticism from within Japan but is also largely negative. As long as the constitutional structure, which includes the renunciation of war and the non-recognition of the right to engage in combat, is not amended, it is impossible to revise the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. The Yomiuri Shimbun pointed out that if the Self-Defense Forces are stationed in Japan for training purposes, then they cannot protect the United States in a crisis, making the situation unequal. It suggested that the U.S. is unlikely to accept such a proposal. Jeffrey Hornung, a senior researcher at the Rand Corporation's National Security Research Division, stated in an interview with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun that there is a 100% chance the U.S. will not agree to reconsider the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). He pointed out that if this administration raises such matters in discussions with the U.S., it could lead to friction in the alliance. Furthermore,

이바는 아시아판 나토 창설을 주장해 도마에 올랐습니다. 이반은 기고문에서 우크라이나 침공 사례를 들며 아시아의 나토 럼 집단적 자위 체제가 존재하지 않고 상호 방위 의무가 없기 때문에 전쟁이 발생하기 쉽다고 지적했습니다. 이를 보완하는 것이 아시아판 나토입니다. 중국, 러시아, 북한의 핵 연합에 대한 억지력을 확보하기 위해 아시아판 나토에서 미국의 핵 공유와 핵 반입을 검토해야 한다는 입장을 밝혔습니다. 이는 미국이 나토 회원국인 벨기에, 독일, 이탈리아, 네덜란드, 키르키 등의 전술 핵폭탄을 배치하고 유사시 해당국의 F16 전투기 등을 수단으로 쓰는 체계를 모델로 삼자는 의미입니다. 그러나 이런 구상에 대해서도 현실감이 떨어진다는 목소리가 일본에서부터 나왔습니다. 요미우리는 일본은 집단 자위권의 전면적 행사를 헌법 위반으로 규정하고 있다고 보도했습니다. 이바가 주장하는 구상을 실현하기 위해서는...

To ensure safety, it is essential to accept the Self-Defense Forces' overseas deployment, and for this, constitutional amendments are necessary. The newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister has mentioned the creation of a training base and referred to the idea of an Asian NATO, alongside absurd military policies reminiscent of a country that has forgotten its past as a World War II aggressor. The Yomiuri pointed out that all these issues are related to the right of self-defense as enshrined in the constitution. The Prime Minister may find himself grappling with a significant challenge right from the start of his administration, which could also risk losing the trust of the United States. Losing American trust is something Japan fears most. However, the critical blow came when a person who had repeatedly made outrageous remarks about deploying the Self-Defense Forces to the Korean Peninsula in emergencies was appointed as Defense Minister again after eight years. In 2015, Nakatani had hinted at the possibility of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces entering North Korea during a crisis, which had caused significant controversy.

The minister has returned. Having served as the vice president of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarian Union, he has emphasized military cooperation by advocating for the Japan-South Korea military information protection agreement and even the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). There are concerns that his return as Defense Minister Nakata Igen could spark controversies similar to those of the past, acting as a ticking time bomb. He served as the Minister of Defense in the Koizumi Junichiro Cabinet in 2001 and as the Minister of Defense in the Abe Shinzo Cabinet in 2014. During a meeting with the Minister of National Defense to discuss issues on the Korean Peninsula, he made remarks indicating that the area under South Korean control is south of the demilitarized zone, which caused a significant uproar in domestic public opinion. The implication of his statement was that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces could be mobilized for military operations into North Korea without consulting South Korea in the event of a crisis on the Korean Peninsula, leading to controversy over South Korea's territorial sovereignty.

According to international law, it was established that consent must be obtained from the respective country. However, for a considerable period afterward, the two countries had no choice but to engage in heated discussions regarding the scope of the Self-Defense Forces' activities during military authorities' consultations. In particular, the 20th administration prioritized non-combatant escort operations and the conclusion of the ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement) in military cooperation projects with South Korea. Regarding escort operations and domestic training, Deputy Prime Minister Aso stated during a faction meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party in 2017, when fears of war on the Korean Peninsula were spreading, that the Self-Defense Forces must take responsibility for Japanese citizens residing in South Korea, which sparked controversy. At that time, the Abe Shinzo administration reportedly inquired whether the Self-Defense Forces could assist in the evacuation of Japanese citizens in the event of a crisis on the Korean Peninsula, but when this was rejected, Japan planned to evacuate its citizens from Korea with the support of the U.S. Forces Korea. Currently, the two countries are discussing plans for situations where a crisis occurs in a third country.

We have signed a memorandum of mutual cooperation to assist in the emergency evacuation of our citizens. The ACSA agreement is also a project that Japan is actively pursuing. Minister Nakataani pointed out that during his tenure as Defense Minister, he identified the US-Japan ACSA and other key military cooperation projects between the two countries. Subsequently, while the exchange of information agreement has been signed, the ACSA for mutual support in military supplies remains incomplete. Recently, Japan has frequently used the term Middle East, and beyond the US-Japan alliance, it is gradually establishing military agreements such as the security joint declaration and information exchange agreement to pursue cooperation akin to an alliance. Experts predict that the Yoon administration will attempt to apply this framework to Japan-Korea military cooperation as well. However, an alliance with Japan, rather than the United States, is a difficult aspect for our public sentiment to accept. Therefore, recently, the South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defense mentioned last month.

The government has stated that there has been no consideration at the governmental level regarding the possibility of an Aksa agreement. This indicates that the Aksa issue is a sensitive matter. The individual who led these efforts has returned as the Minister of Defense, so neighboring countries cannot help but keep a close watch. However, what has been the response from the United States regarding the Japanese government's proposed Asia version of NATO? The answer was straightforward: it was ignored. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House spokesperson, avoided giving a direct answer during a recent briefing when asked about the new Japanese Prime Minister's call for the establishment of an Asian NATO, stating, There is nothing to comment on at this time. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought NATO would weaken, but that did not happen. Thanks to President Biden's leadership, NATO has certainly become stronger, and in the future, we will...

I will focus on this. NATO means that there is only the current NATO and no further plans. It is also questionable how many countries will participate in an international organization that decisively confronts China amid the ongoing U.S.-China conflict. The U.S. stance is that the idea of an Asian NATO itself is premature, presenting an awkward situation. In response to the U.S.'s tough reaction, Japan was taken aback, with the new foreign minister stating that the idea of an Asian NATO is merely a concept for the future, but it should be reviewed over the medium to long term, thus taking a step back. Meanwhile, an unexpected announcement regarding nuclear power drew attention away from this issue. However, amidst this delicate conflict between the U.S. and Japan, another incident occurred that heightened tensions in Japan. This happened in Miyazaki, Kyushu.

At Miyazaki Airport, an incident occurred where an unexploded ordnance detonated, causing the airport taxiway to collapse and leading to a suspension of aircraft takeoffs and landings. Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard, and smoke rose from the airport taxiway, resulting in the closure of the runway for the entire day and the cancellation of over 60 flights. According to Kyodo News, a civil aircraft was passing nearby just two minutes before the explosion, which was extremely dangerous. Investigations by the authorities revealed that the incident was caused by the explosion of an unexploded bomb, and the explosion site created an oval-shaped hole approximately 7 meters wide, 4 meters long, and about 1 meter deep. So, why was this unexploded bomb located there? Investigations found that the unexploded ordnance was a 250 kg aerial bomb dropped by the U.S. military during World War II. There have been several instances of unexploded bombs dropped by the U.S. military during the war.

It has been discovered that during World War II, between 10% to 30% of the bombs dropped did not explode and remained as unexploded ordnance. Therefore, it has been suggested that there may still be dozens of unexploded bombs at Miyazaki Airport. In fact, three years ago, a one-ton American unexploded bomb was found during construction in the parking area of Miyazaki Airport. Additionally, in November 2011, a 250 kg unexploded bomb was discovered just eight weeks from there. This incident serves as a reminder of the hostile relationship between the United States and Japan during World War II, as they pointed their weapons at each other. At the same time, the presence of unexploded bombs dropped by the U.S. in Japan highlights two issues: the ongoing risk and the lax management of airports in Japan. Recently, the United States faced a significant surprise regarding this situation, and this news will be continued here. The news we have prepared today is...

This is the end. I look forward to your many opinions through comments. Thank you for watching.

일본도심 한가운데서 거대한 폭발발생 범인 미국으로 지목되자 난리난 상황 자위대 미 본토주둔, 백악관 분노폭발

잡식왕

Japan's New Prime Minister and Controversial Security Policy

Japan's new Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, has sparked controversy with his unclear statements and provocative security policy, causing discomfort between Japan and the U.

His proposal to deploy the Self-Defense Forces in Guam and establish an Asian version of NATO with nuclear capabilities has been met with skepticism and criticism.

The stationing of the Self-Defense Forces for training purposes is seen as unequal and unlikely to gain U.

approval, raising concerns about potential friction in the Japan-U.

Japan's Controversial Defense Policies and Leadership Changes

Japan's Prime Minister is pushing for constitutional amendments to support the Self-Defense Forces' overseas deployment, raising concerns about military policies reminiscent of its World War II past.

The reappointment of Defense Minister Nakatani, known for his controversial remarks on deploying forces to North Korea, is causing public uproar and raising fears of similar controversies.

The ongoing discussions between Japan and South Korea regarding the Self-Defense Forces' activities during a crisis are marked by heated debates and a focus on military cooperation.

Japan's Military Cooperation and the ACSA Agreement

Japan has signed a memorandum for mutual cooperation in emergency citizen evacuation and is actively pursuing the ACSA agreement for military support.

The country is gradually establishing military agreements to enhance cooperation, while experts predict a similar framework for Japan-Korea military cooperation.

However, the idea of an alliance with Japan is challenging for South Korea's public sentiment, and the US has not responded to Japan's proposed Asia version of NATO.

Tensions Surrounding an Asian NATO and a Miyazaki Airport Incident

NATO's current focus raises questions about future international cooperation, especially in confronting China.

views the idea of an Asian NATO as premature, leading to a cautious response from Japan.

Meanwhile, an explosion from an unexploded WWII bomb at Miyazaki Airport caused significant disruption, highlighting the ongoing impact of the U.

During World War II, 10% to 30% of bombs dropped did not explode, leading to potential unexploded ordnance at Miyazaki Airport.

A one-ton American bomb was found during construction three years ago, and a 250 kg bomb was discovered nearby in 2011.

The presence of these unexploded bombs highlights the ongoing risk and lax management of airports in Japan, as well as the historical tension between the United States and Japan.