Japan minister's China remarks 'inappropriate' Options

[Rayzor]

BEIJING - Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa's call for stronger military ties with its allies to balance China's growing influence was described as "inappropriate" by a leading analyst.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Kitazawa said "in order to maintain the right balance in our relationship with China, we need to also solidify the ties between Japan, the US and South Korea", adding that Japan was particularly concerned about China's increasing naval capabilities.

He also said Japan's relations with the United States were strengthened by the help its military provided in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the paper reported on Saturday.

"Our priority is to make our bilateral relationship with the US rock solid," he added.

Kitazawa's comments came after he thanked US forces for their help in the relief efforts.

His remarks on China were "very inappropriate" and could affect relations between Japan and China, said Zhou Yongsheng, a professor of Japan studies at China Foreign Affairs University.

"The Japan-US military alliance, shaped in the Cold War, should not be expanded or aimed at any third party."

China's military growth has never exceeded the necessary amount to maintain national security, Zhou added.

"The expansion of the Japan-US military alliance in the sensitive area of East Asia is harmful to regional peace and stability," Zhou noted.

Kitazawa's comments appear to show a change of attitude in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, whose previous premier, Yukio Hatoyama, had promised a less subservient relationship with Washington.

Japan-US relations have improved somewhat since Prime Minister Naoto Kan assumed office, but a controversial base on Okinawa, which hosts more than half of the 47,000 US troops stationed in Japan, remains an irritant in ties between the security allies.

Japan's relations with China plunged to their lowest point in years last September after a fishing boat collided with Japanese coastguard ships near China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-04...nt_12383695.htm

[KraterosHellas]

this guy is insane. the US-japan allaince is the biggest joke of modern history.

[Flowerseed]

Thats good, it seems there are some japanese feel good about presence of American alliance in east Asia, well premier Hatoyama stepped down and were called by some japanese as "traitor" too, since they dont have much say in the matter anyway they might as well enjoy this "relationship".

[elleX0]

Thats good, it seems there are some japanese feel good about presence of American alliance in east Asia, well premier Hatoyama stepped down and were called by some japanese as "traitor" too, since they dont have much say in the matter anyway they might as well enjoy this "relationship".

So, it is clear that the Japanese have GUILT FEELINGS. They now fear China and want to come under the umbrella of American protection for fear that if there is a conflict the frustrations and anger of the Chinese people will wreck great retribution for crimes inflicted upon in earlier years like "The Rape of Nanking."

[faydabakery]

Good for Japan, US and South Korea.

[KraterosHellas]

So, it is clear that the Japanese have GUILT FEELINGS. They now fear China and want to come under the umbrella of American protection for fear that if there is a conflict the frustrations and anger of the Chinese people will wreck great retribution for crimes inflicted upon in earlier years like "The Rape of Nanking."

it's not that. it's the US that forcing japan to do this. japan doesn't want war, they want to be friends with china.

[qwerty2010]

China should feel flattered by all the attention.

[KraterosHellas]

yea seriously. china is getting so much attention right now. it's gonna get even more intense in the years to come as china's gdp continue to grow and start entering the 1 tier eocnomy. when china atually start producing global brands and world class technology, japan and all those other countries will be so impressed that they will forget about the whole china fear. what a horror for america haha

[orient]

Paranoia sets in

[windsurfer]

O-hi-O, time to raise the amount of protection money due to Don Corleoni Americana!

[SkyBurial]

Typical Cold War mentality.

[Hugham]

Don't care about Japan, they need us more than we need them.

They just digging their own grave.

[Lorax]

Japan is starting to look like a country of war mongers

[faydabakery]

The, US, Japan and South Korea are great allies. China should join in on the fun.

[SkyBurial]

The, US, Japan and South Korea are great allies. China should join in on the fun.

I hope you're being facetious.

[faydabakery]

I hope you're being facetious.

Obviously however I'm all for peace. I'll leave to the rest of you to scream war and hate. That's what politicians do best.

[SkyBurial]

Obviously however I'm all for peace. I'll leave to the rest of you to scream war and hate. That's what politicians do best.

If you've read the posts carefully, no one is screaming for "war and hate".

This post has been edited by SkyBurial: Apr 25 2011, 06:34 PM

[Mid-Night_Sun]

its true. Japan does need the US to be more balanced when dealing with China.

[faydabakery]

If you've read the posts carefully, no one is screaming for "war and hate".

True. But it just digresses into a childish blame game.

[chiuchimu]

its true. Japan does need the US to be more balanced when dealing with China.

I think the U.S. is at the core of all of this. The U.S. is not going to allow Japan to gain a military of her own. The U.S. is always going to be in China's backyard. theirs no way around it. If the U.S. allowed Japan to slowly build up its own forces, Japan could start closing U.s. bases. That's never going to happen.

Someone was talking about Nanking and revenge. I'm starting to feel like if that's what it takes to ends it, than so be it. Let China come to Japan and shoot down 600,000 people then call it even. I much prefer that to this never ending U.S. presence. This is hell on earth, at this rate, Japan will be a whore for the U.S. forever and ever. We'll never have political freedom.