October 25, 2012
Akahata editorial (excerpts)
Military training exercises jointly planned by the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and the Okinawa-stationed U.S. Marines to recapture an occupied remote island will likely be cancelled.
The two forces were planning to conduct the joint exercises in November at the uninhabited island of Irisuna which hosts the U.S. Idesunajima firing range, near Tonaki Village, 60km northwest of Naha City in Okinawa.
The drill was to be a full-scale military operation entailing the use of armed force. If conducted, it would further increase the existing regional tension due to the territorial disputes. It is unconstitutional for the SDF to resort to force together with foreign troops because it constitutes the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. Japan should flatly discard the plan.
The planned joint drill was supposed to follow similar Japan-U.S. joint exercises conducted on Guam and Tinian in September, and was going to be the first of its kind in Japan.
Landing drills and island-retaking drills were initially planned based on U.S. military strategy. The U.S. is reinforcing the functions of its bases on Guam and building stronger military ties with its allies, Australia and the Philippines, by sending U.S. troops there, with the aim to maintain and wield the U.S. influence over the Asia-Pacific region.
The drill was said to be planned with an eye on the Senkaku Islands. It is the Japanese and Chinese governments that should deal with the territorial talks over the islands. Military drills near the disputed islands will undermine diplomatic efforts. The Japanese government should stop resorting to military posturing that will only obstruct efforts to solve the territorial dispute.
Military training exercises jointly planned by the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and the Okinawa-stationed U.S. Marines to recapture an occupied remote island will likely be cancelled.
The two forces were planning to conduct the joint exercises in November at the uninhabited island of Irisuna which hosts the U.S. Idesunajima firing range, near Tonaki Village, 60km northwest of Naha City in Okinawa.
The drill was to be a full-scale military operation entailing the use of armed force. If conducted, it would further increase the existing regional tension due to the territorial disputes. It is unconstitutional for the SDF to resort to force together with foreign troops because it constitutes the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. Japan should flatly discard the plan.
The planned joint drill was supposed to follow similar Japan-U.S. joint exercises conducted on Guam and Tinian in September, and was going to be the first of its kind in Japan.
Landing drills and island-retaking drills were initially planned based on U.S. military strategy. The U.S. is reinforcing the functions of its bases on Guam and building stronger military ties with its allies, Australia and the Philippines, by sending U.S. troops there, with the aim to maintain and wield the U.S. influence over the Asia-Pacific region.
The drill was said to be planned with an eye on the Senkaku Islands. It is the Japanese and Chinese governments that should deal with the territorial talks over the islands. Military drills near the disputed islands will undermine diplomatic efforts. The Japanese government should stop resorting to military posturing that will only obstruct efforts to solve the territorial dispute.
