Japan, a country with virtually no military (but the economic capacity to build one in a relatively short period of time) has allowed U.S. military bases ever since the end of WWII. Japan's constitution, drafted in 1947 under the strict supervision of the U.S., disallows Japan the right to establish a military. The current situation (Japan's reliance on the U.S.) gives the U.S. military a strategic regional port of operations in exchange for offering some form of defense for Japan.
However, incidents of marines 'acting out' (usually involving outbursts of physical violence and many cases of sexual assault over the years), has motivated many Japanese to demand the U.S. compounds be removed from Japanese soil. The U.S. military previously adopted earlier curfews and a policy that prevents soldiers from drinking outside the military compound in an attempt to impede such incidents, but to no avail.
However, the issue is not one sided. Many within the U.S. would like to see Japan establish it's own military to alleviate the strains on the U.S. military who's resources are currently spread very thin. Likewise, there are those in Japan that are thankful they do not have to worry about establishing a military and, instead, can focus the country's resources on other domestic programs.
Al Jazeera has the latest on today's protests in Japan.
See the incidents that provoked the protests as reported in the Japanese media:
From Mainichi Shimbun:
For a primer on Japan and its military, read:
What say you?
2 comments:
It will be interesting to watch how this plays out. I'm intrigued by the contrasting forces involved with Japan's remilitarization efforts. I believe we will see a diverse set of Japanese nationalist ideologies grow from the controversial subject matter.
The East Asian Pacific region is perhaps the most important economic zone for the United States. I imagine the U.S. has interest in keeping the region under tight control, especially with the increasing economic, militaristic and political strength demonstrated by Communist North Korea and China.
nick, i see geopolitics is your cup of tea. there's no doubt the US desires to maintain military strength in Japan given the strategic location of the country within the region. within that contingency though, many believe the would benefit further from an allied Japanese military because it would not exert as much pressure on our current military which is spread quite thin while at the same time boosting the image of the US as a result of removing one of many military bases established on foreign soil.
you can be sure of one thing, until the Japanese government is able to amend their constitution to allow for a military and actually establish that military, the leaders of Japan will not sacrifice their defense in the face of growing china (along side a potentially dangerous north korea and russia) by telling the US to leave.
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