very good news that Japan is starting to arm up. I agree that it is a bit worrisome given Japan’s history of almost unbelievable brutality towards Korea, China, and MANY Asian countries (as well as to US and other POWs).
But things are much different now. The worries I have are actually quite minor. Japan has been a reliable ally since 1950 or so. As a person who lived for years in Japan, I can tell you that it is a great place–though one would be gravely mistaken to see it as America just with a different language!
No, it is a deeply foreign place. And that is something I felt every day when I lived there. I loved it, but it was very different from the US.
But back to the ranch…
But instead of threatening its weaker neighbors, Japan is deepening its security partnerships with like-minded countries, including Australia, India, and a few in Europe.
I really don’t think Japan is a threat anymore. Even if they re-arm. There are MAJOR sociological differences in the Japanese people when you compare the 1930s to now. In fact, I welcome them relying on themselves rather than us.