Japan could threaten the removal of US bases, however as we saw with Iraq, once established they will not go, how could Japan force them out? Secondly crossing the US means sanctions which means all the vassals in Europe, Canada and Australia being forced to comply as well. Russia prepared for its economic war, Japan hasn't.
The other five eyes countries will comply because life outside the fishbowl is unimaginable for the comprador political class; they're mostly WEF acolytes and have quibbles with Trump and co., but are essentially loyal to the empire.
Just had a look at those Public & External Debt figures and ratios.
External Debt of a country refers to the portion of its total debt that is borrowed from foreign lenders. This includes loans from foreign governments, international financial institutions and bonds held by foreign investors.
Public Debt/GDP Ratio% External Debt/GDP Ratio%
USA 100.29 91.72
UK 113.48 303.58
France 123.49 268.81
Spain 124.60 172.89
Belgium 117.04 263.65
Russia 21.14 14.93
China 85.67 15.53
Germany 73.42 158.97
Sweden 35.60 193.52
Switzerland 43.50 260.42
Spot the LOONS.
There's a corelation between those countries in debt up to their eyeballs and the countries behaving in the most belligerent manner towards Russia.
With the exception of Norway and Holland in particular which have External Debt ratios of 46.07 and 0.38% (WOW) EUROPE looks doomed.
The aging leadership finds it difficult to maintain its balance in trying to stand up. It’s easier to just shift its limbs a bit while remaining in a supine position.
Karl and other commenters seem to be wholly ignorant of the fact that Japanese taxpayers pay far more annually to the US mafia for the privilege of hosting their bases than any other country.
“The Japanese and U.S. governments are expected to decide that Japan’s yearly contribution to host the bases will range from about 250 billion yen to 299 billion yen ($2.17 billion to $2.6 billion) from fiscal 2022.”
“According to 2018 data from the Department of Defense, U.S. military installations in Japan, including warehouses, runways, housing, and communications antennae, numbered 7,112. (The Japanese Ministry of Defense lists 131 U.S. military installations and U.S. military zones in Japan; however, this is due to the agencies’ differing definitions of installations.) This number is the highest in the world, surpassing South Korea and Germany in second place by over 1,000.”
This Wikipedia page hasn’t been significantly updated since 2012, but it does provide a useful background primer:
As someone who has lived in Japan for 31 of the last 40 years, and who has followed Japanese politics reasonably closely until about four years ago (I stopped following mainstream media in Japanese or English), I think that Japan’s biggest problem is that a large majority of the population (~75%) believes that US bases are protecting Japan, when in truth they are the greatest risk Japan possesses. The US military has no intention of defending Japan—unless by “defend” you mean “fighting to the last Japanese”. If the US were so reckless as to use US bases to attack China or DPRK, all US bases would become legitimate targets. So unless the population can recover from their brainwashing regarding the role of the US military on their soil, not much will change. But the genocide and trade war, amongst other things, is beginning to awaken more people to the reality that the US is a rogue state and the necessity of decoupling.
Yes, agree. That’s why I advocate Japan abandon its Cold War Mentality as it’s detrimental to its genuine national interests. IMO, more Japanese understand that.
A temporary surcharge on the facilities used by the US military might cause an immediate response. It has to be big enough and combined with a sincere statement of appreciation for all the years the US has provided a presence. We will miss you should you decide to depart.
I am visiting my old country and I can tell you that I simply cannot see how the last sentence in your post might eventuate: “Perhaps this event will cure Japan of its Cold War mentality and allow Japan to see who its real adversary clearly.” And it is not just Japan. It is the West and its liberal make-up. It is simply not the case “to see who its real adversary”. I am rather depressed …… Anyway, thank you, Karl.
When Ford, GM, and Chrysler/Stellantis pickup Trucks in Trumpland see their already insane sticker prices go up, welp, Trump will rage against them, but eventually my guess he'll have to move on tariffs, though the Blue Shit-ocrat party is doing its best to not be an obstacle to the final corporate take over.
Japan can kick America off its island and invite Chinese troops to replace them. Sounds crazy but why not. America provides no defensive value to Japan. Trump would be impeached and removed the following week.
Japan must deeply reexamine its national interests, which means it must abandon its Cold War Mentality and look at the new global configuration that’s forming. The G-7 is dead while BRICS is on the rise. Japan is also a natural SCO member.
Japan is in a lose lose position. To be clear, Japan is a vassal, effectively a satellite, and I'll refrain from the harsh c****y word, but there it is. After taking a specialisation in Japanese politics and economics in the late seventies I knew in 1989 while visiting a friend who worked for a recruit offshoot that it was over. I should have taken the China option.
IMO, in 1989 it was hard to imagine Japan would be so subservient for so long, but that’s how it turned out, and now Japan’s in a very deep fix as you note. This will exacerbate the demographic crash and likely radicalize politics. I hope to find more info on the South Korean situation because I see the potential for something similar happening there. Lurking in the background are relations with China.
All of usa vassals will just have to endure Trump for as long as it takes. I note that Comey is advocating 'sooner rather than later' as a departure strategy. But then you would expect that from one mafia boss to another.
The usa just escaped from a demented clown as president and now finds it has a complete freaking moron instead. At least the current one knows his place is absolutely on top even if he can't recall his strategy from ten minutes prior.
None of this will work out well for the people of the usa and it will be even worse for the vassals. Is there an alliance for usa divorcees? Could such an alliance establish a Free Trade Deal between themselves and survive the separation anxiety. The bunya nut republic has at least worked out how to offload its heavy burden of Abrahams recycling steel on wheels and disguise it as 'social good' while simultaneously keeping the vampire squid calm by calling it a sacrifice.
Japan likely has lots of similar strategies in mind - what if they invade New Guinea, call it Pacific Peace Keeping and Trade Development, then licence the resources back to the usa under a 'GAZA Trade Initiative' strategy? Trump would go for that AND consider it a resounding success triggered by his new fangled trade war. Vance would applaud Trump as 5D Chess champion of the world and the usa people would snore on knowing they are safe from any fallout or responsibility. Palau would happily accept the refugees from PNG and the usa military could erect even more tents on the atolls. There will be NO RELIEF from this insanity unless Comey has his way.
After my response I caught up with Jamarl Thomas and KJ Noh yarning about trade and Huawei and war and so on. It follows on nicely from the discussion linked earlier with John Helmer and is an important contribution to our understanding of the bloody minded mendacity of Trump.
Thanks, uncle. Clearly, my warning essays about AI were too meek. The disease as I see it is Exceptionalism that drives the need for Dominance, which is something IMO both Russia and China recognize and understand as both were subjected to that ideology during WW2.
Helmer makes a compelling case for Make Empire Great Again and Trump as a clearly intentioned supporter of the HUGE USA empire project. He may be right but somehow I have a strong feeling that the usa will be beset by FA18 overboard moments on its journey to Empire Paradise/Armageddon.
Team Trump as I’ve noted differs little from Team Biden, and in many respects, Team Biden didn’t differ much from Team Trump 1.0, which of course didn’t differ much from Obama.
Japan could threaten the removal of US bases, however as we saw with Iraq, once established they will not go, how could Japan force them out? Secondly crossing the US means sanctions which means all the vassals in Europe, Canada and Australia being forced to comply as well. Russia prepared for its economic war, Japan hasn't.
Yeah. Hard to tell what Japan will do. I’d try to redirect my exports and stand my ground as China planned to do.
The other five eyes countries will comply because life outside the fishbowl is unimaginable for the comprador political class; they're mostly WEF acolytes and have quibbles with Trump and co., but are essentially loyal to the empire.
'The English-language Japan Times newspaper said it was unclear what position Japan would take in the next round of talks . . . . '
Missionary or On All Fours one would expect!
Haven't looked at Japan's Debt Ration to GDP of late but I'm certain it remains a certifiable basket-case hovering at over 200%
Hell's Bells it's 290%.
America has really screwed Japan roughly over since internment
Agreed. Japan must either stand up or prostrate itself.
Just had a look at those Public & External Debt figures and ratios.
External Debt of a country refers to the portion of its total debt that is borrowed from foreign lenders. This includes loans from foreign governments, international financial institutions and bonds held by foreign investors.
Public Debt/GDP Ratio% External Debt/GDP Ratio%
USA 100.29 91.72
UK 113.48 303.58
France 123.49 268.81
Spain 124.60 172.89
Belgium 117.04 263.65
Russia 21.14 14.93
China 85.67 15.53
Germany 73.42 158.97
Sweden 35.60 193.52
Switzerland 43.50 260.42
Spot the LOONS.
There's a corelation between those countries in debt up to their eyeballs and the countries behaving in the most belligerent manner towards Russia.
With the exception of Norway and Holland in particular which have External Debt ratios of 46.07 and 0.38% (WOW) EUROPE looks doomed.
The aging leadership finds it difficult to maintain its balance in trying to stand up. It’s easier to just shift its limbs a bit while remaining in a supine position.
Japan will take the position of puckering its lips and placing them squarely on Donald Trump's very large ass, as he famously boasted in a speech.
It’s too hard to tell how this will evolve. Japan might take a bite out of that fat ass instead of kissing it.
Karl and other commenters seem to be wholly ignorant of the fact that Japanese taxpayers pay far more annually to the US mafia for the privilege of hosting their bases than any other country.
https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14487877
“The Japanese and U.S. governments are expected to decide that Japan’s yearly contribution to host the bases will range from about 250 billion yen to 299 billion yen ($2.17 billion to $2.6 billion) from fiscal 2022.”
https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/politics/pt2022061710023212174.html
“According to 2018 data from the Department of Defense, U.S. military installations in Japan, including warehouses, runways, housing, and communications antennae, numbered 7,112. (The Japanese Ministry of Defense lists 131 U.S. military installations and U.S. military zones in Japan; however, this is due to the agencies’ differing definitions of installations.) This number is the highest in the world, surpassing South Korea and Germany in second place by over 1,000.”
This Wikipedia page hasn’t been significantly updated since 2012, but it does provide a useful background primer:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omoiyari_Yosan
Thanks. I suspected as much but didn’t do any DD prior to opining. As suspected, Japan’s position is worse than I thought.
As someone who has lived in Japan for 31 of the last 40 years, and who has followed Japanese politics reasonably closely until about four years ago (I stopped following mainstream media in Japanese or English), I think that Japan’s biggest problem is that a large majority of the population (~75%) believes that US bases are protecting Japan, when in truth they are the greatest risk Japan possesses. The US military has no intention of defending Japan—unless by “defend” you mean “fighting to the last Japanese”. If the US were so reckless as to use US bases to attack China or DPRK, all US bases would become legitimate targets. So unless the population can recover from their brainwashing regarding the role of the US military on their soil, not much will change. But the genocide and trade war, amongst other things, is beginning to awaken more people to the reality that the US is a rogue state and the necessity of decoupling.
Yes, agree. That’s why I advocate Japan abandon its Cold War Mentality as it’s detrimental to its genuine national interests. IMO, more Japanese understand that.
A temporary surcharge on the facilities used by the US military might cause an immediate response. It has to be big enough and combined with a sincere statement of appreciation for all the years the US has provided a presence. We will miss you should you decide to depart.
I am visiting my old country and I can tell you that I simply cannot see how the last sentence in your post might eventuate: “Perhaps this event will cure Japan of its Cold War mentality and allow Japan to see who its real adversary clearly.” And it is not just Japan. It is the West and its liberal make-up. It is simply not the case “to see who its real adversary”. I am rather depressed …… Anyway, thank you, Karl.
Sorry your trip home is a bummer. The news isn’t very uplifting.
When Ford, GM, and Chrysler/Stellantis pickup Trucks in Trumpland see their already insane sticker prices go up, welp, Trump will rage against them, but eventually my guess he'll have to move on tariffs, though the Blue Shit-ocrat party is doing its best to not be an obstacle to the final corporate take over.
One day Japan will learn who their real enemy is, to be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be it’s friend can be fatal
If Trump does a Mafia Extortion to Japan, what did Rahm Emanuel do, or attempt ?! Epstein stuff?
Japan can kick America off its island and invite Chinese troops to replace them. Sounds crazy but why not. America provides no defensive value to Japan. Trump would be impeached and removed the following week.
Japan must deeply reexamine its national interests, which means it must abandon its Cold War Mentality and look at the new global configuration that’s forming. The G-7 is dead while BRICS is on the rise. Japan is also a natural SCO member.
Japan is in a lose lose position. To be clear, Japan is a vassal, effectively a satellite, and I'll refrain from the harsh c****y word, but there it is. After taking a specialisation in Japanese politics and economics in the late seventies I knew in 1989 while visiting a friend who worked for a recruit offshoot that it was over. I should have taken the China option.
IMO, in 1989 it was hard to imagine Japan would be so subservient for so long, but that’s how it turned out, and now Japan’s in a very deep fix as you note. This will exacerbate the demographic crash and likely radicalize politics. I hope to find more info on the South Korean situation because I see the potential for something similar happening there. Lurking in the background are relations with China.
All of usa vassals will just have to endure Trump for as long as it takes. I note that Comey is advocating 'sooner rather than later' as a departure strategy. But then you would expect that from one mafia boss to another.
The usa just escaped from a demented clown as president and now finds it has a complete freaking moron instead. At least the current one knows his place is absolutely on top even if he can't recall his strategy from ten minutes prior.
None of this will work out well for the people of the usa and it will be even worse for the vassals. Is there an alliance for usa divorcees? Could such an alliance establish a Free Trade Deal between themselves and survive the separation anxiety. The bunya nut republic has at least worked out how to offload its heavy burden of Abrahams recycling steel on wheels and disguise it as 'social good' while simultaneously keeping the vampire squid calm by calling it a sacrifice.
Japan likely has lots of similar strategies in mind - what if they invade New Guinea, call it Pacific Peace Keeping and Trade Development, then licence the resources back to the usa under a 'GAZA Trade Initiative' strategy? Trump would go for that AND consider it a resounding success triggered by his new fangled trade war. Vance would applaud Trump as 5D Chess champion of the world and the usa people would snore on knowing they are safe from any fallout or responsibility. Palau would happily accept the refugees from PNG and the usa military could erect even more tents on the atolls. There will be NO RELIEF from this insanity unless Comey has his way.
From clown to moron ! Nice.
After my response I caught up with Jamarl Thomas and KJ Noh yarning about trade and Huawei and war and so on. It follows on nicely from the discussion linked earlier with John Helmer and is an important contribution to our understanding of the bloody minded mendacity of Trump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDNyMxFfFvY
Do not miss this essential 30 minute analysis.
Thanks, uncle. Clearly, my warning essays about AI were too meek. The disease as I see it is Exceptionalism that drives the need for Dominance, which is something IMO both Russia and China recognize and understand as both were subjected to that ideology during WW2.
I just caught up with this discussion with Nima Alkhorshid, John Helmer and Ray McGovern at Dialogue Matters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKCgX2obVjc
Helmer makes a compelling case for Make Empire Great Again and Trump as a clearly intentioned supporter of the HUGE USA empire project. He may be right but somehow I have a strong feeling that the usa will be beset by FA18 overboard moments on its journey to Empire Paradise/Armageddon.
Team Trump as I’ve noted differs little from Team Biden, and in many respects, Team Biden didn’t differ much from Team Trump 1.0, which of course didn’t differ much from Obama.