China, Japan, South Korea and to a lesser degree Taiwan are acquiring new and more extensive power projection capabilities and demonstrating the political willingness to use them for different strategic reasons.
China’s military challenge poses significant dilemmas particularly for Japan, which has been constrained by the historical, political and legal predicaments of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Tokyo aims to overcome the limitations posed by its pacifist postwar constitution and the Yoshida Doctrine. Its more robust security policy (“Dynamic Defense”) seeks greater strategic and operational flexibility in responding to regional contingencies.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are shifting from a traditionally static defense posture toward power projection and deterrent capabilities ― with the procurement of MV-22 Ospreys, F-35 fighters, Global Hawk drones and amphibious troop carriers.
Similarly, South Korea’s ongoing defense reforms have aimed not only to strengthen capabilities vis-a-vis North Korean asymmetric nuclear threats, but also to develop joint air and naval capabilities that would complement a long-term U.S. strategic presence in East Asia.
Seoul aims to offset any potential future crises stemming from great power rivalries.
"... It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."....I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Sunday, May 4, 2014
MILITARY HARDWARE GROWTH IN THE ASIA TERRITORY AS KOREA, TAIWAN, AND JAPAN–BUILDS ITS DEFENSE FORCE–TO COUNTER CHINA HARDWARE BUILD UP AND NORTH KOREA THREATS
THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE DOES THE CHICKEN DANCE ON THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AS DEMS REALIZES THEY WILL LOSE THE POLITICAL GAME TO JAB THE MINIMUM WAGE AGAINST THE GOP IN THE FALL IF IT PASSES NOW–WAGE BILL TO DIE IN THE SENATE
The Democrats’ minimum wage bill is set to die on the Senate floor Wednesday.
Despite an intense push by President Obama and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans haven’t budged and will reject the measure that would increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. The procedural roll call to advance the bill is expected to fail on a party-line vote, short of the 60 votes needed.
The legislation is coming up for a vote after weeks of delay, but a multipronged pressure campaign against Republicans has failed to fracture the GOP — in sharp contrast to prior election years.
Democrats could bring the bill back to the floor many times between now and the midterm elections, but the small window for a bipartisan compromise or a GOP capitulation has all but shut. The GOP-led House, meanwhile, is adamantly opposed to the Senate measure.
Obama prominently featured a minimum wage increase in his State of the Union address, calling on Congress to give “America a raise.”
The president on Wednesday will deliver a speech on the minumum wage.
Read more http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/204766-1010-wage-bill-set-to-die
JAPAN CONTINUES TO EXPLORE CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION TO ALLOW ITS MILITARY TO TAKE A GREATER ROLL IN ASIA–PRESENTLY DUBBED THE SELF DEFENSE FORCE–THE CHANGE WOULD ALLOW JAPAN TO PROJECT A GREATER MILITARY EXPANSION
Japan marked the 67th anniversary of its postwar constitution Saturday with growing debate over whether to revise the war-renouncing charter in line with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push for an expanded role for the military.
The ruling conservative party has long advocated revision but been unable to sway public opinion. Now Abe is proposing that the government reinterpret the constitution to give the military more prominence without having to win public approval for the revisions.
His push, backed by the U.S. which wants Japan to bear a greater burden of its own defense, has upset the liberals who see it as undermining the constitution and democratic processes.
Hundreds of people gathered at a Tokyo rally commemorating Constitution Day, a national holiday.
``We citizens must stand up, take action and raise our voice to stop Abe, or this country could return to a Japan that wages war with Asia as it has done before,'' said protest organizer Ken Takada said.
Written under U.S. direction after World War II, the 1947 constitution says the Japanese people ``forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation,'' and that ``land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.''
That ban has been relaxed over the years with U.S. encouragement as the Cold War unfolded and America sought allies in Asia, allowing Japan to have a military to defend itself, dubbed a Self-Defense Force.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has long denounced the postwar constitution as one imposed by the U.S., which occupied Japan from the end of World War II until 1952. Abe's grandfather and role model Nobusuke Kishi _ who was arrested as a suspected war criminal but never charged and later became prime minister _ was among vocal opponents of the constitution.
Abe advocates a ``breakaway from the postwar regime'' as a way to overcome the humiliation as well as the education system, social values and historical views set by the occupation.
THE PRESIDENT OF KOREA PARK GEUN-HYE APOLOGIZES FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SEWOL TRAGEDY AFTER 20 DAYS–AS KOREA CONTINUES TO MOURN FOR THE LOSS OF 226 LIVES AND 76 STILL MISSING –MOSTLY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
President Park Geun-hye on Sunday apologized to the families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims for poor administrative measures to save their beloved ones, and vowed to punish all of those held responsible.
"I understand that you are in great despair. It has been about 20 days since the accident. I feel immensely responsible," Park told the family members of those who are still reported missing from the sunken ship at the Paengmok Port in Jindo of South Jeolla Province.
The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol capsized and sank off Jindo on April 16, en route to Jejudo Island. Of the 476 people believed to have been aboard the ill-fated
vessel, no one has been found alive since it sank. Families of the victimsnt have been camping out in Paengmok waiting for the news of a possible rescue, or body retrieval.
As of Sunday, bodies of 244 deceased people from the accident have been retrieved but around 60 are left missing despite intensive underwater search.
It was the second visit for Park, who made the first move on April 17, a day after the accident. The meeting between the president and the family members was held behind closed doors and media crew were later briefed of the encounter.