On December 7, 2023, Tulsi Gabbard, now President-elect , Donald Trump’s pull as director of national intelligence,  , wrote , on X:
As we remember Japan’s anger in the Pacific, we need to question ourselves this question: is the remilitarization of Japan, which is currently underway, really a good idea?
We need to be mindful that foolish, self-serving officials do not end up bringing us suddenly face-to-face with a remilitarized Japan.
Gabbard, a past member of the United States Congress, appears to be talking about some other Japan.
According to Richard Halloran of The New York Times, the Japanese were the worst he had ever encountered in terms of being able to “explain themselves.” That has not changed. So I did test.
Who’s scared of Japan?
Second, regarding” …the remilitarization of Japan, which is currently afoot.”. Huh? Japan militarized a long time ago. At least 50 years ago.
The Japan , Self-Defense Force , ( JSDF) is a quarter million strong, well-equipped, and professional. However, it poses a threat to no one because it never was and always wants to be. No president or lawmaker in Japan has ever suggested that it should be.
Moreover, even if it wanted to throw its weight around, it could not accomplish much. Japan’s defense is about half the size needed to carry out all important missions – much less launch an attack on anyone.
In 2023, the JSDF missed its hiring targets by 50 %. They are frequently missed by 20 %. And it won’t get growing as the population drops. Also, there is zero political could for growth.
But what about Japan’s fresh Marine Rapid Deployment Brigade? If it could find the ships ( no sure thing ) and did not get sunk on the way, it could perhaps land 700″ Marines” on the Chinese coast.  ,  ,
Nothing would see. Set 700 people in a decent-sized football stadium and it would seem clear. So much for Japan threatening its companions.
It may at best establish a security strong enough to avert an attack from the Chinese, North Koreans, and Russians. But on its own, Japan has poor leads against China’s People’s Liberation Army – yet with so-called” counter-strike” potential – or , long-range weapons.
Tokyo has no good option besides tying up with the United States and the , US government. It has every opportunity to make the most of what it has in terms of defense and to be as effective an ally as possible.  ,  ,
A more effective JSDF with the ability to carry out joint activities and maintain adequate combat stocks is necessary for this. Along with integration with US troops, it also needs much better education for true combat than it does now.
And these are very much in America’s attention.
Track record of civility
Then, glance at Japan’s post-war record report. And keep in mind that the conflict ended 80 years earlier. Since then, nearly four centuries have been born.
Japan has been a compassionate, consensus-based democracy since 1945 and has remained steadfast in its support of the US and the West. The world’s largest donation of foreign aid is Tokyo. Immense Asian business and investment in the , Indo-Pacific , and international are welcomed and sought after.
More nations like Japan may be needed.
Japan has apologized and tried to repent for , World War II. Yes,  , South Korea , and , China , say they are angry, though the hatred is generally stoked for political get.
But, Japan is also regarded in most of Asia. Perhaps that, the battle is a distant storage. Also regarded? Let’s get down the list.
Taiwan? Japan is well-liked.  ,  , How about the , Philippines? The equal.
Vietnam , and , Indonesia? Japan and Japan both merit praise for removing the imperial yoke. Thailand? Excellent relationships. Malaysia? Similar issue.  , Bangladesh , and Burma? Great relationships.
Australia? Willing to allow bygones to become bygones despite the Imperial Japanese Army‘s horrifying remedy of American prisoners of war. Pacific island nations? Japan is regarded as a companion and has strong ties to Japan.  ,  ,
And the great one,  , India. Ties are excellent, and in some respect, the India-Japan marriage is deeper than the Japan-US marriage, at least at the elite-to-elite levels. India also considers Japan to be a good neighbor for supporting Indian patriots seeking independence from Great Britain.
More friends like Japan
Do you think Tulsi Gabbard isn’t up to date with Japan, or what? No really. She is fresh enough to understand. She may be straightened if she had a two-page briefing papers or ten minutes with a subject matter expert or someone who was open to the idea.
And she is not the second person to misinterpret Japan. Marine Lieutenant General Hank Stackpole’s” cork in the bottle”  , comment  , ( that the American forces in Japan were what kept Japan from going on the rampage ) was wrong, even when he said it in 1990.
Senior officials at USINOPACOM resisted the idea of an aquatic ready Japan until recently. Who knows what these Chinese people will do? Yes, that 700-man power that may destroy Asia.
One also encounters persons in the US government and military who are unaware that the Japanese of the 1930s share the same values as the Danes of the Vikings who carved their names in the Hagia Sophia.
Japan is a danger to anyone. It has a lot of international effect and is a fortress of good, consensus-based government and personal independence in Northeast Asia. More of these friends and a stronger Japan Self-Defense Force should be what the US wants.
If you want to worry about “remilitarization”, only look across the , East China Sea , at the , People’s Republic of China.
Grant Newsham, a resigned US Marine captain, is the creator of ,” When China Attacks: A Warning to America”.
This article first appeared on JAPAN Forward, and it has since been republished with kind consent. Read the original around.