Text Fwd: Gates: U.S. Troops, Missiles In Japan Needed Against China, N. Korea

* Texts sent by Rick Rozoff on Jan. 14, 2011

Stars and Stripes
January 13, 2011
Gates: U.S. troops needed in Japan to keep China, North Korea in check
By Kevin Baron

-In a sweeping assessment of the U.S.-Japan security stance, Gates said the two countries require “more effective” missile defense capabilities. He praised the existing system as “one of the most advanced of its kind in the world,” and hailed the advanced SM-3 interceptor’s ability to thwart a North Korean attack. Both countries will continue to share missile defense commands at Yokota Air Base.



TOKYO: The U.S. needs troops in Japan for the long term to keep China’s rising power in check and contain North Korea’s aggressive nuclear and missile aspirations, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said....

“On account of the scope, complexity and lethality of these challenges, I would argue that our alliance is more necessary, more relevant and more important than ever,” Gates said Friday in a keynote speech at Tokyo’s Keio University.

Without U.S. armed forces in Japan, Gates said North Korea’s military provocations could be “even more outrageous,” China might act more aggressively, disaster assistance would take longer, joint exercises would be harder to execute and the U.S. would have less intelligence on the region.

In a sweeping assessment of the U.S.-Japan security stance, Gates said the two countries require “more effective” missile defense capabilities. He praised the existing system as “one of the most advanced of its kind in the world,” and hailed the advanced SM-3 interceptor’s ability to thwart a North Korean attack. Both countries will continue to share missile defense commands at Yokota Air Base.

Gates made clear that the U.S. intends to move forward with Futenma relocation according to the newly agreed plan adopted last year, although he took a softer tone in remarks Thursday and at the defense ministry. That marked a change from past visits in which Gates had pressed Japan to get on with the move.

[He]warned that Chinese advances in cyber and anti-satellite warfare pose “a potential challenge” to U.S. military’s Pacific operations and communications “in ways that could inflict enormous damage to advanced, networked militaries and societies. Fortunately, the U.S. and Japan maintain a qualitative edge in satellite and computer technology.”
....
Speaking a week after introducing Pentagon plans to reduce the size of the U.S. military and pull back on costly weapons buys, Gates said Japan will need to take on more of its security responsibilities.

“In the United States, we are engaged in a robust debate about the size, composition and cost of our military,” Gates said. “... We will continue to maintain the military strength necessary to protect our interests, defend our allies and deter potential adversaries from acts of aggression and intimidation. To do this we need a committed and capable security partner in Japan.”

Gates praised Japan’s recent agreement to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with South Korea, saying their increased military activities around the world are a key rationale for recommending Japan join the United Nations Security Council.

For now, regional security remains wholly dependent on the U.S.

Yet as Gates openly advocates for negotiations with North Korea, he sounded clearly pessimistic heading to Seoul.

“Despite the hopes and best efforts of the South Korean government, the U.S. and our allies, and the international community,” he said, “the character and priorities of the North Korean regime have sadly not changed.”

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Gates: Japan Must Take Larger Military Role In Asia, Against China
Los Angeles Times
January 13, 2011
Japan must take broader military role in East Asia, Gates says
:The U.S. and Japan need to broaden their military alliance to deal with any threats from North Korea and China, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says. U.S. bases in Japan are a valuable deterrent, he says.
By David S. Cloud


General: U.S. Ready To "Demolish" North Korean Missile Sites
Arirang News
January 14, 2011
US Preparing to Strike N. Korea If ICBM Threats Increase
Choi You-sun


U.S., Japanese Defense Chiefs Plan Transfer Of Interceptor Missiles
Japan Times
January 14, 2011
Kitazawa, Gates to speed talks on SM-3
By MASAMI ITO

[Text Fwd: PSPD] S. Korea-Japan Military Pact should not be initiated, which will inevitably justify JSDF's military actions and bring a new Cold War

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

S. Korea-Japan Military Pact should not be initiated, which will inevitably justify JSDF's military actions and bring a new Cold War in Northeast Asia.

- It neutralizes the Article 9 of the Peace Constitution of Japan

On 4 January 2011, the Daily Yomiuri reported that South Korean and Japanese governments are promoting a joint declaration of enforcing comprehensive military cooperation between them. While denying any review on this agreement, The Korean government said that it would discuss about signing ACSA(Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement), GSOMIA(General Security of Military Information Agreement) and other issues at Korea-Japan Minister of National defence meeting next week. The government seems to monitor public opinion carefully while it emphasizes the military cooperation between two countries is being discussed at low level. However, this issue is not all about past history between Korea and Japan or national sentiment. It is dangerous to make any agreement or joint declaration for military cooperation between Korea and Japan because it could justify overseas operation of JSDF(Japanese Self-Defense Forces) and bring about the new Cold War in East Asia.

First of all, South Korea-Japan military cooperation agreement justifies Japan to maintain military forces and its usage which have been banned by the Japanese Constitution. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution prohibits Japan from maintaining armed forces and an act of war by the state, playing a role of restricting expansion of Japanese military force and as fundamental principle for peace in Northeast Asia. As already known, however, the Japanese government showed its intention to amend this article in order to dispatch the JSDF overseas and get a right of collective self-defence from a long time ago. Therefore, if a military agreement or a joint declaration between South Korea and Japan is made in any form, it would mean that South Korean government consents to this move of Japan and contributes to expansion of its military forces by neutralizing article 9 of the constitution. It could also be an excuse for dispatching Japanese Self-Defense Forces into Korean peninsula. The Japanese Prime Minister's remark that JSDF could be sent to the Korean Peninsula on the pretext of contingency was controversial. It would become a reality, not just a happening.

Another problem is that it will necessarily bring about a new Cold War in Northeast Asia. The U.S. has taken Japan as an axis of alliance in Asia region for a long time as it had England in Europe, and at the same time, it has asked an increased military role to Japan. In this regard improvement of South Korea-Japan relation and military cooperation has been also required. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said "Korea and Japan should try to make South Korea-U.S-Japan trilateral military training to happen, advancing from their past history" As a series of similar actions JSDF observed South Korea-U.S. joint military training and warships and corvettes of JSDF participated in PSI exercise. This reinforced military cooperation between Korea, U.S. and Japan aims to blockade China, which is rapidly growing its power. Therefore, enforcing Korea-Japan military cooperation would cause new Cold War between one side of South Korea-U.S.-Japan and the other side of North Korea-Russia-China. This is highly inappropriate in current circumstance of Northeast Asia where constructive role of China is more required for peace on Korean peninsula.

It should be emphasized that a military cooperation between Korea and Japan is not appropriate regardless of its level. It just helps expansion of Japan's military power and boosts Cold War structure in Northeast Asia, which is not over yet. Korean peninsula also could be entangled in regional power conflict and confrontation. The Korean government should avoid this situation. Any form of military agreement or comprehensive declaration of military cooperation between Korea and Japan would be intolerable.

January 5, 2011

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

Text Fwd: Korean orgs. joint statement: Withdraw from the ROK-Japan military pact that brings a new cold war in the North East Asia!

* About 13 Korean organizations including the Peace Network, and People' s Solidarity for Participatory(PSPD) had the press release and the joint statement on Jan. 14, 2011. Will inform if the English version is available.


보도자료

시민단체 공동성명 “동북아 신냉전 불어오는 한일 군사협정 계획 철회하라” 발표
-한일군사협정, 동북아 신냉전 불러오고 자위대의 한반도 개입 명분 주는 일
-언론과 국회는 한일 군사협정 추진과정과 문제점 면밀히 밝혀야

1. 오늘(1/14) 12개 시민단체는 일본 자위대의 군사행동을 정당화하고 동북아에 신냉전을 불러올 한일 군사협정 계획을 즉각 철회할 것을 요구하는 공동성명을 발표했다.

2. 이들 시민단체들은 공동성명을 통해 지난 한일 국방장관 회담에서 추진하기로 합의한 상호군수지원협정이 본격적인 한일 군사협정으로 가는 신호탄이 될 것이라고 우려하였다. 이들은 한일 군사동맹을 통해 구축되는 한미일 삼각 군사동맹이 역내 군사적 대립과 군비경쟁을 가속화시켜 동북아의 신냉전을 초래할 것이며, 결국 한반도와 동북아 평화체제 전환의 큰 걸림돌이 될 것이라고 주장했다. 또한 이들은 군대 보유와 무력 사용을 금지하고 있는 일본 헌법 9조를 무력화하여 자위대의 해외 활동을 정당화하고 유사시 한반도 개입의 명분을 줄 수 있다는 점을 들어 한일 군사협정 계획을 철회할 것을 요구했다. 아울러 이들은 언론과 국회가 군사협정 추진과정과 문제점에 대해 자세히 밝혀야 하며, 특히 국회는 한반도와 동북아 평화를 저해하는 군사협정 계획을 철회시키는 데 모든 노력을 다할 것을 촉구했다.

3. 이번 공동성명에 참여한 시민사회단체는 경실련통일협회, 녹색연합, 민주사회를위한변호사모임, 민주언론시민연합, 사단법인통일맞이, 참여연대, 평택평화센터, 평화네트워크, 평화를만드는여성회, 평화박물관, 한국여성단체연합, 한국YMCA전국연맹 등 12개 단체이다. 끝.

▣ 별첨: 공동성명: 동북아 신냉전 불러오는 한일 군사협정 계획 철회하라

공동성명

동북아 신냉전 불러오는 한일 군사협정 계획 철회하라

불안한 한반도와 동북아 정세를 틈타 한일간의 군사협정 논의가 본격화되고 있다. 지난 10일 기타자와 도시미 일본 방위상과 김관진 국방장관간의 회담에 대해 국방부는 "한일 군사협정 체결의 공감대를 형성"하고, "유엔평화유지활동(PKO)과 인도적 지원 및 재난구호활동 등의 분야에서 물자, 식량, 연료를 서로 지원하는 상호군수지원협정 체결을 위해 구체적인 협의를 진행하기로 했다"고 밝혔다. 일본 언론에 의하면 김관진 국방장관이 “여론도 고려해야 하는 만큼 로키(낮은 자세)로 진전시켜 가자”고 발언한 것으로 알려지고 있다. 이 같은 정황들은 한일 당국간에 군사협정 논의가 이미 상당 수준 진척되어 왔으며, 현재 논의 중인 상호군수지원협정도 본격적인 군사협정으로 가기 위한 신호탄이라는 것을 보여준다. 하지만 한일간의 군사협정 체결은 그 수준이 어떠하든지 간에 일본 자위대의 군사행동을 정당화해주고 동북아에 신냉전을 고착화시키는 매우 위험한 일이 될 것이다. 우리는 한일 간의 군사협정 계획을 즉각 철회할 것을 요구한다.

우리는 한일 군사협정 체결이 필연적으로 동북아 신냉전을 초래하여 한반도와 동북아 평화체제 전환의 커다란 걸림돌이 될 것임을 우려하지 않을 수 없다. 한일 간의 군사협정은 미국이 동북아 군사전략 차원에서 지속적으로 추구해 온 한미일 삼각동맹으로 가기 위한 발판이 될 것이다. 한일 군사협력을 통해 한미일 연합훈련이 실현되도록 해야 한다는 마이클 멀린 미국 합참의장의 최근 발언을 언급하지 않더라도 한미일 삼각동맹 구축은 미국이 오랫동안 추구해 온 군사전략이다. 이 같은 삼각동맹은 중국을 군사적으로 압박하고 한반도와 아시아를 비롯한 세계 전역에서의 군사협력을 목적으로 하고 있다. 한미, 미일간의 합동 군사훈련에 이미 한국과 일본이 참여하고 있는 것이나 한국군과 일본 자위대가 해외 군사 활동을 전개하는 것도 그 일환이라고 할 수 있다. 일본 내 미군 기지들이 한반도 유사시를 대비한 후방기지의 역할을 하고 있다는 것도 주지의 사실이다. 연내 한일 양국이 체결하겠다는 상호군수지원협정이 단순히 인도적 목적을 위한 것이라는 정부 주장을 곧이곧대로 받아들일 수 없는 이유도 바로 이 때문이다. 분명한 것은 한일간에 군사협정이 역내 군사적 대립과 군비경쟁을 가속화시켜 동북아 냉전구도를 고착화시킬 것이라는 점이다. 우리는 이 같은 한일 군사협정을 추진하는 것이 과연 한반도 주민의 이해에 부합하는 것인지 묻지 않을 수 없다.

또한 우리는 한일간의 군사협정 논의가 군대보유와 무력사용을 금지하고 있는 일본 헌법 9조를 무력화하고 있는 것에 대해서도 크게 우려한다. 20세기 아시아 전역에 크나큰 고통과 상처를 남긴 일본의 제국주의와 호전적인 군사행동이 더 이상 가능하지 않도록 일본의 군사력 팽창을 억제해 온 장치가 바로 일본 헌법 9조이다. 이미 국제사회에는 비단 일본뿐만 아니라 아시아와 전 세계의 평화 정착을 위해 각 국가와 국제기구들이 헌법 9조를 기본원칙으로 채택해야 한다는 목소리가 높다. 그러나 이미 알려져 있듯이 일본과 미국은 일본의 군사적 역할을 강조하며 자위대의 해외 활동을 정당화하기 위한 법제도적 개정 시도를 지속해왔다. 이를 모르지 않는 한국 정부가 일본 자위대의 해외활동을 정당화하고 나아가 유사시 한반도 개입의 명분을 주는 군사협정을 추진하는 것은 납득할 수 없는 일이다.

한반도와 동북아에서 대립과 갈등이 지속되는 것을 원하는 것이 아니라면, 정부는 한일간의 군사협정 계획을 즉각 철회해야 한다. 지금은 그 어느 때보다 한반도와 동북아의 정세를 안정시키고 역내 평화정착을 위한 다각적인 모색이 요구되는 시점이다. 역내 평화구축에 전혀 도움이 되지 않는 한일 군사협정을 논의할 이유가 없다. 정부는 한일 군사협정이 초래할 동북아의 대립구도가 한반도 평화와 통일에 있어 스스로의 운신 폭을 좁히는 패착이 될 수 있다는 우려를 깊이 새겨들어야 한다. 우리는 각 언론들이 한일 군사협정의 함의와 그것이 초래할 문제점에 대해 국민들에게 충분히 알리는 역할을 수행하기를 기대한다. 아울러 우리는 국회가 나서서 군사협정 추진과정과 협정이 가져올 부작용 등을 밝히고 한반도와 동북아 평화를 저해하는 군사협정 계획을 철회시키는 데 모든 노력을 다할 것을 촉구한다.


2010년 1월 14일

경실련통일협회, 녹색연합, 민주사회를위한변호사모임, 민주언론시민연합, 사단법인통일맞이, 참여연대, 평택평화센터, 평화네트워크, 평화를만드는여성회, 평화박물관, 한국여성단체연합, 한국YMCA전국연맹

Photos Fwd: [SPARK] No ROK-Japan military pact! No US-Japan-ROK trilateral Alliance!

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국문 성명서:
136 차 자주 통일평화 행동 결의문 (클릭)
김성환 외교부 장관과 기타자와 도시미 일본 방위상 면담 대응 기자회견 일본의 한반도 재침략 길 터주는 한일 군사협정 체결 논의 중단하라!(클릭)
일본 재침략 길 터주는 한일 군사협정 체결 및 일본 방위상의 2함대 사령부 방문을 강력히 반대한다.(클릭)

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More description comes later.

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* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea

The 136th Self-reliance Unification Peace Action in front of the U.S. Embassy, Seoul, Jan. 11, 2011


ROK-Japan-US trilateral alliance
Resurrection of militarism in Japan
South Korean policy of unification through absorbing [North Korea]



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* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Jan. 11, 2011

Shadow protest action
In front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2:40pm, Jan. 11, 2011







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* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Jan. 11, 2011

Shadow protest action

In front of the headquarter of the 2nd Fleet, Pyeongtaek, 11:30am, Jan. 11, 2011

"We also strongly oppose the conclusion of ROK-Japan military pact in the sense that the western sea area under the district of the 2nd fleet is becoming the sites for the militaristic clash between North and South Korea and for the power conflicts by the vicinity countries such as China and United States.

As the Pyeongtaek base including the headquarter of the 2nd fleet command is becoming fortified as the war power projection base for the USFK in preparation for the preemptive attack against North Korea and for the both banks conflicts, if ROK-Japan military pact is concluded, it is clear that Pyeongtaek will be not to mention, for the post for the USFK but also for the combined forces of ROK-Japan-US, with the JMSDF running frequently. If then, Pyeongtaek cannot be in the middle of the power conflicts between NK-China-Russia and ROK-US-Japan and the damage for it would be wholly in our part intact." (Part translation from the statement of SPARK, Pyeongtaek)

Photos Fwd: No Trilateral US-JAPAN-ROK Military Alliance

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[1/10] 평통사 한일 국방장관 회담 규탄 기자회견문(Click HERE)
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* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Jan. 10, 2011




* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Jan. 10, 2011

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* Related article

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, left, and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa, shake hands before holding talks to bolster security ties between the two countries, at the Ministry of National Defense, Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times

Korea Times
01-10-2011 19:21
Seoul, Tokyo agree to seek military pact

Yonhap News
2011/01/10 18:30 KST
S. Korea, Japan build common understanding on military pact

Text Fwd: [Rick Rozoff] U.S. Builds Military Alliance With Japan, South Korea For War In East 미국, 일본, 남한과 동아시아에서의 전쟁을 위해 균사 동맹

Rick Rozoff blog

Dec. 14, 2010
U. S. Builds Military Alliance With Japan, South Korea For War In The EastRick RozoffLast week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton summoned her Japanese and South Korean counterparts, Foreign Ministers Seiji Maehara and Kim Sung-hwan, to Washington for trilateral talks on the Korean crisis in an open affront to China and Russia, which had called for a resumption of six-party discussions with both Koreas, themselves, the U.S. and Japan.Officiating over the December 6 gathering with her junior partners on her own turf, Clinton - rather than the foreign ministers of the two East Asian nations - stated, "North Korea’s provocative and belligerent behavior jeopardizes peace and stability in Asia." The imperial metropolis and its would-be global procurator pronounce on what constitutes threats to peace and stability on another continent; the perspective of countries in the region like China and Russia don't need to be taken into account and their concerns don't need to be addressed.


Two days later America's top military officer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, was in the South Korean capital and in that of Japan the day after. In Seoul he met with General Han Min-koo, chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in Tokyo with Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) chief of staff General Ryoichi Oriki. While in Japan, Mullen mentioned "the trilateral meeting on the part of our foreign ministers which occurred earlier this week in Washington" by way of indicating that his efforts paralleled those of Clinton. Soft versus hard power in the Washington vernacular, both serving the same ends.He also assured his Japanese opposite number General Oriki that "the United States is very much – is very involved in regions all over the world but none so much as this one in terms of its importance and its commitment." [1]


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Text Fwd: Seoul, Tokyo to hold vice defense ministers' talks 서울과 도쿄, [12월 10일 금요일 ]국방 차관 대화 예정

Korea Times
12-09-2010 18:12
Seoul, Tokyo to hold vice defense ministers' talks
By Jung Sung-ki

The vice defense ministers from South Korea and Japan will hold talks in Tokyo Friday over defense cooperation between the two nations and joint efforts to deter North Korea’s provocations, Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense said.

Vice Defense Minister Lee Yong-geol arrived in the Japanese capital Thursday for the meeting with his Japanese counterpart Kimito Nakae will continue their talks through Friday, the ministry said in a press release.

“During the talks, both vice defense ministers will share the views on security conditions on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea’s nuclear problem and deadly shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, as well as ways of boosting bilateral defense cooperation,” it said.

On Nov. 23, the North fire about 170 shells onto the island in waters off the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto sea border between the two Koreas, killing two marines and two civilians. The artillery attack came just eight months after the North allegedly torpedoed a South Korean warship near the NLL, the flash point for inter-Korean conflicts, claiming the lives of 46 sailors.

The visit by the South Korean vice defense minister to Japan is the first of its kind in 15 years, said the release.
mailto:gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr