Defending Japan against a major asian attack would likely require maintaining some forward-deployed U.S. naval forces and pre-positioned materiel in the Asia-Pacific.
Is it possible Abe was concerned japan would become a casualty of two major powers fighting? (not unlike ukraine was betwee nato and russia)
I read that "exercise" months ago and the big question I had was how do you kick this off? How do you get to Taiwan via Japan. As soon as I saw this headline I immediately thought about that exercise. My guess is Abe wouldn't go along with the ff or this is the ff and sets Japan in motion.
I read that "exercise" months ago and the big question I had was how do you kick this off? How do you get to Taiwan via Japan. As soon as I saw this headline I immediately thought about that exercise
the lack of official speculation or idealogical scapegoating by the japanese government (and international affiliates), says to me that this is potentially a narrative with an explicit goal. Why withhold speculation when thats the go-to in many sensational events? Unless of course theres a reason for withholding. Which tells me theres a next step to this.
Explains, in a manner of speaking, how the attacker obtained the means for this assassination.
"potentially a narrative with an explicit goal" I totally agree.
Below is from page 41 of the tabletop. Keep an eye out for the "Ryukyu island chain" to pop up in the media. That would be the next step.
There are ongoing disputes between China and Japan (most notably, control of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, as we discuss in Chapter Three) that could plausibly escalate into a military confrontation in which China could bring its substantial military capabilities to bear against Japan. Moreover, as we discuss in Chapter Four, China’s long-term maritime ambitions and the geography of the region mean that the Ryukyu island chain could become another plausible flashpoint. Advocates of restraint have not carefully analyzed the threat that China poses to Japan’s military power or to the Ryukyus.
Overall, the most likely military threat from China, should it choose to attack Japan, would be from missile strikes against key military infrastructure (such as runways, bases, and air and missile defenses) followed by attacks from aircraft, surface ships, and submarines to disable Japan’s naval and air assets. Such an attack could come from an escalating dispute over the Senkaku Islands or the Ryukyu Islands or from Japan’s involvement in a war over Taiwan. Chinese military capabilities that could target Japan’s territory or its naval and air forces include the PLA’s large and growing arsenal of precision strike missiles, such as ASBMs, MRBMs, and LACMs. The PLAN is upgrading and deploying surface combatants with modern air defenses and longer-range ASCMs.9
(post is archived)