[thebmax]

Amazing what Obama is willing to give up in order to secure 'his' legacy issues. 60 years of post war Asian defense strategy thrown out the window. I don't see this ending well. Japan a has a deep militaristic underbelly and most japanese hate their regional neighbors (South Korea, China). They are our allies but this increases instability in Asia enormously and could lead to a regional arms race between China and Japan and greatly increases the risk of a military conflict in Asia in the next 30 years.

[Htsthbjig]

I have lived in China, Korea and Japan and in my opinion you are not right.

Fist, US of America is requesting Japan to do what is has done. They are worried about China, not Japan. Also the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam want Japan involvement.

Japan today is a very old country which population is going to decrease in dozens of millions in the next decades.

By contrast China has a population more than 10 times bigger than Japan, but now they are industrialized, they can sustain a war, and could kill millions.

US wants to maintain control trade on China sea. Preserve the status quo(as WWII winner). Of course China wants to change the status quo, control her own sea, and if possible, dominate others(like the US does).

[suryon]

Do not forget the Korea. Albeit Japan is their ally they will work their asses so hard to destroy them economically or militarily if the opportunity arises.

[maaku]

> most japanese hate their regional neighbors

Well let's not over-generalize, hate is a strong word. But yes, there are unresolved history and serious tensions...