I might like to see what happens if Japan builds nukes. For self-defense, naturally. Not for anything as impolite as forcing China to behave itself in its neighborhood.
And hey, while we're talking about international friendship and bonhomie, I hear Cam Ranh Bay has some nice pierside facilities. Imagine an Amphibious Ready Group docked there for an extended port visit with our Vietnamese friends. The opportunities for tourism are just peachy.
Back in the day a job for a designated Navy JAG stationed at Subic was to be the bagman passing through the Olongapo bars with a fist full of cash, paying off the bar girl fines for sailors on hold.
Every Japanese Prime Minister used to visit the newly elected US President and ask if the US nuclear umbrella still applied. They didn't bother with Biden and nor with Trump 2. Anecdotally, they are making their own weapons grade plutonium using molten salt reactors. That process route has the potential for making quality stuff with a quite low Pu240 level. Japan had been sent 315 kg of weapons grade plutonium in the early 70s. Obama made them send that back in 2014, knowing that Japan being defenseless would trigger a war in Asia.
Hm, I wonder what would happens if Mexico or Venezuela gets nukes. For self-defense, naturally. Not for anything as impolite as forcing United States to behave itself in its neighborhood...
I would be shocked if Japan did not covertly build an unassembled collection of Nuclear weapons. South Korea as well. Hell I would have started building one ASAP.
The ROC still exists on Taiwan. Does that mean what I think it means? Are all the territorial swaps that occurred after WWII supposed to go to Taiwan and not the PRC? That would be a pretty good reason for Xi and the rest of the commies to insist Taiwan is theirs - they have no right to territory that was "returned" to ROC otherwise.
Since PRC didn’t exist at the time of the Potsdam Agreement, the only “China” in existence was the Republic of China. Therefore, to re-establish the international order as of 1945, PRC’s stated goal, would be for PRC to surrender all its territories to the government on Taiwan. Q.E.D.
Sorry, but UN recognized PRC as legal government of China. Taiwan is not recognized by any Security Counsil members. The whole idea that remnant of loser regime hiding behind American backs on small island could represent the nation is as absurd as idea that descendants of American loyalists, living in Britain, could represent the rightful government of America.
Doesn't the Confucian Mandate of Heaven demand an "emperor" who can exercise a type of command and control of the obedience of both the spirit world and a demonstrable ability to intercede on behalf of this physical realm? Any threat to this cosmic order, therefore, is deemed a potential loss of the mandate. Territorial claims from times before the Roman Empire now conspire with restrictive coastal geography and technology. Is Taiwan the thing that keeps Xi up at night or is it the symbol Taiwan offers as chaos or a loss of control at a very time when the AI/chip race is on? Thanks Cdr! SF, RR
At this point, I think the State Department should threaten to redesignate the American Institute in Taiwan (that being the Not an Embassy) to being either a Consulate-General with the same status as the Consulate General in Hong Kong or a Legation. Of course, they'd probably go catatonic at the idea, but it's a nice feeling idea.
No, Mr. Thompson, too confrontational. But a good opportunity to open a Trump Watch outlet with a plenipotentiary State Department wonk running the store.
“Japan is presented as a single, continuous political actor across time, retroactively merging the Greater Japan's role from 1905 in the war with Russia, her peaceful annexation of Korea in 1910 and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (broadly 1931-1945) into Japan's present-day claims. Grammatically, the “return” is expressed as a present-tense fact within the international order, while WWII cooperation is depicted as a completed past. Taiwan’s status is simultaneously framed as finished and unfinished: finished in history, yet unfinished in sovereignty."
Japan can play word games too. But they'd do well to hire a lawyer in case I parsed it wrong.
It is an unknown fact that Taiwanese work inside PRC and PRC workers work inside Taiwan, they own businesses in each, and operate them with their own people.
Taiwan is more Chinese than Japanese. They are Han Chinese.
There won't be a war if PRC simply changes the Taiwanese political landscape.
Sigh. And now let's recall, that Taiwan autonomy is not recognized by absolute majority of nations - including United States themselves - and from legal point of view, we have an armed rebellion, illegally supported by foreign forces.
Also, what the hell this Roy Ngerng is blabbering about Sakhalin, Kurils and Cairo treaty? He is incompetent, stupid, or both?
1) USSR wasn't a participant of Cairo treaty of 1943; it included only Britain, USA and Republic of China;
2) Yalta conference agreed that USSR should return Southern Sakhalin and Kurils from Japan as rightfully Russian territories, seized by Japanese militarists;
If Putin loses power or Russia loses the Ukraine war, China will act and seize territory in Eastern Russia opposite Japan. Communist are not the kind of rulers that honor agreements or can be trusted.
And Soviets got the same from observing the behavior of capitalistic democratic nations, you know) Seriously, "honor" and "morality" in politics? Good joke, funny one)
The situation with Taiwan is especially ridiculous since USA stopped to recognize Taiwan in 1970s. So essentially USA is supporting the armed rebellion on Taiwan (which they didn't recognize) against the legitimate People Republic of China (which they recognize). From any legal standpoint, this is utter absurd.
The US basically wanted to protect their team, (ROC) against Chinese communist aggression, and to establish an area where they could monitor and have a base to resist the then agenda of containing communism. There is no armed rebellion, Taiwanese work in China and Chinese are working in Taiwan, both own factories in each country and it is business as usual. The main focus here is simply politics and the two big boys on the block having a turf war.
Technically there is. US recognize Taiwan as part of People Republic of China. A non-recognized territory that refuse to accept the control of recognized nation is de-facto armed rebellion.
I dispute that, where is Taiwan shooting at China? Are Taiwanese ship sailing into Chinese waters, flying recon flights and shows of strength over china?
Taiwan is basically and Island Nation not recognized by the foolish and useless UN because of fear and communist influence.
If China disarmed Taiwan would not expand or invade China, If Taiwan disarmed they would be conquered by fire and maneuver in five minutes or less.
"De facto", Crimea is Russian territory, and not recognized as such by the foolish and useless UN because of fear and European influence) Arguments like "but it's obvious!" works both sides, you know.
Fantastic comments! Thank you Jerome, Bear et.al. I sent the Map to someone who may use it. Yesterday, I was cautioned not to talk “Politics” inside the Disabilities Office at my College. Legal wrangling, lawyers butting heads and judges overturning what previous judges ordered.
Me, personally, I want “United States Ship Building”, on everyone’s mind! Thank you Jerome for sharing what you know about “Drones”. Yesterday, I shared that with a young student whose father loved “Drones” but is now too busy at BWI … The young lad smiled at me, thanking me for “Telling such good stories!” Perhaps that’s my current mission, instill hope among our “young and not so young” college students wanting to learn and feel appreciated. Stay warm! Nurse Jane
"The Imperial Russian Government cedes to the Imperial Government of Japan in perpetuity and full sovereignty the southern portion of the Island of Saghalin and all the islands adjacent thereto and the public works and properties thereon. The fiftieth degree of north latitude is adopted as the northern boundary of the ceded territory."
Article IX of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth.
The northern half of Sakhalin should be explicitly Soviet/Russian on the map, that it is not puts the accuracy of the entire graphic into question.
Newsflash: the Yalta Conferense of 1945 unanimously decided that territories taken by Japan in 1905 were part of Japanese imperial conquest, and must be seceded back to Russia/USSR as part of Japanese Empire dismantling. Japan confirmed this loss, seceding all rights on Sakhalin and Kurils at San-Francisco Treaty of 1951.
I might like to see what happens if Japan builds nukes. For self-defense, naturally. Not for anything as impolite as forcing China to behave itself in its neighborhood.
And hey, while we're talking about international friendship and bonhomie, I hear Cam Ranh Bay has some nice pierside facilities. Imagine an Amphibious Ready Group docked there for an extended port visit with our Vietnamese friends. The opportunities for tourism are just peachy.
"...opportunities for tourism..." Snicker. Opportunities for cultural exchange!
Were Westpacs ever the same after Kaohsiung, Keelung and Subic Bay were closed to us?
Back in the day a job for a designated Navy JAG stationed at Subic was to be the bagman passing through the Olongapo bars with a fist full of cash, paying off the bar girl fines for sailors on hold.
Don't forget Angeles city!
Every Japanese Prime Minister used to visit the newly elected US President and ask if the US nuclear umbrella still applied. They didn't bother with Biden and nor with Trump 2. Anecdotally, they are making their own weapons grade plutonium using molten salt reactors. That process route has the potential for making quality stuff with a quite low Pu240 level. Japan had been sent 315 kg of weapons grade plutonium in the early 70s. Obama made them send that back in 2014, knowing that Japan being defenseless would trigger a war in Asia.
Hm, I wonder what would happens if Mexico or Venezuela gets nukes. For self-defense, naturally. Not for anything as impolite as forcing United States to behave itself in its neighborhood...
That would trigger an interesting conundrum for sure!
I think the US would treat them the way Israel treats Iran's nuclear dreams.
I would be shocked if Japan did not covertly build an unassembled collection of Nuclear weapons. South Korea as well. Hell I would have started building one ASAP.
"...challenge the postwar international order..." Snicker!
Has the Twilight Zone taken over and we've gone back to JFK supporting Chiang Kai-shek over Formosa on Meet the Press in 1960?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-P3q1asRVQ
Dear China, this time we're supplying arms to the Japanese. Might want to think about that. America
Dear America, think who make the steel you build your arms from. Might want to think about that. China.
The ROC still exists on Taiwan. Does that mean what I think it means? Are all the territorial swaps that occurred after WWII supposed to go to Taiwan and not the PRC? That would be a pretty good reason for Xi and the rest of the commies to insist Taiwan is theirs - they have no right to territory that was "returned" to ROC otherwise.
Deja Vu all over again!
Since PRC didn’t exist at the time of the Potsdam Agreement, the only “China” in existence was the Republic of China. Therefore, to re-establish the international order as of 1945, PRC’s stated goal, would be for PRC to surrender all its territories to the government on Taiwan. Q.E.D.
Sorry, but UN recognized PRC as legal government of China. Taiwan is not recognized by any Security Counsil members. The whole idea that remnant of loser regime hiding behind American backs on small island could represent the nation is as absurd as idea that descendants of American loyalists, living in Britain, could represent the rightful government of America.
I believe you missed my point - that PRC’s own logic drives my answer, not relative economic or military strength.
No. Taiwan is not recognized anymore by anyone worthy of mention.
The Chinese have a wrong history :)
Your history Karl Rove you wrong time, Bill.
Dale:
"Five dollars is all my mom allows me to spend."
"Okay! Ten dollah each."
Gah! Now I have an earworm...Nancy Sinatra singing in the background. Thanx, Bill. :(
Doesn't the Confucian Mandate of Heaven demand an "emperor" who can exercise a type of command and control of the obedience of both the spirit world and a demonstrable ability to intercede on behalf of this physical realm? Any threat to this cosmic order, therefore, is deemed a potential loss of the mandate. Territorial claims from times before the Roman Empire now conspire with restrictive coastal geography and technology. Is Taiwan the thing that keeps Xi up at night or is it the symbol Taiwan offers as chaos or a loss of control at a very time when the AI/chip race is on? Thanks Cdr! SF, RR
At this point, I think the State Department should threaten to redesignate the American Institute in Taiwan (that being the Not an Embassy) to being either a Consulate-General with the same status as the Consulate General in Hong Kong or a Legation. Of course, they'd probably go catatonic at the idea, but it's a nice feeling idea.
No, Mr. Thompson, too confrontational. But a good opportunity to open a Trump Watch outlet with a plenipotentiary State Department wonk running the store.
https://gettrumpwatches.com/
LOL, this is a good one. “fulfill its obligations as a defeated country in World War II”, 80 years later. Classic PRC style.
“Japan is presented as a single, continuous political actor across time, retroactively merging the Greater Japan's role from 1905 in the war with Russia, her peaceful annexation of Korea in 1910 and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (broadly 1931-1945) into Japan's present-day claims. Grammatically, the “return” is expressed as a present-tense fact within the international order, while WWII cooperation is depicted as a completed past. Taiwan’s status is simultaneously framed as finished and unfinished: finished in history, yet unfinished in sovereignty."
Japan can play word games too. But they'd do well to hire a lawyer in case I parsed it wrong.
Curiously silent...the Taiwanese. It's a nation state in all but name. They should resolve the ambiguity.
How? If they declare independence, it would be immediate war, you realize that?
Maybe. Maybe it causes the Chinese government to collapse and bring chaos to China.
Or maybe it would cause American government to collapse and bring chaos to USA?
Deep State collapse, OK.
It is an unknown fact that Taiwanese work inside PRC and PRC workers work inside Taiwan, they own businesses in each, and operate them with their own people.
Taiwan is more Chinese than Japanese. They are Han Chinese.
There won't be a war if PRC simply changes the Taiwanese political landscape.
Sigh. And now let's recall, that Taiwan autonomy is not recognized by absolute majority of nations - including United States themselves - and from legal point of view, we have an armed rebellion, illegally supported by foreign forces.
Also, what the hell this Roy Ngerng is blabbering about Sakhalin, Kurils and Cairo treaty? He is incompetent, stupid, or both?
1) USSR wasn't a participant of Cairo treaty of 1943; it included only Britain, USA and Republic of China;
2) Yalta conference agreed that USSR should return Southern Sakhalin and Kurils from Japan as rightfully Russian territories, seized by Japanese militarists;
Give this Roy Ngerng guy a good kick, please.
If Putin loses power or Russia loses the Ukraine war, China will act and seize territory in Eastern Russia opposite Japan. Communist are not the kind of rulers that honor agreements or can be trusted.
Neither are capitalists, you know)
China got it's commie morality and sense of honor from the Soviets.
It will be interesting to see this play out.
And Soviets got the same from observing the behavior of capitalistic democratic nations, you know) Seriously, "honor" and "morality" in politics? Good joke, funny one)
Pro or Con over Taiwan, this is the long life fallout from the end of World War Two.
Conquered lands are always wanted to returned after a war of that size.
The US gave Okinawa and Iwo Jima, or is it Iwo To? Back to Japan, many places the US did not return land.
Land that was conquered by Japan during it's war with Russia and other places never was returned till after WW 2.
How does one return land that has been assimilated from conquered territory?
The situation with Taiwan is especially ridiculous since USA stopped to recognize Taiwan in 1970s. So essentially USA is supporting the armed rebellion on Taiwan (which they didn't recognize) against the legitimate People Republic of China (which they recognize). From any legal standpoint, this is utter absurd.
The US basically wanted to protect their team, (ROC) against Chinese communist aggression, and to establish an area where they could monitor and have a base to resist the then agenda of containing communism. There is no armed rebellion, Taiwanese work in China and Chinese are working in Taiwan, both own factories in each country and it is business as usual. The main focus here is simply politics and the two big boys on the block having a turf war.
Technically there is. US recognize Taiwan as part of People Republic of China. A non-recognized territory that refuse to accept the control of recognized nation is de-facto armed rebellion.
I dispute that, where is Taiwan shooting at China? Are Taiwanese ship sailing into Chinese waters, flying recon flights and shows of strength over china?
Taiwan is basically and Island Nation not recognized by the foolish and useless UN because of fear and communist influence.
If China disarmed Taiwan would not expand or invade China, If Taiwan disarmed they would be conquered by fire and maneuver in five minutes or less.
It is all but a nation state.
And an ally de facto of the USA.
"De facto", Crimea is Russian territory, and not recognized as such by the foolish and useless UN because of fear and European influence) Arguments like "but it's obvious!" works both sides, you know.
I do know that.
Fantastic comments! Thank you Jerome, Bear et.al. I sent the Map to someone who may use it. Yesterday, I was cautioned not to talk “Politics” inside the Disabilities Office at my College. Legal wrangling, lawyers butting heads and judges overturning what previous judges ordered.
Me, personally, I want “United States Ship Building”, on everyone’s mind! Thank you Jerome for sharing what you know about “Drones”. Yesterday, I shared that with a young student whose father loved “Drones” but is now too busy at BWI … The young lad smiled at me, thanking me for “Telling such good stories!” Perhaps that’s my current mission, instill hope among our “young and not so young” college students wanting to learn and feel appreciated. Stay warm! Nurse Jane
"The Imperial Russian Government cedes to the Imperial Government of Japan in perpetuity and full sovereignty the southern portion of the Island of Saghalin and all the islands adjacent thereto and the public works and properties thereon. The fiftieth degree of north latitude is adopted as the northern boundary of the ceded territory."
Article IX of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth.
The northern half of Sakhalin should be explicitly Soviet/Russian on the map, that it is not puts the accuracy of the entire graphic into question.
Newsflash: the Yalta Conferense of 1945 unanimously decided that territories taken by Japan in 1905 were part of Japanese imperial conquest, and must be seceded back to Russia/USSR as part of Japanese Empire dismantling. Japan confirmed this loss, seceding all rights on Sakhalin and Kurils at San-Francisco Treaty of 1951.