gdp's Comments

Japan Security Watch : Type 74 Tanks To Be Used For N-Plant Cleanup

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:48:35 +0000

Very interesting! It makes sense to make use of the NBC systems - the idea never occurred to me. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. My recent post Type 74 Tanks To Be Used For N-Plant Cleanup

Japan Security Watch : Why do half of US voters want their troops out of Japan?

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:12:23 +0000

Good question. I think the root of it is distinguishing between military and disaster relief forces - just look at the Self-Defence Forces. The Japanese are exceptionally supportive of the SDF's disaster relief role - wikipedia notes that 77% of people emphasised the importance of this role in 1988, compared to 64% for the national security role. The US forces are not based in Japan for disaster relief. In major disasters, yes, they are quick to act - but is that because they are already based in Japan. It is a side-effect, not their main mission and that is something the Okinawans (especially) and Japanese (more broadly) are acutely aware of. They cannot be blackmailed into believing that the US is here for solely humanitarian reasons when the nature of the units are for combat. They will have good will towards the US (and China who are also on the ground) for their hard work and support, but it is unlikely that will translate into support for bases here - particularly because the people benefiting from US relief efforts have US bases to care about. For the rest of Japan, it's business as usual.

Japan Security Watch : The Next Day

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:04:13 +0000

I'm less worried about the nuclear situation. Things seem to be happening in a more controlled fashion than it first appeared, but there is always that risk that something could happen. I'm planning to follow up tonight with the situation faced by metropolitan residents, but I've had word from contacts in Sendai and Fukushima and they are without power and/or water - supplies and aid are understandably slow to get around in some parts. My heart goes out to those people. My recent post Matsushima Air Base

Japan Security Watch : Great Tohoku Earthquake: Military Movements [UPDATED MONDAY]

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:54:15 +0000

Great work, Kyle. Just want to say that :) My recent post The Next Day

Japan Security Watch : The Next Day

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:50:18 +0000

Thanks for commenting, Jason! And for the tweeted moral support :) If I had a storage locker, I would be all over that - I was considering it today in fact. I've put them all by the genkan as it is probably the strongest part of the house and of course simple to grab in a quick exit. I've already set my mind on a proper Bergen-style rucksack, and definitely need a portable gas cooker and mess tins. Those I will try to keep available at all times, although my wife also thinks its overkill. It's frustrating at times, you can't bury your head in the sand and scream when the house collapses and destroys everything in your life - but I guess it is just too stressful for some. Just make sure you keep it on a rotating stock basis - eat and replace, eat and replace. My recent post The Next Day

Japan Security Watch : The Next Day

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:08:01 +0000

Thanks for the concern, guys. It's business as usual today, but was woken by an aftershock this morning. The worry is that there could be a M7 quake this week. Knowing that is enough to keep us ready. Upgraded our go bags once more today. It seems the most sensible thing to do.

Japan Security Watch : Shinshin a $100 Billion Dollar Program?

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:49:19 +0000

That's certainly the kind of view you would hear from Japanese defense analysts (many would also talk about the role of zainichi Koreans - but that's another [wrong] story). My recent post Nejibana on Japan’s New Foreign Minister

Japan Security Watch : Protecting South Korea's West Sea Islands: Israel's Spike Missiles

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 14:21:33 +0000

Whoops, my bad... should have been kilometers My recent post Shinshin a 100 Billion Dollar Program

Japan Security Watch : "Pursue F-X program to maintain skills" - Japanese industry

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 13:29:43 +0000

Thanks for that - I guess we will have to see if it actually results in a decent product at the end. Fingers crossed! My recent post A Cold War Snapshot of the US – Japan Alliance

Japan Security Watch : Russian Missiles, Attack Helicopters for the Kurils...but Why?

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 11:17:33 +0000

I'm really not sure about what comes out of Interfax - I'm sceptical of most news out of Russia, to be honest - but the deployment of Havocs leads me to question the quality of their source, a 'defense official'. I don't buy into Russia and China having any concerted action re: Japanese territories, I believe the Russians are growing more concerned by China and that is one of the reasons for their shift in the Far East. However, it is definitely difficult for Japan to make claims on the Northern Territories while denying the Chinese and Koreans theirs. I think China and Korea are fully aware of that and are watching the dispute with interest - perhaps even encouraging investment in the Kurils development project.

Japan Security Watch : Does Japan have an secret foreign intelligence service?

Thu, 3 Mar 2011 01:53:44 +0000

I saw SSS when it first came out - it was okay, but nowhere near as good as the first and second seasons. Still, I'm a hardcore GitS fan, so maybe I'll go watch it ;) My recent post Iron Fist 2011- Talking English and the Alliance in a Nutshell Part 2-4

Japan Security Watch : Does Japan have an secret foreign intelligence service?

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 06:51:09 +0000

Well, in Ghost in the Shell, Section 9 is part of the Public Security Intelligence Agency (Koan) and is strictly a domestic organisation ;) In Standalone Complex 2nd GIG, however, CIRA makes an appearance with Goto - the bad guy of the season. I really hope he doesn't exist :-P

Japan Security Watch : Britain pushes the Eurofighter in Japan

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:46:41 +0000

Thanks for dropping by! You give great points all round - I touched on some of them in a later post on the F-X program (here) The delay was not something I had even come across or figured upon, but you're right that a delay is not all that desirable. I'm not really sure that the Eurofighter would be made available so quickly either or to what degree they would allow the Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, et al to manufacture parts under license. The biggest issue, I'm sure, will be the need for fully inter-operable planes vis a vis the US, and the Eurofighter just doesn't have anything to give on this in my opinion. Do you really think the Shinshin is a viable production option? I'm dubious about Japan rolling out a current generation fighter without having done so in the previous generation. Being British, I worry that Japan will fall into the same trap as my own country - namely supporting projects with domestic roots at great expense and with a relatively worse-off product at the end.

Japan Security Watch : Cost disparity between Japanese and US military hardware

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:28:19 +0000

Good point! Quite similar issue, mind you - subsidies to domestic farmers adds up. Although in this case, the pattern is different to the above: importing or producing under license appears to cost more than double the cost of domestic production. In your case, the domestic broccoli costs more :)