Okinawa isn’t in the news nearly as much as it was some year’s back, when most reporting focused on noisy protest groups demanding United States’ military forces leave. The Japanese government sometimes even seemed to wish the Americans might go away and only return when needed. Times have changed. Nowadays the …
Okinawa Is Still Strategically Important Continue Reading >>
US Marine Corps Commandant General David Berger told a United States Congressional committee the other day that he had let down the “combatant commander.” The United States Marines Corps were unable to have Marines in position to assist US citizens during the ongoing fighting in Sudan and to provide assistance after a recent earthquake in Turkey. But he’s …
Someone asked me a few questions about Japan’s national defense the other day. As expected, I gave my take on each one. Meanwhile, others might be just as curious about the current status of Japan’s preparedness. If so, then this is what you need to know: 1. What is motivating Japan and …
Japan’s National Defense: What You Need to Know Continue Reading >>
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the Americans will be deploying as many as 200 troops to Taiwan to serve in training and advisory roles to Taiwan’s military. This is a good development. If properly deployed, a hundred or two hundred troops can have a positive, even outsized, effect. Among other …
US and Taiwan Militaries Doing More Together, but There’s a Catch Continue Reading >>
Most of the discussion about the Chinese spy balloon shot down off South Carolina in early February is on the balloon’s design, its intended purposes, and how many others were there? But there’s another question. Why would the People’s Republic of China send balloons over the United States, knowing they would probably be detected …
The Chinese Spy Balloon: A Provocation or a Logical Move? Continue Reading >>
A former US Marine fighter pilot is awaiting extradition from Australia to the United States. He’s charged with helping the Chinese PLA learn naval flight operations from 2009-2012. It’s against the law to export such defense know-how without a license. If the charges are true, he really shouldn’t have done this – …
Building Up the Chinese PLA: A Team Effort Continue Reading >>
Speaking to Democratic Party donors in early October, President Joe Biden said, ‘I’m trying to figure out what is Putin’s off-ramp. Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not – not only lose face but lose significant power within …
Off-Ramps for China? Sorry, That Ship has Sailed Continue Reading >>
This has been a busy year for North Korea’s missile developers—having launched 25 missiles (both ballistic and cruise missiles). The “shots” typically land in the ocean east of the Korean Peninsula but short of Japanese maritime territory. However, on Oct. 4, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that passed over northern Japan—prompting the …
North Korean Missiles—Keeping the US and Its Allies Distracted and Worried Continue Reading >>
It’s exhilarating that Japanese leaders are talking about spending much more on defense and improving the nation’s defense capabilities. But they are short on specifics, and with communist China out looking for a fight, it’s dangerous to hope Japan figures things out at its own pace. The Americans, who shoulder the heaviest load in defending the …
The Best Advice Washington Ever Got on US-Japan Defense Continue Reading >>
A U.S. government friend involved in Indo-Pacific defense matters asked me the question a lot of people are wondering about. Following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei on Aug. 2-3, China launched a series of aggressive moves targeting Taiwan, most visibly unprecedented military exercises. So he asked: “Running up to the …
