re: #120 LastYearsMan

Regarding Japan’s defense … there are good arguments for letting them take care of their own defense again, from the left and right. Ian Buruma (who is one of my favorite Western commentators on Japan) has long argued that the US presence in Japan and Korea is a major reason Japan, South Korea and China are all so cantankerous. Without the US taking responsibility for the regions security, everyone would have to grow up, stop re-arguing the past, and be more responsible for their words and actions.

…But somehow I’m guessing Trump hasn’t read any Buruma. Or thought his arguments through at any level.

That’s one way it could go, but I’m not exactly sanguine. Asia isn’t exactly like Western Europe and the three countries you name aren’t likely to form a mutual economic union like the EU. There’s also the destabilizing factors of North Korea, Chinese territorial waters claims and the presence of other longstanding allies like Australia and the Philippines.

It’s probably wise to slowly encourage Japan to slowly redevelop some kind of domestic armed forces capability just as an insurance policy against us drawn thin by a widespread conflict, but the idea that they’ve thus far gotten off scot-free is ridiculous. For instance, they picked up almost a sixth of the total cost of the First Gulf War.