Article

2006-08-03 China-Japan-Koreas

China builds up troop levels, ouposts on N. Korean border - Starvation?

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Posted by gorb 2006-08-03 14:55|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Yeah, big Monsoon rains in the area, already depleted food stocks. China is just stopping the flow accross the border. Nothing more, nothing less.

BTW, back from Japan ... can report that:

1) NK is out of the news cycle. Most Japanese youths (under 30 or so) consider NK a threat ... however, most I spoke with are now almost assuredly anti-american in regards to what we have been doing recently. Understand tho, this isn't typical anti-americanism, more they don't understand what has changed.

2) However, they know we've done right in the past, and believe will do so again, so the attitude is more along the lines of 'we know when it comes down to it you'll be the best friend we have, but you could stop pissing off the world so much'

There is meaning behind #2, Japan sits as the only ally to the US in the region and pays a very, very, very high price for it. We should tip our hats to the Japanese, because they are sticking with us even though they don't agree.

In Asia, this is a huge deal, so Japan now faces no friends, and no help, but still says 'America is good, and has been a good friend, we are not happy with things of late, but we know a good friend when we see one'

We should be careful to buffer Asian anger to Japan as much as possible and take a hit for them where we can ... it will pay off big time.

Most of the news was on Lebanon (and internal Japanese stuff, like some floods).

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 22:50|| 2006-08-03 22:50|| Front Page Top

#2 Bombay - thanks for the eyewitness report (unlike the normal nit-witness reports we get from the MSM).

Hope the floods in Japan weren't too serious.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-08-03 23:00|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2006-08-03 23:00|| Front Page Top

#3 what high price does Japan pay?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-08-03 23:03|| 2006-08-03 23:03|| Front Page Top

#4 Mainly that every other Asian country believes they are our bitch (I can tell you with full assurance this is not so).

They sacfrice pan-Asia for American alliance. To Asia, this is huge. They side with Gaijin over their own and as much NONE of Asia considers them a friend or a partner to trust.

They are aware of this, and feel a deep pain, DEEP pain, that the other Asian countries have 'turned' on one of their own. Tough to explain, really, unless you've been to Asia. China, Korea and Japan are linked through ages (as well as most of Asia) and the Japanese stand alone saying 'America is a good country, be damned if you don't agree' - In Asia, this type of rocking the boat and standing up against the group is unheard of. And so, they pay the price.

Yet, they stick with us, and take the crap. At this point in history, a very, very honorable thing.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:09|| 2006-08-03 23:09|| Front Page Top

#5 In specifc, this relates to the rest of Asia out to screw Japan at every turn, and they will.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:11|| 2006-08-03 23:11|| Front Page Top

#6 Japan is isolated for what it's barbaric invasions and colonialism until 1945. I knew of no one in Asia that trusted Japan or forgave them for what they did.

Posted by ed 2006-08-03 23:12|| 2006-08-03 23:12|| Front Page Top

#7 Of course not, only read history to know this. However, what I am saying is a new breed of isolation, Japan is paying big right now to be our friend.

The cost is way more than a visit to a shrine, or the refusal to recognise this or that island.

In a nutshell, being our friend right now is costing them a 1,000 times worse than invading Korea or China a million times over.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:15|| 2006-08-03 23:15|| Front Page Top

#8 BTW, for some clarity, I have been visitng Japan and Asia since 1992 ... I have never seen it this way before.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:17|| 2006-08-03 23:17|| Front Page Top

#9 My relatives will disagree with you.

Posted by ed 2006-08-03 23:17|| 2006-08-03 23:17|| Front Page Top

#10 K, elaborate

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:18|| 2006-08-03 23:18|| Front Page Top

#11 I have relatives who lived through Japanese occupation, colonization, executions and slavery. In their eyes, Japan can never make up for the extreme barbarity inflicted on them. The personal hatred is still there. But that doesn't mean they won't take Japanese investment, so it is kept just under the surface. Business is business, though the Chinese find it useful let it erupt now and then to coerce the Japanese.

My personal experience is not as recent. Last time I lived in Japan was 1980. The last I worked with a group Japanese colleagues was 2003. If the Japanese believe relations with America is a liability, then I welcome the opportunity to move US forces to Guam and points east. But I think even the younger Japanese realize should they go it alone with US backup, ever knife in Asia will be sharpened in anticipation of sticking to the Japanese.

Posted by ed 2006-08-03 23:30|| 2006-08-03 23:30|| Front Page Top

#12 without US backup

Posted by ed 2006-08-03 23:31|| 2006-08-03 23:31|| Front Page Top

#13 Ok, I am crashing from jet-lag and must assume things at this point because need to sleep.

You speak of the past, the invasions of the past. Just as America has a past, say, certain triangle trade issues.

However, the results of trinagle trade do not dominate contemporary thought here now. Sure a few sensational topics here and there, but day to day life, it just doesn't creep in. Just as Japanese transgressions do not dominate contemporary thought there, except in the extreeme circumstances of an aged view. Same here.

So, in the end, I say there will always be that anger to Japan for that ... just as here, but it fades in the minds of the contemporary.

What is fresh in the minds of the contemporary, i.e. the next gen to lead the country are today's issues which have more to do with pan-Asia and America's recent acts than say invading Korea in 1560's+ under Hideyoshi Toyotomi or 1930's acts against China ---- i.e. there are far more people in Asia now that care about the contemporary world than the near or far past.

Believe me, I know the history and the transgressions of the past by the country. I do not minise the past. But perhaps your relatives are way to close to the situation to frogive. I DO understand. However, we must accept that just as America is not the slave trading nation it once was nor is Japan the the nation, or Feudal nation (right, recall, that many transgressions of the past against the neighbors were more about bringing the locals in line) ... Unless you are into right-of-way discussions or perhaps some tax reparations to certain groups?

Anyway - the simple point, your relatives lived through the worst and will still hold that view. Regardless that Japan has moved on ... same here, same there, same in the Middle East!

And now, they don't want to ditch us, they just don't want to be left explaining us all the time.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:43|| 2006-08-03 23:43|| Front Page Top

#14 Ok, and just ribbing you a bit here ed ;)

So last time there was 26 years ago ... Relatives cannot forgive ...
Worked with a few back in 2003 (last time I was there actually).

Maybe your info is a little out of date ;) Again, just ribbing :)

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-03 23:56|| 2006-08-03 23:56|| Front Page Top

#15 The Japanese sure have moved on. They are so far removed that they don't teach their kids even a fraction of the history of that period. But I guarantee you the subject peoples do teach in detail the history of that period. There are plenty of people still alive to regale the young of their personal experience.

So Japanese go into the rest of Asia ignorant of their recent past and what others think of them. Finally, the Jpanese do not need to explain for America. I will proudly put up US behavior past, present, and future with the behavior of any Asian nation.

Posted by ed 2006-08-03 23:58|| 2006-08-03 23:58|| Front Page Top

#16 Ribbing or not, I just today talked to a relative who lived through the occupation.

Posted by ed 2006-08-04 00:00|| 2006-08-04 00:00|| Front Page Top

00:00 ed
23:58 ed
23:56 bombay
23:56 Captain America
23:45 11A5S
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23:36 RD
23:36 trailing wife
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23:30 Captain America
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23:30 ed
23:18 bombay
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23:16 Clerert Uneamp2772
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23:15 Clerert Uneamp2772
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23:12 ed
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