In February, I posted on the little reported news of a new defense and security arrangement between the United States and our former bitter enemy Japan. It didn't get much notice at the time, but among people who pay attention to geostrategy and national security issues it was a big deal.
The news certainly did not go unnoticed in China, where relations between Japan and China have worsened in the past few months. A protest this past weekend brought out tens of thousands of Chinese demonstrating against Japan. The Chinese strongly oppose seating Japan as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and demand an apology from the Japanese for the brutality inflicted on Chinese citizens during the war. Lastly, and perhaps most telling is a demand that Japan relinquish it's sovereignty over small islands in the East China sea and all sea rights pertaining to them.
What's interesting is that most of the protestors were not alive until years after World War II had ended and there is no record of similar protests in the years following the end of that war.
So what is up? Roger Hedgecock of KOGO radio reminded listeners today that the sea rights that China is demanding from Japan just happen to be vital geostrategic waterways in the event that the United States and Japan are called upon to live up to their obligations to defend the people of Taiwan against an attack by the Communist mainland. And with a burgeoning Chinese military taking on an ever larger global presence the issue of Taiwan's defense becomes more important.
Gosh....if we only had a missile defense it might not be such a problem.
I know... that's alot to think about, and it's sure to put a bee in the bonnet of every peacenik this side of Vladivostok. But hey.. that's why I'm here.
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