Comments on: Who Should We Fear?

By: Transpacific Triangle » Back to Blogging: Some Things I've Missed by Graham Webster

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:33:20 +0000

[...] correspondent in Kyushu e-mailed with some interesting survey results (via Japan Probe and Jun Okumura, another great blogger on recent political [...]

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Global Voices صداهای جهانیصداهای جهانی » Blog Archive » ژاپن:چین کره جنوبی و ژاپن از چه کشوری می ترسند

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:29:19 +0000

[...] از ژاپن پروب می نویسد که طبق نظر سنجی گلوبال تاک 21 مردم ژاپن و کره جنوبی [...]

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: An East Asian Arms Race Likely Without the U.S. at DPRK Studies

An East Asian Arms Race Likely Without the U.S. at DPRK Studies — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:25:25 +0000

[...] Leaflets from 1988 5 Jack, Richardson, Hebikai [...] Asides » Japan Probe points to a survey of Japan, China, and South Korea about who they fear the most in the context of a [...]

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: j2

j2 — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:51:43 +0000

It’s interesting to note that Japan and South Korea have very close numbers for position one and two…perhaps when push comes to shove they will end up as odd allies.

Also it’s not really about who they fear or are feel threatened by (I mean…if anything, China’s just waiting to get an excuse to invade Taiwan, while Taiwan’s doing everything to avoid a fight), but who the nations feel will have the most probability of being involved in a war with.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: zaciroth

zaciroth — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:51:43 +0000

If china got pissed for some reason. (It wouldn’t be right..and would be bad for economy.) They could be a threat…but north Korea isn’t a threat to anyone except south Korea..who has the United state backing and alot better economy. North Korea really isn’t a threat to anyone but themselves…China seems to be okay here lately so no worries. But these crazy Islamic groups (not all Islamics in all just the crazy ones) seem to be spreading everywhere. Its best if Japan just doesn’t let them spread that religion of so called peace there at all. It spreads violence worse than Christians.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Aekutopia

Aekutopia — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:57:13 +0000

As I’m Asian from Thailand.I think China and Japan should not fear each other. They should reinforce their tie and cooperate more and more. Obviously, China and USA+Japan didn’t trust each other, and Japan trust the West like USA and Australia more than its Asian Neighnours.

If Japan and China want to see a firm regional stability and peace, they must be a trusted partner. And Japan should not rely on the west too much. If China and Japan can be good friends, Asian Union could happen as EU in Europe.It’s just my dream.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Joseph K

Joseph K — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:17:11 +0000

I pretty much agree with NPC here. Desperation can be a pretty powerful influence in regards to lashing out. But then, governments, no matter how dictatorial, will always move rather slowly, and this means that there’ll probably always be time for people to clear their heads a bit before anything really dire happens.

But really, the only reason to worry about something like this is if you can do something about it, isn’t it? Why would you be worried, when the most you can do is “head for the hills” – and even then nothing’s guaranteed…?

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: zzzzz

zzzzz — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:55:30 +0000

ahhhh fear. Some people just love to be in fear. This is news for everyone who didn’t have their fill of spam/scare emails today…

they’re out to get you!!!

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: fettlord

fettlord — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:59:45 +0000

North Korea maybe have something to threat the world with but they are probably going for a headshot themself.

USA is a real dissfunctional country so you can never know what stupidity they are going to do next.

China & Russia are big countries and have a good control but if they want a war they should have done it 30 years ago so i don’t believe they want to.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: annie

annie — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:47:17 +0000

Japan needs to keep a close eye on North Korea and especially, China. China and Russia are teaming up militarily. Japan needs to find another alliance besides the U.S.

If China and Russia become the world’s next superpower house, the world will be suffering especially China’s neighbors. History will repeat itself, people.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Jun Okumura

Jun Okumura — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:42:39 +0000

~~…I do not see them as a military.~~
…I do not see them as a military threat.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Jun Okumura

Jun Okumura — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:41:17 +0000

I do think that there is a very small, but real, chance of rogue military elements in North Korea in a chaotic end game lobbing something this way as a last hurrah.

Given that China’s economic and security interests are mostly congruent with Japan’s, I do not see them as a military. Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines (and Malaysia as well?), not to mention Taiwan, have a little more (much more in the case of Taiwan) to fear from the Chinese military buildup, since they have relatively active sovereignty issues with China. (The conflict is much more passive in Japan’s case, much to the chagrin, no doubt, of the people of the Sapio persuasion.) And we now have a Prime Minister whose views are probably close to mine. It makes me (slightly) safer in this respect, in that there is less chance that misperceptions and mistrust will amplify minor incidents.

The Japanese Archipelago is problematic for Islamic terrorists, since gaijins are conspicuous, and there is no significant Moslem community to recruit from in the first place. There must be easier marks elsewhere.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: NPC

NPC — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:30:55 +0000

Well if you think about it, a dictator who recognizes his country is falling apart may launch an attack for the hell of it as sort of a last effort thing. Though otherwise I’d say it’s pretty safe to sit back, relax, and let them decay.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Sish

Sish — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:14:28 +0000

Thats the thing, countries don’t just lob missiles because they get retaliation in return. In order to strike you must be prepared for a mid to long term engagement…something that takes a lot of preparation.

Thus, the question is not “does a NK attack require years of preparation?” but instead, “has NK been preparing for an attack, and for how long?”

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: James

James — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:08:10 +0000

I don’t think they would profit, but they’re still capable of carrying out an attack without years of preparation.

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: Buster

Buster — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:06:40 +0000

So, how exactly do you think Northkorea would profit by firing missiles at Japan?

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: James

James — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:25:38 +0000

I’m pretty sure that North Korea could lob a missile over here without much trouble. It would be inviting massive retaliation upon them, but it would not take years of preparation to carry out such an attack…

Rate this comment: 0 0

By: D-San

D-San — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:21:54 +0000

I don’t think Japan should be worrying about any foreign military activity anytime soon. For North Korea to do so will still take many years in preparation considering their crumbling economy. Japanese should be more worried about natural Disasters and integration.

Rate this comment: 0 0