To Nuke, or Not To Nuke, That is the Question
The ongoing US presidential campaign is something you can't miss - this time particularly because of a formidable GOP candidate Donald Trump and the way he has disoriented the routine course of primary election. The Republican Party is at a loss how to deal with Donald Trump who is "threatening" to win nomination in November.
In his foreign policy speech a while ago, Donald Trump remained steadfast on his position on the geo-political situation in Asia insisting on fair sharing of defense costs by US allies. Further, he had earlier implied that the Japan-US Security Treaty is unfair and Japan should step up her share of expenses. He had gone so far as to suggest Japan could opt to arm with nuclear weapons.
A group of Japanese politicians on visit of Washington commented April 29 on Donald Trump and his position on Japan-US security issues. Itsunori Onodera, the former Defense Minister, expressed apprehension that "among the presidential candidates are made unsound statements not based on sound cognition of the present situation". He further remarked:
"It should be clearly noted that Japan offers bases and pays the rent for US military forces. We object to wrong messages."
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the former Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, stressed that the Japan-US Security Treaty is not an unfair agreement and expected "the people of the United States elect president a genuinely suitable candidate".
Seiji Maehara, the former Foreign Minister, pointed out that Japan and the United States are fairly sharing roles and that "it is important for both sides to appreciate such hard historical facts".
That said, I wonder if Donald Trump honestly believes Japan might go on arranging her own defense as the situation calls it fit? He denounces North Korea and its "insane leader". Would he prefer Japan to deal with them on its own nuke-to-nuke? He must be kidding.
All the same, I'm following the progress of the presidential primary real close. This Nathan Shiga - Good Day.
