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Additionally:

[quote]The Ministers confirmed their commitment to enhance the ballistic missile defense (BMD) capabilities of both countries and welcomed recent progress in this area, including the SM-3 Block IIA cooperative development program. They confirmed their intention to designate the Air Self-Defense Force base at Kyogamisaki as the deployment site for a second AN/TPY-2 radar (X-band radar) system, consistent with the May 1, 2006, SCC Document: “United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation.” The SCC members also affirmed the continuing goal of expanding bilateral cooperation in this area.[/quote]

The Japanese felt a need to have reiterated the U.S. commitment to the missile defense commitment already in place, by having its expansion, again, explicitly endorsed.

[quote]On the occasion of this historic meeting, the SCC reaffirmed the indispensable role our two countries play in the maintenance of international peace and security and reconfirmed our Alliance’s commitment to the security of Japan through the full range of U.S. military capabilities, including nuclear and conventional.[/quote]

The reiteration of an in place treaty commitment is redundant. The presence of the Sec Def, states that the commitment is not the commitment of a single Sec of State. That is, this is more than a tweak of an existing agreement.

[quote]At the SCC meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on the evolving security environment in the Asia-Pacific region and decided upon several steps to upgrade significantly the capability of the U.S.-Japan Alliance. Our strategic vision for a more robust Alliance and greater shared responsibilities is to be based on revising the 1997 Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation, expanding security and defense cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and approving new measures that support the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. The United States also welcomed Japan’s determination to contribute more proactively to regional and global peace and security. The Ministers stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation with regional and international partners.[/quote]

The Japanese have lived for going on 70 years content to be under the protection of the U.S. defense umbrella - thus being secure and having to spend little for their own defense. Their Constitutional inhibition to the external use of military force has not been without friction within Japan, and in the U.S. Here the Japanese, with American corroboration, state that isolation is at an end. There are a couple of possibilities for this: they harbor expansionist desires, or they are worried about being able to protect themselves. Coming as it does, I see it as worry born of an unstable ally.

So what particular paragraph of text in the statement
illustrates what you're saying?

The communique is not just a Sec of States communique; but rather, is a Sec of States, and Sec of Defs communique. The Japanese are seriously worried after the mess in Syria. Here they are asserting that they will buy us hardware, and expect the U.S. to meet its treaty commitments. In the back of the Japanese's mind is the question: will the U.S. be as good as their word or will they, when the going get's tough, simply cut and run - what appeared to happen in Syria; will we end up like Czechoslovakia, and Poland's missile defense. To that end they assert their right to increase defense spending, and form other defense alliances to support their own defense - a provision explicitly denied them in their Constitution because of WWII.

Can the U.S. be depended upon? To that end not just the Sec of State, but the addition of the Sec Def is placed on the stage to give credence to the U.S. commitment. The difficulty is that the very fact that there is a credence problem is born of the amateurishness of the Syrian debacle, the Polish missile defense problem, and other amateurish actions, and "commitments" made by Washington, but not upheld.

What are you referring to? Neither Czechoslovakia nor Poland are
mentioned in the statement.

Well boys and girls, it took less than a month of the Japanese to publicize their nervousness over the "paper tiger's" Syrian debacle.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2013/10/mil-131003-state05.htm?_m=3n.002a.924.ix0ao04m2s.ueu

As I read the communique - a combya moment that brought a tear to my eye: in response to Syria, we get to tell the whole would - specifically the Chinese, and North Koreans - that we really mean it when we say that we will defend Japan - wonder if that includes boots on the ground - and absolutely will not abandon Japan as Chamberlain did to Czechoslovakia; we reiterated our commitment to transfer the F35 manufacturing technology to Japan; the Marines are to continue to get the "bum's rush" out of Okinawa - moving to that balmy paradise of Guam, and the Northern Marianas - probably Tinian, Sipan, and/or Rota - for which the Japanese will cough up some cash to create training facilities; apparently the only Marine presence to remain on Okinawa will be the Marine Air Station Futenma, and that will be moved to the tip of nowhere on Okinawa - 3/4 of which is to be reclaimed from the sea, I would guess for a perfunctory period of time at the end of which the air Marines will be given the "bum's rush" completely off the Island to join their boonie slogging compatriots on or near Guam; though we reiterated our commitment not to abandon Japan, Japan is not buying it and wants a "more proactive role" in their own defense, and that of the region; Japan further promises to not return to the thuggery of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s; Japan is asserting it's desire to form alliances in the Southeast Asia area, which we applauded, as we are pretty sure that we're not going to abandon them liked Czechoslovakia; the U.S. further promises to not sell Japan down the river regarding missile defense the way it did Poland; apparently Atsugi is slated to be vacated with everybody going to Iwakuni: Japan will buy V22s, P8s, Global Hawks, and F35s;

To paraphrase the communique -
Japan: we like, and are committed to your hardware, but we don't trust you after the mess in Syria; we don't believe a thing you say.
U.S.: we're trustworthy, that Syrian thing was just a blip; we really mean that we're not going to sell you down the river like Czechoslovakia, and Poland's missile defense - honest

As the result of the gross ineptitude of the current administration in Washington we may expect considerable difficulty from a number of quarters in the immediate future: Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons; North Korea's creation of additional plutonium for nuclear devices, with additional provocations in the South of the Korean peninsula; China's moving aggressively in the South China Sea; and additionally South Korea, Israel, Europe, and Japan creating "panicked" re-armament programs. The mentally deficient adolescents in charge in Washington may want to consider their recent school yard antics, and spend a bit of time contemplating the old cold war adage: "... forewarned is forearmed...." But then again, unrepentant narcissists feel no need for reflection - ever.

To China's, Iran's, North Korea's, and Russia's delight, and to the Japanese, and to every other American ally's dismay, America has indeed proved itself to be a paper tiger - a paper tiger possessing a room-temperature IQ, and illustrating for all the world to see that it has neither brain, nor tooth, nor claw. The overt broadcast of U.S. intentions in the media, and in fact successfully created for the entire world to see the image of a lumbering giant too large and too stupid to get out of it's own way.

We may be expected to pay for the catastrophically inept Syrian debacle in both blood, and treasure in the not too distant future. Can you say Munich, and "... peace in our time..." boys and girls?

12-Sep-13 World View -- North Korea apparently restarting its nuclear reactor

North and South Korea reopen Kaesong Industrial Park

[i][url=http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/xct.gd.e130912.htm#e130912]** 12-Sep-13 World View -- North Korea apparently restarting its nuclear reactor[/url]
** [url]http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/xct.gd.e130912.htm#e130912[/url][/i]



Contents:
North Korea apparently restarting its nuclear reactor
North and South Korea reopen Kaesong Industrial Park


Keys:
Generational Dynamics, North Korea, South Korea,
John Kerry, Kim Jong-un, Kaesong Industrial Complex