Public opinion polls conducted by Japans Cabinet Office shows the changes in Japanese perceptions of its giant neighbor. In 2000, the biggest threats to Japans national security were regarded as being the Korean Peninsula (56.7%), disarmament and weapon of mass destruction (35.2%), and US-Russia relations (17.9%). China was not even among the choices offered except in the context of US-China relations (13.1%) and China-Russia relations (11.7%). The Japanese did not assume that China itself was a security threat to Japan.[36]
In the same poll conducted in 2012, many Japanese respondents said they were concerned about the modernization of Chinas military and its maritime activities (46.0%)the second most popular response after the Korean Peninsula (64.9%).[37]
"Another poll conducted by a Japanese NGO in 2013 showed the Japanese feel most threatened militarily by North Korea (73.4%), followed by China (61.8%). Respondents choosing China also gave their reasons why. The two top choices were concern with Chinas intrusions into Japans territorial waters, and concern with Japan and Chinas conflict over territories, which were more 60%. The same poll asked the same questions to Chinese citizens, who saw the United State as being the biggest threat (71.6%) and Japan as the second biggest (53.9%).[38]"
Inside the Ring: Report faults Pentagon's Asia rebalance - Washington Times
"The Obama administration is faulted in the report for failing to provide a single, agreed-upon definition of the U.S. rebalancing strategy. Administration officials questioned by a CSIS panel of experts found confusion about the strategy and concern about implementation.
The study urged expanding the military presence in Asia to ease fears among states in Asia about U.S. force posture, especially in Northeast Asia."
The Chinese Peoples Liberation Armys anti-access/area denial capabilities that many once viewed as Taiwan-specific are rapidly expanding to the Second Island Chain and beyond, affecting not only an increasing number of U.S. allies and partners, but also U.S. territories such as Guam, the report said.
Chinas island-chain strategy calls for expanding power and influence farther from Chinese shores through two island chains stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia.
China has been rapidly building up its forces designed to push the U.S. military out of Asia. The buildup includes new submarines, warships, anti-ship missiles, and cyberwarfare and space warfare weapons."
We recommend institutionalizing a culture of experimentation; encouraging rapid platform evolution; developing advanced long-range missiles; funding innovative missile defense concepts; fielding additional air combat systems; exploiting the U.S. undersea advantage; and augmenting space, cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities, the report said.
Surely you aren't going to attempt to discredit the Pentagon or Japan's Cabinet Office now too? Look, I get it. You don't think there's a serious problem and you don't think there's anything we can do but appease and accommodate. That explains why you also don't see how Obama's appeasing posture affects the rate and level of Chinese aggression. It's not the only factor, but it's a big fat one. We'll just have to agree to disagree. It's my opinion and that of many, many other more qualified individuals than myself that China is a current and escalating threat to the territory, stability, and long term security of American allies in the region, and that we can effectively counteract and oppose those threats without firing a shot. And, no, I'm not in favor of the Trump China tariff war.
