Is American Military providing service to Japan or Korea, or is it occupying them to get some militaly base?

Question

Is American Military providing service to Japan or Korea, or is it just occupying them to get some militaly base in that region to protect its own interest? Does Korean or Japanese people appreciated American military staying to protect their country?

Answer 1

I don't know about Korea, but I used to live in Okinawa and I know a lot about that. The story with Japan is that after the war we put a clause in their constitution that they could not have their own military so that there could be no risk of another war. But, since they had many many many enemies after the war who *still* would love to get payback and China which would love to occupy Japan if they got the chance, we agreed to be their defense. In Japan, particularly Okinawa, it is not Americans that they object to, and they really do appreciate the service we provide and the jobs that we offer them in economically depressed areas (Okinawa is the poorest province in Japan), but the idea of any military that they object to, since they remember the war as being very ugly and traumatic for them. In fact, most Okinawans see the American presence as protecting them from mainland since they are very bitter about the Japanese sacrificing them during the war (Okinawans are ethnically Indian, not Japanese, and have their own culture and religion which mainland has actually forbidden them from practicing). The protest groups you hear about are vastly in minority, and if you research them, they are actually fronted by foreign interest groups who bought up the land rights to the area underneath the bases (which were parcelled out after the war on condition that the parcells will be returned to the family after the military leaves), paying rediculously little money for them by telling the families that the plots were so small and useless as to not be worth their investment. Then they stir up trouble, particularly amoung the youth who don't remember the war, hoping to seed anti-American sentiment so that these foreign groups can swoop in and reclaim the land. And how is that in the Japanese people's interest? Pretty much the only people who have legitimate beefs with Americans and the military presence in Japan are the families who were wealthy land owners before the war, since their land was taken, broken up, and redistributed to the poor after the war.

Btw, I believe Japan has amended their constitution recently that their military can participate in foreign affairs, and while they may vote to reduce the number of American bases in the future, I doubt they ever decide to kick us out completely, because we really do keep their enemies at bay. Russia hates them. The Koreas hate them. China hates them. India hates them. You name it, everyone in the region hates Japan because of the very ugly things they did during the war. And the second we step out, they know it will get horrible for them. No one disputes that.

Answer 2

All of the military bases in Japan and Korea are leased to the United States through mutual protection treaties. This basically states that if either of these countries are threatened, then the United States is obligated to help them, and vice versa.

A case in point, during Operation Desert Storm, the Japanese military, unable to deploy beyond their own borders due to the rules laid down in their surrender at the end of WWII, provided medical personnell, as well funding.

Answer 3

it occupying them to get some militaly base. but the government turn it around and say that in a nice way, so they said "American Military providing service to Japan or Korea"

Answer 4

Wow, you really think that American militarymen LIKE doing that? Join the military and see how hard it is. They were probably drunk from Korea's high drinking culture to loosen up. PLUS all of these articles are untrustable sources. Usually when someone like this that ACTUALLY happened is up on NYTimes or a more creditable news source. Don't be so gullible.

Answer 5

Occupation ... and Japanese pays enormous money for supporting the US military bases in Japan ... ( then the US doesn't want to withdraw them from Japan, for Americans receive milliards of dollars from Japan only staying there like a beggar!!! )

Answer 6

The way I see it with Japan, is they're just so damned scared that we'll drop another bomb on them some day, that they're willing to let us set up bases any where we want around there. S. Korea's just trying to make sure the N. Koreans don't kick their *** too badly again.

Answer 7

Like America itself Japan and Korea both don't mind the U.S. help, but would rather not have them in their country. As anyone would appreciate assistants but, you don't have to live with me.

Answer 8

Let's see we protect them from China, Russia, and those crazy little northern Koreans.

Answer 9

Yes we provide defense

Answer 10

Occupation baby. Go to Okinawa and ask the people there how much they appreicieate our "protection."