Unacceptable U.S.-Japan Military Provocations
Resolutely Oppose U.S.-Japan Military Provocations Against China as It Celebrates 80th Anniversary of Victory Over Japan
As China celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory over Japan in World War II and the victory of the worldwide anti-fascist war, provocative U.S.-led war drills targeting China are taking place in the Asia-Pacific region. Disgracefully, the Japanese military is playing a prominent role. In addition, troops from more than a dozen countries are involved either directly or as observers including Canada, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands.
On August 25, the U.S. began leading the Pacific Vanguard joint maritime drills out of Guam, with participation from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
Since 2021, Japan has stepped up its role as the U.S.'s leading ally in the Indo-Pacific, particularly since the April 2021 announcement of the "Japan-U.S. Global Partnership for a New Era" which included a policy alignment with the U.S. regarding the Taiwan Strait and supporting Taiwan's "sovereignty" against China. In September 2024, a destroyer from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted Japan's first-ever transit through the Taiwan Strait, a direct provocation against China.
The danger posed by these war exercises is well-known by the peoples of the entire Indo-Pacific region with the participation of Japan considered a particularly terrible affront to all the peoples who faced the brutal Japanese aggression during World War II. Nobody is confused about the aggressive aim of these exercises conducted along with the armed forces of the U.S./NATO countries and allies.
Contrary to the wishes of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific region for peace, Rear Admiral Natsui Takashi of the misnamed JMSDF, falsely claimed that war games serve peace and their aim is to guarantee a "free and open Indo-Pacific." He said: "Pacific Vanguard is a valuable opportunity for us to demonstrate our high-end tactical capabilities. A free and open Indo-Pacific promotes the prosperous socio-economic activity that has benefited the region. Our deepening partnership with the Republic of Korea Navy, Royal Australian Navy and U.S. Navy in Guam symbolizes this stability and shared deterrence that upholds peace in the Indo-Pacific." These war games are part of U.S. promotion of "peace through strength," hiding that such war preparations are in fact a crime against the peace.
Also on August 25, the U.S.-Indonesia Super Garuda Shield
exercises
led by the U.S. and Indonesian militaries began in and around
the
Indonesia archipelago involving 6,500 soldiers from 13
countries. It
goes until September 4.
On August 30, 2025, the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the U.S. for deploying the Typhon mid-range missile system in Asian countries and stated: "We urge Japan to take a hard look at its history of aggression, follow the path of peaceful development, act prudently in military and security areas, and refrain from further losing the trust of its Asian neighbours and the international community."
From September 11-25, the U.S.-Japan military war games Resolute Dragon will take place across Japan and Okinawa involving 1,900 U.S. Marines and 12,300 Japanese troops. For the first time, the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system will be deployed as part of the war exercise, near Hiroshima. According to the U.S. military, Resolute Dragon "highlights the importance of interoperability and our shared dedication to peace, security, and a free and open Indo-Pacific." Other missiles systems are also being deployed in Japanese islands near Taiwan. "Interoperability" for the U.S. means using these war drills to impose U.S. command over the various military forces.
Japan has yet to acknowledge the
brutality and scale of its crimes in the Second World War, let
alone atone or make amends for crimes against the peoples of
China, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the
Philippines, and other countries. Contrary to Japan's
constitution, which forbids use of the military for aggressive
purposes, Japan is now rapidly rearming as part of the
U.S.-Japan Military Alliance. Japan has significantly
increased its military budget and has plans to purchase some 400
Tomahawk missiles and other weapons from the U.S., against the
opposition of the peace-loving Japanese people.
The people of Japan yearly condemn and demand Never Again! on the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing. They regularly demonstrate to demand removal of all U.S. bases, troops, and ships. This is their contribution to peace and security, not the war games.
The U.S. took control over Japan after 1945 and first of all suppressed the Japanese people's striving for self-determination and peace led by the Communist Party of Japan and a broad workers' and social movement. The U.S. put former war criminals in power to rule over the people and jailed and persecuted anyone who stood up to the U.S. occupation.
The people of Japan, as part of blocking Japanese militarism after the war, put into their constitution Article 9. It forbids Japan from going to war and for use of the military for aggressive, offensive purposes. The U.S. took advantage of this constitutional process to provide loans for Japanese industry and other concessions. The aim was to recruit Japan as a partner in the Anglo-American Cold War campaign against the Soviet Union, China, and others. The just claims of the peoples of China and other Asian peoples for compensation and reparations were blocked by the U.S.
The San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952 with Japan was signed without the participation of the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union, Korea, and other countries which had suffered under Japanese militarism. Against the demand of the peoples of the region, the treaty paved the way for Japan to revive its former militarism, through rearming its military and today its strategic alliance with the U.S. and its "Indo-Pacific Strategy." With U.S. backing, Japan continues to refuse to take full responsibility for its atrocities committed in WWII.
(With files from Government of China, Stars and Stripes.)
This article was published in
Volume 55 Number 33 - September 6, 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2025/Articles/TS55338.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca