Japanese Self Defense Force Soldiers

Japan cannot defend itself, warns US colonel

Jason BallByJason Ball

A US colonel has warned that Japan’s Self Defence Force is not ready for combat and can’t protect the country.

His interview in the Washington Post appeared at almost the same time as a fatal crash involving a US Navy plane in Japan – one of many recent deadly accidents involving American personnel.

Is the colonel’s condemnation of the Japanese military a ruse to sell Japan weapons and become less dependent on the US?

Or is there a serious problem in protecting Japan from North Korea or even China?

Read more about the debate on this week’s blog by Duncan Bartlett on the Japan Story website or LinkedIn.

Japan Story’s blog is written by former BBC Tokyo Correspondent Duncan Bartlett. Each week he analyses how Japan’s story is being told to the world through the international media.