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= This week’s poem:

School Of Hard Knocks

A fact of life,
That’s hard but true:
Tough times don’t last,
But tough people do.

Enduring, they see things
Through to their end,
And deal with whatever
The future may send.

Too busy to stop,
To tired to fear,
The tough people
Simply persevere…

{ https://carllafong.blogspot.jp }

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= 5 Things Going On Lately:

(1) The Japanese government will soon consider steps to enhance control over all privately owned land on remote islands to bolster national security and protect resources within Japan’s territorial waters, a government source said on Saturday (25 NOV). The government plans to set up a panel of experts in the financial year starting next April to discuss land registration by owners who have neglected to do so, and imposing restrictions on land sales to foreigners in such areas. The government is concerned that leaving land out of reach of government control could raise security concerns or other problems, such as foreigners setting up bases from which to engage in fish poaching. According to the Cabinet Office, there are about 480 remote islands around Japan’s borders, excluding the South Korean-controlled Takeshima islets in the Sea of Japan and the Russian-held Kuril Islands off Hokkaido — known in Japan as the Northern Territories. Of those 480 islands, the government plans to look early next financial year at 98 islands with privately-owned land, to clarify how many lots have unknown ownersd. The acquisition of land on remote islands by foreigners is also a concern for the Japanese government. In 2013, ruling party lawmakers were irked when a South Korean company bought land near a Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) facility on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture. Tsushima Island is just 50 km from the coast of South Korea. (South China Post)

* COMMENT: It was in 2012, when Tokyo Governor Ishihara started to collect money to buy the Senkaku Islands — Why? — Well, because they were the private property of a family living in Saitama, north of Tokyo; and due to some financial problems, the family was looking to sell their islands, and, supposedly had been approached by Chinese-related investors —- then the Government of Japan (led by the Democratic Party, not LDP) stepped-in and took over the Senkakus —- so, I think that helps explain what is described above…
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(2) The United States’ relocation of carrier-borne aircraft from Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture to Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture, part of a planned U.S. military realignment in Japan, is progressing. As part of the plan, a total of 15 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, arrived at the Iwakuni base on Tuesday (28 NOV). U.S. forces in Japan plan to relocate a total of 61 carrier-borne aircraft to the Iwakuni base. The carrier-borne aircraft unit, including the command of the carrier air wing to which the aircraft unit belongs, will relocate to the Iwakuni base by around May next year. The relocation of the F/A-18 jets, among the loudest sources of noise around U.S. bases in Japan, will also help reduce noise pollution around the Atsugi base, which is located in a densely populated area. In 2014, a unit of KC-130 aerial refueling planes was transferred from Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to the Iwakuni base. F-35B stealth fighters, one of the newest U.S. military aircraft models, are also deployed to the base. Upon completion of the relocation of F/A-18 jets and other aircraft, Iwakuni Air Station will be one of the U.S. military’s largest aircraft hubs in the Far East, where a total of about 120 military aircraft will be stationed. Following completion of the relocation, U.S. forces will focus on securing sites for takeoff and landing drills for carrier-borne aircraft. For the time being, U.S. forces will also continue to hold drills on Iwo-To (Iwo Jima), a remote Pacific island that is administratively part of Tokyo. However, they have asked the Japanese government to quickly select an alternative site. The Japanese government has been in negotiations to purchase Mageshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture, but there is no clear timeline for relocating the drill site. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

* COMMENT: Good news for the Japanese communities located around Atsugi Air Base, who have been living with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps tactical jet noise since the switch from propeller-driven aircraft in the 1950s. On the other hand, what lies ahead for soon-to-be very crowded airfield at Iwakuni? — Also, when will GOJ be able to honor its promise to find/provide a field carrier landing practice (FCLP) site to replace the “temporary solution” at distant/risky Iwo-To (which has been used by USN carrier aviation since 1991.)
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(3) The Japanese Fisheries Agency (JFA) plans to launch by March 2019 a wireless system to automatically inform operating fishing boats of missile launches, in response to a spate of test firing of ballistic missiles by North Korea into the seas around Japan, according to agency officials. In the wake of a missile launch, the Cabinet Secretariat emails related information to the agency, which in turn transmits it to about 580 fishery radio stations run by local governments and fisheries cooperatives across the country. Currently, staff at those radio stations vocally convey the missile information to fishing boats under operation. But missile firing in the early morning and late evening as well as on holidays can hardly be known to the boats because the stations are usually empty. Urged by local governments and fishers to take measures to prevent such a situation, the agency decided to introduce a system that will automatically read out emailed messages, the JFA officials said. (Jiji Press)

* COMMENT: A practical and common-sense measure, as ships and fishing vessels at-sea are the ones really at-risk from being hit by a falling North Korean missile. Granted, under the “big ocean, small boat” theory, the odds must be a million-to-one against that happening, but you just never know…
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(4) SAREX-2017 exercises between Russia and Japan are being held for the 17th time to develop cooperation between the fleets and increase the level of joint counteraction to threats to security at sea. According to the press office of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Japan’s destroyer, HS HAMAGIRI, arrived on Monday (20 NOV) in the Russian port city of Vladivostok to take part “in the naval search and rescue exercises SAREX-2017.” The SAREX drills are slated to take place November 25 in the Peter the Great Gulf. According to the statement, a number of meetings concerning the details of the drills will be carried out while the vessel is docked. During the stay of a foreign ship in the Russian port, a number of general events are planned, including joint football and basketball matches. Earlier, from October 14 to 18, Vladivostok was visited by a detachment of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships including the destroyer JS HARUSAME and the training ship JS KASHIMA. (Sputnik)

* COMMENT: Japan continues to pursue a dogged and long-term/marathon-like engagement process to try to convince Russia to return the illegally-seized Southern Kuril Islands (which Tokyo calls its “northern Territories”) — and JMSDF’s continued execution of SAR-EX’s with the Russian Pacific Fleet is one of the pieces of the diplomatic puzzle…

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(5) Japan and Britain are considering beginning talks next year to conclude a visiting forces agreement (VFA), which would foster smooth activities of the Self-Defense Forces and the British military when they are visiting either nation. At the so-called two-plus-two meeting between Japanese and British foreign and defense ministers in London scheduled for Dec. 14, the two countries are expected to confirm the reinforcement of joint exercises. The Japanese government intends to prepare for the possible deterioration of situations in the Korean Peninsula, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, by expanding the scope of defense cooperation with Britain, which Tokyo has positioned as a “quasi-ally.” If talks about a VFA are realized, they will be the second following talks with Australia. Japan and Australia began discussions in 2014, and an agreement is expected to be reached soon. VFAs establish the legal status of foreign forces temporarily visiting a nation’s territory for joint exercises, disaster-relief missions, and other activities. Under the current system, when staying in Japan on a temporary basis, the British military has to undergo procedures such as applying for customs exemptions for items they carry, and obtaining permission to bring arms and ammunition. Even for the purpose of disaster-relief missions, the same procedures are required to exempt them from liability for compensation in the event of property damage during their lifesaving activities. It is assumed that a VFA would make these procedures unnecessary or simplify the process. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

* COMMENT: These types of agreements may seem legalistic or mundane, but can become very important when dealing with problems which can arise from a military’s actual/day-to-day operations and activities in a hosting country. Another small step forward for Japan in building its strategic “maritime alliance network.” And, how about the UK/Royal Navy getting involved in East Asia again, after all these years…

Commentary and verse Copyright Carl LaFong 2017
www.vicsocotra.com