Tuesday, November 22, 2016

South Sudan: Japanese troops with mandate to shoot deploy for the first time since WWII

(Juba) After its crushing defeat at the end of the Second World War, the new Japanese constitution ensured that the land of the rising sun would never ever threaten anybody again (which is why it is forbidden to own any aircraft carriers (but there are ways around that one)).

Anyway, with the rise of Chinese belligerence, where it's ever increasing military feels like it can tramp over anybody’s front yard and stick 2 fingers at anybody who complains, the people have to look at the rules that govern them and change them.

Which is why Japan is now looking at selling weapons systems to others (India/UK), has increased its military budget and this week saw Japanese troops deploy outside of Japan for the first time in 70 years. Starting yesterday (20/11/16), up to 350 Japanese Army Engineers (Sappers) arrived in the country in which to help rebuild the South Sudanese capital.



However, UN compounds and peacekeepers have increasingly come under attack in Juba and elsewhere in South Sudan, so these Japanese troops have been given a mandate to use their weapons to fight back.


Expect a complaint from China soon.