Japan Eagerly Fills Role as US’ East Asia “Ukraine”

Just as Ukraine presented Russia with an escalated, even existential threat to its national security then, an increasingly aggressive Japan removing the constraints placed on it following its last invasion of China during World War II presents an escalating, even existential threat to China’s national security today. References: Beijing Review - Japan Eagerly Fills Role as US’ East Asia “Ukraine” : CNN - How Japan’s new prime minister has brought China’s ‘wolf warriors’ back out (Nov. 12, 2025): https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/12/asia/japan-takaichi-china-taiwan-analysis-intl-hnk US DoD - Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Feb. 2025): https://www.war.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/ Reuters - Japan's new premier pledges early boost to defence spending, 'proactive' fiscal policy (Oct. 2025): https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-new-premier-pledges-early-boost-defence-spending-proactive-fiscal-moves-2025-10-24/ DW - Japan's Takaichi targets 2% military spend by March (Oct. 24, 2025): https://www.dw.com/en/japans-new-pm-takaichi-targets-2-military-spend-by-march/a-74481595 Reuters - Japan PM wavers on nuclear arms question in sign of possible shift (Nov. 12, 2025): https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japan-pm-wavers-nuclear-arms-question-sign-possible-shift-2025-11-12/ Kyiv Independent - Zelensky's full speech at Munich Security Conference (Feb. 19, 2022): https://kyivindependent.com/zelenskys-full-speech-at-munich-security-conference/ RAND Corporation - Extending Russia (2019): https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR3000/RR3063/RAND_RR3063.pdf US Naval War College Review - A Maritime Oil Blockade Against China—Tactically Tempting but Strategically Flawed (2018): https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1735&context=nwc-review BBC - How US Marines are being reshaped for China threat (Feb. 2023): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64294915 US State Department, Office of the Historian - Joint Statement Following Discussions With Leaders of the People’s Republic of China (1972): https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v17/d203 Reuters - US approves potential $330 million arms sale to Taiwan, first under Trump (Nov. 14, 2025): https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-state-dept-approves-possible-sale-taiwan-fighter-jet-spare-repair-parts-2025-11-14/ Where to Find My Work: Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailand Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerletic Rumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863 How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlas Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyer PromptPay: 0851547235