Okinawa’s Importance for U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy | Taiwan Talks EP532

According to an NHK report, there are currently 19,000 U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa, and from these, 9,000 of them will be gradually relocated to Guam and Hawaii. Yazhou Zhoukan reported that this marks the first time that the relocation of U.S. troops has been realized since the U.S. and Japan reached a consensus on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Japan in 2006. What impact will this have on the U.S. defense line of the first island chain? How will these changes affect the Indo-Pacific situation? In this episode of “Taiwan Talks,” we discuss the importance of Okinawa in the context of Indo-Pacific tensions and the U.S.-China rivalry in the region. Furthermore, we analyze the state of the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-South Korea alliances.

Our guests are:

Chen Ping-kuei
- National Chengchi University Department of Diplomacy Professor

Wang Kai-chun
- Foreign Policy Advisor at the Office of R.O.C. Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin

[ArabicReja]

It doesn't matter how many times the Chinese regime repeats the same *lies, *
or how *angry* it pretends to be,
- Taiwan 🇹🇼 is still an independent country.

[lastChang]

Global Air Power Ranking (2024):
1. 🇺🇸 United States Air Force (5, 189)
2. 🇺🇸 United States Navy (2, 626)
3. 🇷🇺 Russian Air Force (3, 652)
4. 🇺🇸 United States Army Aviation (4, 397)
5. 🇺🇸 United States Marine Corps (1, 211)
6. 🇮🇳 Indian Air Force (1, 645)
7. 🇨🇳 People's Liberation Army Air Force (2.084)
8. 🇯🇵 Japan Air Self-Defense Force (779)
9. Israeli Air Force (581)
10. French Air Force (501)
This ranking does not include combat effectiveness.

[simonyang-peux]

The question is that will US & JAPAN give their all-efforts to support Taiwan if there is any conflict occur in Taiwan strait? i doubt that really.

[martinheidegger]

Taiwan forces need more training from USA SOCOM, SOF. More than a few squads. Also self defence force based on Swiss model.

[Rome-ne]

Trump has the steering wheel where our economy is heading. It's been decades that other countries benefit from our economy and there's a symbiotic relationship as always. We need the rest of the world to work with us to achieve prosperity and peace and I hope international law will prevail when it comes to sovereignty issues.

[tonyatgoogle]

Okinawa freedom. China should liberate Okinawa.

[AdanEdy]

Thanks for the breakdown! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?

[piofuentes]

WELCOM DEVELOPMENT! JAPAN WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

[Austine]

Okinawa is under Japanese and American occupation

[Erik-rphi]

The US is building up Camp Schab on Okinawa as we speak.

[derekfoust]

Japan needs to do the following:
1. Relinquish Luchu to the indigenous people of Luchu. Luchu (renamed Okinawa) was originally an independent country, and was robbed at gun-point by Imperial Japan Empire.
2. Remove all the military bases in Luchu.
3. Japan needs to educate its citizens of atrocities committed against Luchu, China, Korea and other nations.
4. Japan needs to stop colluding with US in keeping the ill-got gained Luchu territories and neighboring Chinese territories of Diaoyu Islands.
5. Japan, along with US, must stop preventing peaceful unification of China or encouraging Taiwan separatists.
6. Relinquish the stolen ill-got gained Diaoyu Islands (renamed Senkaku) to China--the rightful owner, as promised by Imperial Japan Empire at the conclusion of WWII.

[jason]

You know Xi barely has a middle school education.

[alexvikendi]

Stick we the Americans believe me... Until you can't anymore but they're reliable allies
.

[derekfoust]

Japan and US: People would like to see if you'll do the right thing; that is, to practice the moral values that your moms/teachers have taught you--return the stolen properties to the rightful owners.
Luchu being a stolen island from people of Luchu and being used as strategic first island chain, is used militarily against China. Similarly, a gun/knife of a thief is also important to thief’s fight from being caught. However, is it the right thing to do? Japan were to return all stolen properties as promised after WWII. However, Japan and America collude, play politics, using Luchu as shield, argue behind technicalities, and even denial, and thereby keeping the ill-got gained Luchu territories and neighboring Chinese territories of Diaoyu Islands.
So, Japan and America, will you walk the talk and do the right thing? Or Will you just talk and preach?

[fernandofernandito]

Coming from military school and strategies at Tomasito during the South commands era Escuela de Las America's 🌎

Withdrawing troops could mean fallback into US main bases for strategic purposes. Stability, peace and economy on region can take so much and red line crossed had its limits.
PLA rocket forces tested ICBM with precision 3 months ago.

Monitoring all PLA rockets/DongFeng series and more powerful than and yet the DF41 series 👏

Saving and relocating troops are Generals main jobs.

Using other Asian countries and framing to go alone is a naive thinking...only non business oriented will take the bait and sabotage their own economy of the whole Asian's countries economy.

Building up an imaginary islands change of 3 different scenarios or blockages. It is like denying the sea to US Navy when Russia has nuclear missiles in Cuba, later smuggling them into Haiti 🇭🇹 / Dominican Republic 🇩🇴.
Expanding Marines bases in Nicaragua 🇳🇮 to Panama 🇵🇦.

[shundi]

The Ryukyu (Okinawa) islands do not belong to Japan. They were illegally taken before WWII. The Cairo and Potsdam Declarations stated that, upon Japanese surrender, these territories must be returned to their rightful owners, i.e. The Ryukus people.

[dcc]

To me it couldn't be more clear why Trump is noncommittal in regards to the defense of Taiwan. When he sees China and Taiwan, he sees dollar signs. He will try to play one against the other to bid up the price for his favor. This is his favorite kind of "business", where he risks nothing, contributes nothing, but gets the maximum payout. Whenever he tried to run a real business, like his casinos, airline, university, steaks, etc, he inevitably fails.

[silafaupaulmeredith]

How many peole in Okinawa want US troops on their soil? 10%?

[dcc]

Anyone getting Mantis vibes from this newswoman?

[AddlyJenesma]

"Keep dreaming."
and tell lies to ourselves..