Okinawa: Caught between a rock and a hard place

US Marines discharge Perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (PFAS) into the sewers. Okinawan officials are “furious” while the Japanese government is complacent | PAT ELDER

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is located in densely populated Ginowan City, Okinawa


Okinawan residents call for removal of U.S. military bases. [Source: teenvogue.com].

NATO setting sights on East Asia

The military bloc is assuming a stronger posture in relationship to China. US experts call for NATO operations in the Pacific | german-foreign-policy.com

Rimpac (Rim of the Pacific) to be held August 17-31 is the largest naval exercise in the world. Canadian navy is sending HMCS Winnipeg along with HMCS_NCSMRegina for its 27th participation.

BERLIN/WASHINGTON (June 19) – NATO should systematically expand its military exercises and operations into the Asia-Pacific region, an expert of Washington’s Atlantic Council think tank proposes in the intensifying debate on the posture the western war alliance should assume in relationship to the People’s Republic of China. China’s “presence in the Arctic, in Africa and in the Mediterranean” calls for a response, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

China in the crosshairs of Halifax War Conference

By TONY SEED

(November 23) – On November 22, the opening day of the 11th annual Halifax International Security Forum (HISF), “a new year-long initiative focused on China” was announced by HISF President Peter Van Praagh via press release.

US-NATO’s drive into Asia

ASIAN NATO CONCEPT FLAG | Pnyxblog

A global military bloc | RICK ROZOFF

(January 29, 2009) – With the sixtieth anniversary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to occur jointly in the French city of Strasbourg and and the German one of Kehl on April 3-4, the world should take note of how far from its original area of operations this, history’s first international military bloc has expanded in the interim since its creation in 1949.

For your information: Government of Canada backgrounder – Defence relations in Asia-Pacific

The Government of Canada describes its defence relations with the “Asia-Pacific Region” as follows:

“As a Pacific country, Canada considers its relations with its Asia-Pacific neighbours a priority. Canadian security and prosperity are linked to the vitality of Asia’s economy and the stability of the region. In support of this agenda, the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are committed to strengthening peace and security in the region and enhancing their engagement in Asia-Pacific.”

The Government claims that its involvement ranges “(f)rom our commitment of resources towards humanitarian and relief efforts following Typhoon Haiyan, to our participation in regional military exercises and high-level defence fora,” and that it is “proud of the steps that we have taken in recent years to bolster defence relations and increase cooperation with Canada’s partners in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The backgrounder describes Canada’s multilateral defence relations and regional military exercises as follows: