Japan and Tiawan in security talks.. Biden not invited !! hahah

[727Sky]

Change comes slowly in Japan—especially when it involves national defense. But sometimes, something happens that causes one to raise an eyebrow.

On Aug. 27, two Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politicians, both defense specialists, held virtual “security” discussions with two counterparts from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
This was a first—and an eyebrow-raiser.
The following commentary discusses the significance of the talks and possible future developments in the Japan–Taiwan defense relationship.
How Important Are Japan–Taiwan Security Talks?
The fact those talks took place is important in its own right. Japan is showing a backbone, as such talks would have been unthinkable five years ago. Tokyo has had basically no security relationship with Taiwan—for fear of angering China. But now Japanese LDP politicians are meeting (even if virtually) with Taiwanese counterparts to talk security and national defense. And the Japanese government was very public about it and made no effort to hide or to downplay the talks.
Also, there was no public opposition in Japan. Indeed, earlier opinion polling on regional defense topics (including Taiwan and China) suggests that the Japanese public would regard the Japan–Taiwan talks as necessary, if not commonsensical.
But might one say that “it’s just a couple of LDP politicians” and not real diplomats talking? That’s true. But they still had approval from the Suga administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has always had a “pro-China” faction. And Japanese industry and business interests—notoriously willing to placate China to assure market access—couldn’t stop the talks either. In fact, there are signs that Japanese officials might be prioritizing security interests over economic and commercial interests.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Ashigara (DDG 178), foreground, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) transit the Philippine Sea on April 28, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Z.A. Landers)
What Is Motivating the Japanese Side?
Japan is afraid. And at long last, there’s a broad enough realization in official and political circles that Taiwan’s defense is Japan’s defense. If Taiwan comes under Chinese control, Japan’s defenses will be “outflanked.” And China’s naval and air forces operating from Taiwan will be able to cover Japan’s eastern approaches—effectively surrounding Japan.
Also, Chinese forces can cut the South China Sea sea lanes through which much of Japan’s commercial traffic (including energy supplies) flows. In early September, Beijing announced that certain classes of foreign ships entering Chinese waters will come under direct Chinese supervision. Beijing claims most of the South China Sea (and the East China Sea) as its own. And one day, Beijing will enforce the “law”—as Tokyo well knows.
Many in Japan (especially in military and defense circles) have long understood Taiwan’s importance, but now the threat to Japan is so widely recognized that it can’t be avoided or ignored—even if that’s the preference of Japanese officials for handling difficult issues.
Japan also realizes that if the United States steps in to help Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, the U.S. bases in Japan will be targeted. So one way or another, Japan will be involved in the fight.
Is this “leaning” toward Taiwan by Japan likely to be a long-term thing?
Yes.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called for a security relationship with Japan a couple of years ago. That idea went nowhere, owing to Japanese reluctance. However, now we might have seen the first step toward that end. The LDP and DPP politicians agreed to hold regular talks going forward. Regular government-to-government security discussions are a logical next step.
The Japanese also have a visceral sense of the danger from China that always sits in Japanese psyches, which comes from 2,000 years of history and being close neighbors. And Japan isn’t psychologically able to accept a “lesser” role in the Japan–China relationship—at least not voluntarily.
How could a Japan–Taiwan defense relationship play out in the near future?
There’s plenty of potential regarding how that relationship progresses. It just takes a little imagination and nerve on Japan’s part.
At this point, Japan is probably thinking about how it can do something that “sends a message” but doesn’t go “too far.” However, Japan is also looking to see what the United States does toward Taiwan and will likely calibrate and act accordingly.
The most likely Japan–Taiwan military cooperation in the near term is to exchange “liaison officers” (in other words, defense attachés) and also have defense officials—uniformed and civilian—hold meetings on different topics, such as intelligence sharing. We might also see Taiwan military officers invited to attend events, schools, and courses in Japan and vice versa.
The idea of Taiwan Navy ships and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force or the Taiwan Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force brushing elbows operationally perhaps isn’t for the immediate future. But if the United States takes the lead and “breaks the ice” by ending 40 years of isolating the Taiwan military, Japan just might join in as well.
And if the Chinese keep scaring the hell out of everyone, it’s more likely that the Japanese will be moved to act faster than currently imagined—even without seeking U.S. approval. It often takes a crisis to motivate Japan—and China is fast becoming such a crisis.
A type 094 Jin-class nuclear submarine Long March 15 of the Chinese Navy participates in a naval parade in the sea near Qingdao, Shandong Province, China on April 23, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images)
HADR Cooperation Between Japan and Taiwan?
One announced outcome of the Aug. 27 meetings was to have Japanese and Taiwanese Coast Guards cooperate on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
That’s a good idea and a useful starting point.
One would have to be exceedingly churlish to object to the idea of saving lives—as Beijing no doubt will.
HADR training and response has a practical real-world applicability, and in Taiwan and surrounding areas, there’s no shortage of natural disasters every year. Japan and Taiwan can start with planning meetings, then move to tabletop exercises, field exercises, and actual bilateral and multilateral responses to actual disasters.
Bringing the U.S. Coast Guard into this initiative from the start is a good idea—for political purposes as well as for the resources and expertise that the United States can add.
But at some point, the respective militaries will need to join the mix. The militaries are the ones that actually conduct HADR operations. Coast Guards can do some limited humanitarian relief activities, but not the full-blown HADR operations needed after a tsunami or a typhoon.
HADR is a good way to work up to military-to-military cooperation—involving Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and other free nations.
Overall, the recent talks potentially open many doors. Taiwan is willing. It’s up to Japan to move things along. Hopefully, they will. And the United States should help them out, if needed.
Will Japan’s policy toward Taiwan and China change after a new prime minister is selected?
Not if the prime minister is from the LDP. But if the opposition somehow wins, things will get interesting. The Japanese opposition has its share of China “accommodationists” who are eager to try policies that have already failed repeatedly. And Beijing might also be tempted to test a new administration in Tokyo.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/japan-taiw...whatfinger

[727Sky]

Another bit of news this time with the Taliban and Iran. https://defiantamerica.com/smuggling-is-...s-to-iran/

Smuggling Is On Full Swing In Afghanistan As Photos Reveal That Talibans Are Transferring American Automatic Weapons And Humvees To Iran



Last week White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that it was not the Biden administration’s intention to arm the Taliban with billions of dollars in military equipment originally given to the Afghan government but claimed that the United States is taking steps to “reduce the amount of equipment” in the Taliban’s possession before completing the troop withdrawal at the end of the month.
Psaki, fielding questions at the White House press briefing, declined to “get into details” of how specifically U.S. forces are carrying out the equipment destruction or recovery but assured reporters “that is part of their effort.”
Rep. Jim Banks, an Indiana lawmaker who chairs the Republican Study Committee and served in Afghanistan, estimated the value of what was left behind at $85 billion.

Here’s the arsenal that we provided to the Taliban:

It seems that Psaki as the rest of her administration provided us with some fake news as much of the of military equipment which was left behind wasn’t was destroyed.

But like that humiliation is not enough the Taliban use this equipment to improve their crippled economy!
A social media post originating in Iran posted several images of Humvees loaded on transport trucks stopped on the side of an Iranian highway.
An Iranian Telegram channel that covers military stories has released these “exclusive” images that purportedly show humvees and other military vehicles spotted on the Semnan-Garmsar road in Iran.
Images below:




It’s obvious that the Taliban will sell a lot of weapons to our biggest enemies.

The Taliban has invited a number of countries, including Russia, to take part in an event dedicated to the announcement of the composition of the new Afghan government, the group’s representative whose name was not revealed told the Al Jazeera TV channel on Monday.
“We have sent invitations to Turkey, China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar to take part in the [ceremony] of announcing [the composition of the new Afghan] government,” he said.

With all the high tech equipment not mentioned all of America's enemies will have a wonderful windfall of back engineering.

[727Sky]

https://rairfoundation.com/muslim-afghan...owed-work/

Why is Germany welcoming Islamic migrants who believe women are not allowed to work and should be punished or even killed for doing so?

In Berlin, Germany, on Sunday, September 5, 2021, a 29-year-old Afghan refugee repeatedly stabbed a 58-year-old landscape gardener in the neck because he was angry that a woman was allowed to have a job. A 66-year-old who came to her aid was also seriously injured and stabbed in the throat by the self-appointed enforcer of sharia.
The Muslim Afghan who came to Germany in 2016 as a refugee approached the landscape gardener at around 1.30 p.m. He first tried to engage her in conversation and then suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed her over and over again in the neck. The Muslim also seriously injured a man trying to rescue the critically injured woman by stabbing him several times in his neck. Both victims of the attack were rushed to the hospital and had to be operated on.
Police officers arrested the Afghan at the scene. The refugee was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. 
Motivation: Islamic Terror or Mental Illness

Taliban murder policewoman in front of her children and husband

By
M. Dowling
-
September 5, 2021
8










The Taliban executed a pregnant police officer in front of her husband and children in her own home.
Banu Negar was killed at her home in Firozkoh in a door-to-door execution. Three gunmen tied up members of her family before shooting her dead. Taliban say her death was caused by “personal enmity or something else.”
The mother, who worked in the local prison, was eight months pregnant at the time of the execution on Saturday.
Pictures have circulated online showing blood-spattered walls in the house and her disfigured corpse.
The Taliban have been trying to project a more tolerant and moderate image of themselves since seizing power. That’s just fake propaganda.

But a number of incidents of horrific violence have been reported in Afghanistan under the repressive regime.
Fighters have been seen going door to door hunting former members of the Afghan security forces and Western allies.
Earlier this week, a top Afghan female cop went on the run after suffering a ‘brutal beating’ from the Taliban.

Gulafroz Ebtekar, believed to be 34, was a deputy head of criminal investigations in Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry and is seen as a role model for Afghan women with a notable media presence.

https://www.independentsentinel.com/tali...d-husband/

[727Sky]

https://vidmax.com/video/206960-well-kno...nationwide

Well Known Afghani Folk Singer Is Executed By Taliban After Music Is Banned Nationwide
An Afghan folk singer has been executed by the Taliban just days after the Islamic fundamentalist group declared that “music is forbidden in Islam,” according to his family.

Fawad Andarabi’s family told the Associated Press that he was shot dead Friday when enforcers returned to his home after earlier searching it and even drinking tea with him.

“They shot him in the head on the farm,” his son, Jawad, said of the killing in the Andarabi Valley for which he was named.

“He was innocent, a singer who only was entertaining people,” the grieving son said of his dad, who played a bowed lute called a ghichak and sang traditional songs about his country.

[Kenzo]

https://vidmax.com/video/206960-well-kno...nationwide

Well Known Afghani Folk Singer Is Executed By Taliban After Music Is Banned Nationwide
An Afghan folk singer has been executed by the Taliban just days after the Islamic fundamentalist group declared that “music is forbidden in Islam,” according to his family.

Fawad Andarabi’s family told the Associated Press that he was shot dead Friday when enforcers returned to his home after earlier searching it and even drinking tea with him.

“They shot him in the head on the farm,” his son, Jawad, said of the killing in the Andarabi Valley for which he was named.

“He was innocent, a singer who only was entertaining people,” the grieving son said of his dad, who played a bowed lute called a ghichak and sang traditional songs about his country.

Taliban are just barbaric Pakistan proxy gang....they are against Afgan people . This poor man did not deserved to be killed .

[F2d5thCav]

Biden wasn't invited because it was a meeting for adults.

Cheers

[guohua]

Biden wasn't invited because it was a meeting for adults.

Cheers

You mean something like

[ABNARTY]

After the "resounding success" of the Afghanistan exit, those folks may be having second thoughts. 

I guess since it is their corner of the world, maybe just let them hash it out.

[ABNARTY]

Interesting side note from my neck of the woods.


The State Department is seeking "urgent guidance" on how to handle the child brides of the evacuees. No word yet. 

My son works on post and interacts with them everyday. It kind of freaks him out knowing some of the female children running around are 'wives' of adult men and all that entails.

Maybe cultural appreciation only goes so far?

[727Sky]

Interesting side note from my neck of the woods.


The State Department is seeking "urgent guidance" on how to handle the child brides of the evacuees. No word yet. 

My son works on post and interacts with them everyday. It kind of freaks him out knowing some of the female children running around are 'wives' of adult men and all that entails.

Maybe cultural appreciation only goes so far?

The great needle dick pedifile and chief was dorking his bride when she was 9. Surprisingly Aisha lived to old age.

[ABNARTY]

Interesting side note from my neck of the woods.


The State Department is seeking "urgent guidance" on how to handle the child brides of the evacuees. No word yet. 

My son works on post and interacts with them everyday. It kind of freaks him out knowing some of the female children running around are 'wives' of adult men and all that entails.

Maybe cultural appreciation only goes so far?

The great needle dick pedifile and chief was dorking his bride when she was 9. Surprisingly Aisha lived to old age.

Yup. Spent plenty of time in the ME and there abouts. Have spent plenty of time working to understand different cultures. That particular aspect still escapes me. It still hits me a wrong. I wonder where all the wokies are on this issue in the media? Have not heard from them.