Drawing on U.S. constitutional law and expert testimony, this piece reveals that neither Democrats nor Republicans are willing to fight China over the Senkaku Islands, underscoring the unavoidable necessity for Japan’s independent defense.

March 13, 2017

The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Senkaku Deployment Requires Congressional Approval
Ito:
When one reads the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, it is stipulated that the final decision on whether to go to war or not rests with Congress.
If Congress does not wish to wage war, the president must comply.
That is why, several years ago, when President Obama sought congressional approval to bomb Syria, a majority of both Democrats and Republicans opposed going to war in Syria, and it did not materialize.
When speaking with staff members of the U.S. Congress’s foreign affairs committees, regardless of whether they are Democrats or Republicans, they say, “The legislators have no intention of going to war with China over the Senkaku Islands.”
Thomas Hubbard, a former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs who also served in Japan for seven years, has stated clearly, “Don’t expect us to go to a war over this Senkaku issue.”
While in opposition, the Liberal Democratic Party said, “Once we regain power, we will construct defense facilities on the Senkaku Islands, station Self-Defense Forces personnel, and defend the Senkakus.”
But after regaining power, they did nothing.
Why has Japan not deployed its land-based anti-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles on the Senkaku Islands?
The reason, it is said, is that the U.S. State Department and the White House ordered, “Do not land Japanese police or Self-Defense Forces on the Senkakus, and do not build defense facilities.”
In short, the United States does not want to be dragged in under any circumstances.
Of course, verbally they say things like, “Japan will be fine because Article 5 applies.”
Yano:
Even among allies, no country will allow itself to be drawn into a territorial dispute with a third country that does not serve its own national interests.
That is the same for the United States as for any other country.
The same was true during the Falklands War.
Even between the U.S. and the U.K., America provided indirect support but did not fight directly.
The British military dispatched aircraft carriers and somehow retook the islands.
Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the United States will act to defend the Senkaku Islands.
Japan must defend them on its own.