@Zhuge Liang: In the situation on Okinawa, I don't think the Americans would have much choice. Its their soldiers who acted recklessly and killed Japanese civilians on a base in Japanese territory which they were only able to use through Japanese consent. If the Japanese relinquish that consent, they pretty much have to leave. Besides, there are other occasions where a native government has ordered the withdraw of US bases on their lands which the US complied with, just look at Uzbekistan.
@Aliasing: Of course North Korea has a larger army. Even in real life, where they are 4th in the world, with more troops than Russia.
@Battle bunny: But how many Bush Administration officials and other American conservatives could stomach the idea of abandoning a strong US ally due to the demands of
Communist China? Think the Americans would want to look like having to bow to the whims of the Chinese?
@everyone else: thanks for the comments!
China begins to flex its international muscles and starts showing the world its willingness to begin testing American authority in the world stage. First up: Libya. China decides to answer a Libyan request to begin active support of the country's nuclear program, even when Russia decides against it. This is a very dangerous precedent being set by the Chinese, something that could threaten to one day greatly destabilize North Africa.
An even more dangerous and relevant action as far as Japan is concerned takes place regarding North Korea. The DPRK continues to flex its military muscle, testing brand new Taepodong-2 ballistic missiles in the Sea of Japan. Japanese air defense units are placed on full alert in advance of the tests, and Japanese fighter aircraft are ordered to patrol the western coastlines in case of some kind of North Korean air activity.
Elsewhere, in the unstable island nation of Sri Lanka, civil war explodes again as the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government renew hostilities over control of the northern portions of the island.
In the caribbean, Fidel Castro announces his retirement. Rule over the communist island nation now passes into the hands of his brother, Raul Castro.
An unpleasant border incident erupts between Russia and Japan with the arrests of a group of Japanese fishermen off the Kuril Islands by Russian patrol boats. The sailors are taken to Russian territory and are interrogated by Russian authorities. Japan's government immediately orders an apology for the incident by the Russian government, and demands the sailors release to Japanese authorities.
The Russians instead show their belligerence and refuse to apologize for the capture of the fishermen. The Russians would later release the sailors to Japanese custody, but deny any wrongdoing. Although Japan's government issues some more protests, the matter is soon dropped, with the regime not wanting to further deteriorate the situation.
Meanwhile, the 5000 soldiers of the Japanese Iraq Expeditionary Brigade return home from their long tour of duty in Southern Iraq. The soldiers are greeted with great fanfare upon their return, having completed a job well done.
The celebratory atmosphere created by the return of Japanese troops from Iraq is shattered however by a startling new development. China has decided to up the ante in international relations. In early September, China announces an agreement with the governments of Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan in the formation of a brand new military alliance. Stretching from Eastern Europe to the South China Sea and the Bering Strait, this new bloc of nations is known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, more popularly known as the Shanghai Pact. Now, two of the worlds most powerful militaries are united in one all powerful bloc, a group which not only declares that it will be a counterweight to the United States, but also alarmingly declares that it will work to curb the increasing political and military power of Japan. Japan's leadership has mixed feelings on the matter. On one hand, Japan is now confronted with facing both the Russians and Chinese as a united force against it. On the other however, the United States is now going to need Japan more than ever, as a force to counter this newly emerging threat to its military and political dominance....
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: the "Shanghai Pact", September 2006.
