Episode Details

Just as Ukraine presented Russia with an escalated, even existential threat to its national security then, an increasingly aggressive Japan removing the constraints placed on it following its last invasion of China during World War II presents an escalating, even existential threat to China’s national security today.

References:

Beijing Review - Japan Eagerly Fills Role as US’ East Asia “Ukraine” :

CNN - How Japan’s new prime minister has brought China’s ‘wolf warriors’ back out (Nov. 12, 2025):
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/12/asia/japan-takaichi-china-taiwan-analysis-intl-hnk
US DoD - Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Feb. 2025):
https://www.war.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/
Reuters - Japan's new premier pledges early boost to defence spending, 'proactive' fiscal policy (Oct. 2025):
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-new-premier-pledges-early-boost-defence-spending-proactive-fiscal-moves-2025-10-24/
DW - Japan's Takaichi targets 2% military spend by March (Oct. 24, 2025):
https://www.dw.com/en/japans-new-pm-takaichi-targets-2-military-spend-by-march/a-74481595
Reuters - Japan PM wavers on nuclear arms question in sign of possible shift (Nov. 12, 2025):
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japan-pm-wavers-nuclear-arms-question-sign-possible-shift-2025-11-12/
Kyiv Independent - Zelensky's full speech at Munich Security Conference (Feb. 19, 2022):
https://kyivindependent.com/zelenskys-full-speech-at-munich-security-conference/
RAND Corporation - Extending Russia (2019):
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR3000/RR3063/RAND_RR3063.pdf
US Naval War College Review - A Maritime Oil Blockade Against China—Tactically Tempting but Strategically Flawed (2018):
https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1735&context=nwc-review
BBC - How US Marines are being reshaped for China threat (Feb. 2023):
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64294915
US State Department, Office of the Historian - Joint Statement Following Discussions With Leaders of the People’s Republic of China (1972):
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v17/d203
Reuters - US approves potential $330 million arms sale to Taiwan, first under Trump (Nov. 14, 2025):
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-state-dept-approves-possible-sale-taiwan-fighter-jet-spare-repair-parts-2025-11-14/

Where to Find My Work:

Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailand
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerletic
Rumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863

How to Support my Work (and thank you!):

Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlas
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyer
PromptPay: 0851547235
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ateBkqi9A