This is about building up the JSDF. Ukraine is just a convenient excuse.

Japan's economy is cooked and so their conservative politicians are returning to the well of nationalism and old people's weird desire to have an offensive military again.

Totally against Japan's constitution, article 9. They are trying to redeploy their SDF 'defensive' military into offensive theater. No way this could end badly

I truly believe that a cosmic force is going to make it so Japan is the next country to get nuked, again.

This is a continuation of Biden policy. I recall Biden saying that he wanted South Korea and Japan to join NATO at the NATO summit last summer.

They heard that bullshit news about chinese soldiers fighting for russia and their instincts took over

Teaming up with Nazis for old times' sake.

Japan has said that Russia’s war on Ukraine underscores that security risks in Europe and Asia are inseparable, and Tokyo has sought closer ties with NATO while also joining the United States in expanding defense ties with other friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific.

Rutte told Nakatani that China, North Korea and Russia are stepping up their military exercises and their cooperation, “undermining global security and that means what happens in Euro-Atlantic matters in the Indo-Pacific and vice versa.”

Japan considers China a threat in the region and has in recent years accelerated its military buildup, including preparing to acquire strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles.

The NATO chief also raised concern about China’s arms buildup and military drills near Taiwan and called on the organization’s members and friendly nations to work together to keep free and open sea lanes in the region.

“China is supporting Russia’s efforts. China is building up its armed forces, including its navy, at a rapid pace,” Rutte told reporters earlier Tuesday after he briefly boarded Japan’s advanced multi-functional frigate Mogami docked in the Japanese naval port of Yokosuka. “We cannot be naive, and we really have to work together, assess what is happening.”

Rutte said NATO is worried about China’s military exercises near Taiwan and “we follow them very closely.”

Rutte told Nakatani that he hoped to deepen ties between NATO and Japan in a range of areas from crisis response operations to cyber defense, maritime security as well as defense industrial cooperation.

NATO has stepped up its ties with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, known as the IP4, in recent years, with their officials attending NATO ministerial and summit meetings.

The United States wants NATO members to be more involved in the Indo-Pacific region, Rutte said. He welcomed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent trip to Japan to ensure Washington’s commitment to strengthen its alliance with Japan and presence in the region. He stressed its importance, noting that Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven that is not in NATO.

Rutte, visiting Japan for the first time since becoming head of the Belgium-based military alliance in October, will meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday.

Ishiba has advocated a NATO-like security framework in Asia, though he has not given details.

Countries with shared security concerns are strengthening ties as competition escalates between the United States and China. Beijing has criticized NATO’s growing ties with the Indo-Pacific partners, worried that Washington may move to form a NATO-like alliance in the region.

Rutte going into warmongering rut

Oh, and fun fact: In Norwegian, "mark" is the word for "worm"

Is that how oceans work?