We have been saying here on Shoebat.com to watch out for Japan, that Japan is rebuilding its military and will be a great imperial power and threat to humanity once again. Now in a breaking story, Japan is sending military troops for the first time ever since World War II overseas to Africa:
A contingent of Japanese troops landed in South Sudan on Monday, an official said – a mission that critics say could see them embroiled in their country’s first overseas fighting since World War Two.
The soldiers will join U.N. peacekeepers and help build infrastructure in the landlocked and impoverished country torn apart by years of civil war.
But, under new powers granted by their government last year, they will be allowed to respond to urgent calls for help from U.N. staff and aid workers. There are also plans to let them guard U.N. bases, which have been attacked during the fighting.
The deployment of 350 soldiers is in line with Japanese security legislation to expand the military’s role overseas. Critics in Japan have said the move risks pulling the troops into conflict for the first time in more than seven decades.(source)
This is huge.
Africa and Japan mutually account for less than 1% of both imports and exports. So why on Earth would the Japanese be doing in, of all places, Southern Sudan?
Two reasons- Germany and China
The war between southern and northern Sudan was split along religious, racial, and economic lines. Northern Sudan is Muslim, Arab-African, and resource impoverished. Southern Sudan is Christian, sub-Saharan African, and resource rich. The separation of southern sudan from northern sudan and the wholly undeveloped nature of southern sudan opened up large business opportunities for companies to move in and begin harvesting raw materials in mass for use in wealthier nations. This has been a benefit as well as a curse, for while the wealth is present in the nation, very little of it has passed to the society, which is still for the most part defined by tribal alliegances while the majority of people still pass their lives in wretched poverty.
In the days of the great European empires, all of the nations of western Europe had some colonial interest in Africa to varying degree. Germany was no exception, and while her spheres of influence were significantly smaller than both the British or the French, the Germans did very little in the way of trying to improve the area or the people. While there were many crimes committed, the British and French alike attempted to and did bring to the African people religion, western education, business, and economy in a way that for the duration of their presence there did much to benefit the people. One only needs to look at the situation of Zimbabwe- today one of the poorest nations in the world since having been returned to the people and the British Africans expelled, under British rule Zimbabwe was a great net food exporters to the entire world, and this is merely one of many, many examples. The Germans, on the other hand, did absolutely nothing for the African people, instead seeing africa solely as a field from which to harvest resources without attempting to sow anything in return.
The German presence was in several countries, but the most significant presence was in the current day areas that constitute Tanzania, Kenya, and northern Uganda, all of which are close to southern Sudan. During the first world war, the allies fought against the Germans in these same areas, and eventually the Germans were defeated and their lands seized and redistributed.
Remember, Germany knows this area and is aware of the resources that are in it. It should not comes as a surprise therefore that they gave South Sudan $13 million in “aid” in 2014, have a “special mission” to southern Sudan which even included “specialized care” for “refugees” of South Sudan paid for by the German taxpayer and is heavily involved in the distribution of food to a large number of the population in South Sudan.
Look at the big picture-Germany has a considerable influence in the food, medical care, social welfare, and economic “assistance” to the south Sudanese people. The next question naturally must be “What would Germany be getting in return?” The answer- business investments for German companies.
As one article recently pointed out, there are over 600 major German companies with “investment” interests in southern Sudan. You can bet all of these nations are getting “special deals.” This is typical of African nations, sadly- there are a small cabal of leaders who for a farthing of “donations” from foreigners allow their nations to be exploited for profit by foreigners. It is a story told over and over.
Now another question- what are some of the resources in southern sudan? Well, according to the CIA Factbook:
Nevertheless, South Sudan does have abundant natural resources. At independence in 2011, South Sudan produced nearly three-fourths of former Sudan’s total oil output of nearly a half million barrels per day. The government of South Sudan derives the vast majority of its budget revenues from oil. Oil is exported through two pipelines that run to refineries and shipping facilities at Port Sudan on the Red Sea. The economy of South Sudan will remain linked to Sudan for some time, given the long lead time and great expense required to build another pipeline, should the government decide to do so. In January 2012, South Sudan suspended production of oil because of its dispute with Sudan over transshipment fees. This suspension lasted 15 months and had a devastating impact on GDP, which declined by 48% in 2012. With the resumption of oil flows the economy rebounded strongly during the second half of calendar year 2013. This occurred in spite of the fact that oil production, at an average level of 222,000 barrels per day, was 40% lower compared with 2011, prior to the shutdown. GDP grew by nearly 30% in 2013. However, the outbreak of conflict on 15 December 2013 combined with a further reduction of oil production and exports, meant that GDP growth fell significantly in 2014 and poverty and food insecurity rose. South Sudan holds one of the richest agricultural areas in Africa with fertile soils and abundant water supplies. Currently the region supports 10-20 million head of cattle.
Oil, rare minerals, and lots of food. All stuff that is great for building an empire, and all of it in an area that is historically in the area of German territorial domination from the past, which also is a reminder of something I have been constantly saying, which is that Germany will seek to dominate its “former territories” as part of its quest for empire, just like how Germany is building a base in Niger, which it also one of its former spheres of influence.
The Chinese Issue
China has been investing in Africa for many years as part of its quest to grow its empire too. Chinese investment is substantial, such as a recent 60 billion dollar “aid package” that was offered to African nations. The goal of this, as the link points out, has absolutely nothing to do with the true welfare of the African people, but is solely about building up Chinese investments to consoldate wealth for select individuals and massive amounts of government power in what in China’s quest to become what the USA was during the 20th century- the undisputed world superpower to whom all other nations must listen or else face war and other forms of retribution.
Now Germany had issues with China going back to World War II because Germany was allied with Japan, and Japan was against China. Naturally, this makes China an enemy by proxy, and the Germans assisted the Japanese in the war crimes committed against the Chinese people.
Germany, like Japan, has a long memory. They certainly have not forgotten their animosity with the Chinese. However, now China is not only rivaling and overtaking Germany as an economic power, but they are now moving into what Germany would consider its “historical turf,” and is something they would not be pleased with. As a article puts it:
Berlin’s policy regarding Sudan should generally be in keeping with the policies of Washington and London, namely: the partition of a formerly united country and the separation of South Sudan should not just mean the separation of a large area with considerable strategic importance from Khartoum, but also a change in the ownership of a significant part of Sudan’s oil resources. In this instance, the interests of Germany, the US and Great Britain are the same – these Western powers are eager to «protect» East Africa from penetration by China… Today, more than half of Sudan’s oil is being exported to the People’s Republic of China, and Chinese workers and engineers in Sudan are no longer an uncommon sight.
Enter Japan
As I mentioned earlier, Japan’s trade with Africa is very small. South Africa was for a long time a large Japanese trading partner, but certainly not Sudan. However, it seems curious that almost immediately after Southern Sudan became a free nation Japan and has been there since to assist with “nation” and “infrastructure” building, yet at the same time from people who actually work on the ground will say that no infrastructure has been build.
Perhaps that infrastructure has been build for large companies to work in. After all, Japan’s foreign ministry announces publicly that Japan has agreed to formally cooperate with Germany on many projects, including foreign military exercises in Southern Sudan:
Promotion of information exchanges and coordination between Japanese and German Military Personnel dispatched overseas (e.g. off the coast of Somalia, and in the Gulf of Aden, South Sudan)
We keep saying it here at Shoebat.com and we will say it again- Germany, Japan, and Turkey are going to ally again in the next and coming war against Russia and China.
Make no mistake, this Japanese military move in Africa is massively aggressive and dangerous. It is another step down the path to world war.
Don’t let the music fool you. This is the rise of a dangerous and deadly power once again.