Latest news with #Armitage
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Armitage Strengthened Japan-U.S. Alliance; Late Statesman Saw Great Potential of Bilateral Ties
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo In 2018, Armitage attended the Yomiuri International Economic Society (YIES) hosted by the Yomiuri Shimbun in Tokyo. Armitage had been a contributor to The Yomiuri Shimbun's 'Insights into the World' column since 2005. This spring, Japan and the Japan-U.S. alliance lost a pillar of support when former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage passed away on April 13 at age 79. He was literally and figuratively a man of great stature, whose distinctive voice and warm but blunt speech were not only known and respected by Japanese politicians and diplomats, but also widely recognized by the Japanese public. How did Armitage become so well-known in Japan? The story is closely intertwined with the history of Japan's postwar security transition, which began in earnest in the early 1990s. During the 1991 Gulf War, the United States formed a multinational force to contain Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. Then U.S. President George H.W. Bush asked U.S. allies, including Japan, to contribute militarily to the war. However, Japan turned down Washington's request, due to the restrictions in Article 9 of its Constitution. Japan had never dispatched Self-Defense Forces troops overseas up to that point. Instead of sending troops, Japan spent $13 billion to assist the United States, but the decision was criticized by the U.S. Congress and public as 'too little, too late.' In Japan, this traumatic episode is still widely remembered. What exactly is Article 9, and how did it become a hindrance to the Japan-U.S. alliance? Article 9 codifies the pacifism proclaimed in Japan's Constitution. The article renounces the threat of force, the use of force and 'war as a sovereign right of the nation.' It also rules out recognizing the 'right of belligerency of the state.' This unique Constitution, which states that 'land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained,' reflects the history of World War II. Japan and the United States were once enemies fighting across the Pacific Ocean, beginning with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. After its defeat, Japan accepted the current Constitution, formulated under the leadership of GHQ led by U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The reason why the Constitution restricts the use of force and does not permit the possession of armed forces is that it was intended to dismantle Japan's Imperial military, which had attacked the United States and invaded other countries during World War II, and to prevent future military re-expansion by Japan. In 1990, before the Gulf War, Maj. Gen. Henry Stackpole III, then commander of U.S. Marine Corps bases in Japan, told the U.S. media, 'No one wants a rearmed, resurgent Japan,' and referred to the U.S. military presence in Japan as 'a cap in the bottle.' Although this was Stackpole's personal view, there was a sense of caution toward Japan's military rise. Japan's Self-Defense Forces are considered a military force under international law, even though the Constitution does not mention the existence of the Self-Defense Forces. Strong criticism from the United States opened Japan's eyes. In 1992, Japan passed the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Cooperation Law to provide the legal basis for the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces overseas. Akihisa Nagashima knew Armitage for three decades. Nagashima, a House of Representatives member currently serving as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, said Armitage's most important achievement 'is that he has clearly laid out and frankly told Japan what Japan's security role should be, based on his trust in Japan.' Nagashima emphasized, 'Mr. Armitage has put an end to the 'bottle cap theory' that was based on distrust toward Japan.' How did Armitage do it? The most well-known episode occurred after the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. At the time, Armitage was a deputy secretary of state. Prior to the U.S. retaliatory attack on Afghanistan, Armitage met then Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shunji Yanai. According to a report in The Yomiuri Shimbun at the time, Armitage told Yanai that the American people were watching closely to see how their ally would cooperate with them. As a friend of Japan, he said, he felt it needed to avoid making an issue over its cooperation with the United States as it did during the Gulf War. Armitage understood that Japan's direct contribution would be limited due to the Constitution, but he emphasized that logistical support was possible. He encouraged Japan to show willingness and make the decision voluntarily. Precisely as Nagashima pointed out, Armitage offered clear and straightforward advice to Japan as a friend. Sept. 11 was the first direct attack on the U.S. homeland since World War II, and the tragic event reminded Americans of 1941. Armitage probably knew at the time that Japan's decision would affect the Japan-U.S. relationship. Then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi acted quickly on Armitage's advice. The prime minister immediately flew to Washington and met with then U.S. President George W. Bush and informed him that the Self-Defense Forces would provide logistical support for U.S. military operations. Yanai later recalled that at the beginning of the summit, Koizumi showed solidarity by telling Bush, 'We stand by you.' Koizumi and Bush established a close relationship, and the Japan-U.S. alliance deepened in their era. Armitage also encouraged Japan to think and act independently. In 2003, the United States decided to attack Iraq. Seiji Maehara, who later served as foreign minister in a Democratic Party of Japan administration, met then Deputy Secretary of State Armitage in Washington right before the attack on Iraq. Maehara, a pragmatic politician who had a good understanding of foreign policy, expressed his opposition to the attack. According to Maehara, Armitage came close to him and said: 'Mr. Maehara. If North Korea launches missiles at Japan while you are defense minister, how would you respond?' Japan could not counterattack due to constitutional restrictions at that time. Maehara was aware of the constraints of the Constitution and got frustrated. He replied, 'We will do what we can do, and we will ask the U.S. for assistance based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.' Armitage nodded and said: 'That's right. Don't worry. We will treat any attack on Japan as an attack on us and respond.' Recalling the encounter years later, Maehara stated, 'Unfortunately, I had to accept what he implied.' Armitage did not say much, but he made us understand what allies were supposed to do for each other. Maehara has declared, 'That is why I am striving to 'protect my country' by myself.' 'Show the flag.' 'Boots on the ground.' These are the words that Armitage was reported to have said to the Japanese side during these crises. Although these are now not believed to be his exact words, these phrases served as a wakeup call for the Japanese people to think about the future of their country. While Armitage made many contributions to the Japan-U.S. alliance during his decades of service in the U.S. government, his most significant accomplishments may be from his time outside of government. Particularly notable was a series of six reports on strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance that he published with Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye from 2000 to 2024. The first report was prescient. The two giants of the Japan-U.S. alliance wrote that Japan-U.S. security cooperation would be 'closer and more efficient' if the ban on Japan's exercise of its right to collective self-defense were lifted. The 2006 report called for a change in the interpretation of collective self-defense under the Japanese Constitution. After Shinzo Abe returned to power as prime minister in 2012, he pushed through a change in the interpretation of the Constitution regarding collective self-defense, expanding the scope of activities that Japan's Self-Defense Forces can carry out as an ally of the United States. In doing so, Abe responded to a question Armitage had provocatively raised in one of the reports, asking whether Japan would become a tier-two nation. An expert on U.S. strategy in Asia, Zach Cooper, who worked closely with Armitage, said: 'Ambassador Armitage believed deeply that the United States should be a force for good in the world, and that we could have the most impact by working closely with key allies and partners. He approached almost every issue through the lens of honesty and directness with both friends and adversaries. He was also a legendary hero of the Vietnam War. Armitage saved the lives of many Vietnamese refugees and adopted Vietnamese orphans as foster children. Cooper emphasized: 'My strongest impressions [of him] were his deep commitment to family and his willingness to say and do things that were unpopular because they were right. I think that it's best exemplified by his actions in the last days of the Vietnam War, in which he played a major role in saving 30,000 South Vietnamese despite not having instructions or authority to do so. It was just the right thing to do, so he did it.' A celebration of Armitage's life was held at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on May 29. Former Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato described Armitage as 'the greatest and most skilled craftsman in the history of the U.S.-Japan alliance,' while Captain Kiem Do, a former officer in the South Vietnamese Navy who worked with Armitage to save Vietnamese lives, reflected, 'He did save us.' Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall Shriver, who was a close partner of Armitage, has also spoken about him. Shriver stresses, 'He believed Japan was already our most important ally, and yet he saw even more potential as the alliance modernized and benefited from greater investment in both sides.' In the current time of turmoil caused by the America First policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States may appear to some to be moving away from being the force for good in the way that Armitage believed it ought to be. Armitage believed in the power of alliances and publicly opposed Donald Trump becoming a president. It was amid the latest uncertainty created by Trump 2.0 that Armitage passed away, with Nye following in May. Alliance advocates are currently quiet in Washington. Japan and other U.S. allies have lost a major supporter. But let's not forget that Armitage wanted us to think and act on our own, as he himself did when he launched an operation that saved many civilian lives in Vietnam. Following Armitage's passing, Japan must set its own course and navigate its own ship in this turbulent era. Political Pulse appears every Saturday. Yuko Mukai Yuko Mukai is a Washington correspondent of The Yomiuri Shimbun.
Nikkei Asia
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Who will replace Armitage and Nye as custodians of US-Japan alliance?
WASHINGTON -- More than a decade ago, Japanese diplomat Ryozo Kato wrote in an op-ed that Japan should make efforts to "create the next Armitage." Kato, a former ambassador to Washington, was referring to former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who, with Harvard scholar Joseph Nye, helped shape the modern U.S.-Japan alliance. From 2000 to 2024, the two produced six "Armitage-Nye reports" as roadmaps for the relationship. This spring, within just 23 days, both Armitage and Nye passed away -- at a time when Japan needs solid advice in navigating the second administration of President Donald Trump.
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Nurse stole £72,000 claiming he worked fake shifts at NHS mental health unit
Dean Armitage 'abused his position' after investigators determined he had not been present for nearly 200 night shifts he claimed at the height of the Covid pandemic An NHS nurse stole tens of thousands of pounds from a mental health unit after "abusing his position" and claiming to have worked hundreds of extra shifts. Dean Armitage worked as a ward manager at an unnamed facility in Manchester run by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH). The 33-year-old was given access to the trust's shift booking system, allowing him to create, assign and authorise additional shifts, but "abused his position" to backdate overtime and pocket additional payments. Armitage has now been sentenced to more than a year behind bars after his ill-gotten gains were discovered. The Manchester Evening News reports that Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday that Armitage started abusing his role at the height of the Covid pandemic in April 2020, when he entered backdated shifts into the NHS staff bank. The bank allows employees to pick up extra shifts on top of contracted hours, enabling them to help cover potential staff shortages. A British Medical Association (BMA) report released in 2024 found that, at the time, working overtime had "become the norm" to plug staffing gaps that had existed long before the pandemic took hold. But prosecutors said Armitage paid for night shifts he never worked, with the higher rate entries placed after the fact not appearing on rotas, and not arousing suspicion. He continued to claim for these shifts until October 2021 and claimed £76,632.72 and holiday pay for 185 fraudulently claimed shifts, according to the NHSCFA. Irregularities not spotted until the following month, when the nurse, from Armitage, Bradford West, was suspended as the trust's Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) investigated. He was caught out after investigators found his biometric data was not used to enter the "medium secure" site during the shift hours he had claimed and was paid for. He was ultimately charged with Fraud by Abuse of Position, and pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court last November. Armitage was sentenced by a judge to 18 years in jail, and he has been sacked by GMMH for gross misconduct, with the trust having referred him to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which has in turn suspended him. Ben Harrison, Head of Operations at the NHSCFA said: 'We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation. I want to thank the trust, alongside both the LCFS and NHSCFA colleagues, for the action they took in this case. "Armitage clearly exploited his position of trust to divert NHS funding from much-needed patient care. 'This case highlights the importance and effectiveness of the local counter fraud efforts across the NHS in uncovering and taking action against individuals who commit this kind of fraud.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurse defrauded NHS of £70k for false shifts
A former nurse who defrauded an NHS Trust out of more than £70,000 by claiming wages for unworked shifts has been jailed for 18 months. Dean Armitage, of Edmund Street, Bradford, booked and approved himself for 185 backdated overtime shifts at a mental health unit in Greater Manchester, which he had not worked. The 33-year-old had been a cocaine addict and ran up debts at the time of his offending, between September 2019 and March 2021, Bradford Crown Court heard. He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, which was described by a judge as "persistent, sophisticated and determined," at his sentencing at the same court on Thursday. "It was a gross abuse of the trust that had been placed in you by your employer," Recorder Ian Mullarkey said. Armitage, a team leader and mental health practitioner at a medium secure unit, told police he had found he could authorise his own shifts by accident. He mainly claimed for night shifts, which were paid at a higher rate, a Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust spokesperson said. He backdated the shifts, meaning they did not appear on any rota and therefore did not raise suspicion, the Trust added. Data revealed no evidence of Armitage entering or exiting the unit during the 185 shifts he fraudulently claimed for, the Trust spokesperson said. His offending cost the NHS a total of £72,632.71 in wages and holiday pay, the court heard. Barrister Erin Kitson-Parker, defending, said Armitage was ashamed of his behaviour and realised the money he had taken could have been used to have a substantial impact on patient care. "He understands he abused his position, and he understands he has to be accountable," she said. "It is a great fall from grace for this defendant." Recorder Mullarkey said only an immediate prison sentence was appropriate. He did not make a compensation order due to Armitage's lack of means, as the court heard he was still in debt and was now receiving benefits. Armitage was dismissed by the Trust during its investigation and has been suspended from working as a nurse by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Nurse defrauded NHS trust with false shifts claims Nurse faked timesheets to pocket £26k in wages Hospital doctor faked timesheets to claim more pay Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Asahi Shimbun
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
End of an era: Japan-U.S. policy expert Nye dead at 88
Joseph Nye, an international political scientist who was deeply involved in U.S. policy toward Japan, died on May 6. He was 88. Harvard University, where Nye was a distinguished service professor emeritus, announced his passing. Nye served as assistant secretary of defense for U.S. President Bill Clinton's administration from 1994 to 1995, leading the post-Cold War redefinement of the Japan-U.S. security treaty. After the end of the Cold War, Japan and the United States were confronted with the fundamental question of the purpose of an alliance based on the security treaty. Against this backdrop, he compiled the East Asia Strategic Report in 1995. It is also known by its moniker of the "Nye Report." In it, he emphasized the maintaining of 100,000 U.S. troops in East Asia, taking into account U.S. economic interests. Nye also stressed the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance in upholding the stability of the Asian region, saying that there is no bilateral relationship more important for the United States than its relationship with Japan. This led Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and Clinton to confirm the Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security. The 1996 agreement ensured that Japan-U.S. cooperation would remain the foundation of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region into the 21st century. Nye was also involved in the establishment of the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO), which discussed the consolidation and downsizing of U.S. military bases. The talks were in response to three U.S. servicemen stationed in Okinawa sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in 1995. Even after leaving office, Nye had called for strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. In 2000, he and Richard Armitage, who later served as President George W. Bush's deputy secretary of state, released the Armitage-Nye Report that served as a U.S. policy document about Japan. The report noted that Japan's prohibition on exercising the right of collective self-defense had been a constraint in advancing the partnership between the two nations. This was the origin of the subsequent strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan's security policy. Up until last year, a total of six editions of the report has been published. Armitage died on April 13 at the age of 79. Some believe that the loss of two leading figures in the Japan-U.S. intellectual community symbolizes the end of an era in the Japan-U.S. relationship. Nobumasa Akiyama, professor of international politics at Hitotsubashi University, said the trajectory of deepening of the Japan-U.S. alliance cannot be described without noting Nye's contributions. 'With his warm personality, Nye's career also served as a model for many scholars of international politics who aspire to be successful in both the academic and policy communities,' Akiyama said. 'As Japan-U.S. relations are in a state of flux under the Trump administration, the passing of Nye, following Armitage, seems to suggest, albeit coincidentally, a new era in the Japan-U.S. alliance.' (This article was compiled from reports written by correspondents Daisuke Nakai and Ryo Kiyomiya.)
