US bases in Japan have the opposite impact of colonialism. If it weren’t for the bases, Japan would have to pay for their own defense, using up finances and res

US bases in Japan have the opposite impact of colonialism. If it weren’t for the bases, Japan would have to pay for their own defense, using up finances and resources that can be allocated to growth and wealth in the current system. The current arrangement isn’t imposing on or extracting anything from Japan, just protecting it, mostly for free. Not that I’m saying this is unfair to America either; it’s mutually beneficial for both nations, which is why everyone has kept this happy arrangement for so long.