Japan may have to rearm.

[DarkWizard12]

Japan may now have to rearm itself - The China Post
It looks like history is slowly repeating itself.

What does DP think about this?

 

[Real Talk]

Japan is quite well armed.

 

[Ambracia]

Japan is quite well armed.

Agreed. It has the biggest navy native to the pacific and an army larger than the British. Where do people get this idea that its militarly crippled ?

 

[BulletWounD]

Agreed. It has the biggest navy native to the pacific and an army larger than the British. Where do people get this idea that its militarly crippled ?

Japan could seriously benefit from Naval Aviation (ie aircraft carriers). Their biggest threat, NK, is well within the range of her F-15's but 1 or 2 carriers, perhaps of the smaller variety, would definitely be helpful.

 

[BulletWounD]

By the way, I think the basic premise of the article is crap. Economic downturns are a piss poor excuse to invest in the military and the idea that Japan is going to about-face and turn into some kind of ultra-nationalist, militaristic nation is ridiculous and has no basis in reality. Because Japan is a democracy, her policies are more-or-less dictated by public opinion and the Japanese public has no interest in aggressive war and neither does their government.

 

[Ambracia]

By the way, I think the basic premise of the article is crap. Economic downturns are a piss poor excuse to invest in the military and the idea that Japan is going to about-face and turn into some kind of ultra-nationalist, militaristic nation is ridiculous and has no basis in reality. Because Japan is a democracy, her policies are more-or-less dictated by public opinion and the Japanese public has no interest in aggressive war and neither does their government.

I do see some threat from Japans radical ability to change to her environment but I think it would take more than this recession to trigger a change towards militarism. A more plausible catalyst would be the possibility of dramatic population decline.

 

[BulletWounD]

I do see some threat from Japans radical ability to change to her environment but I think it would take more than this recession to trigger a change towards militarism.

It would basically take an attack on Japan or an imminent existential threat, in which case it wouldn't be militarism at all but self defense. I can't see Japan going aggressive imperialistic again. It's just not a realistic possibility.

A more plausible catalyst would be the possibility of dramatic population decline.

Nah, there are more pragmatic solutions to that problem than militarism. Russia's solving that problem right now herself.

 

[DarkWizard12]

I do see some threat from Japans radical ability to change to her environment but I think it would take more than this recession to trigger a change towards militarism. A more plausible catalyst would be the possibility of dramatic population decline.

Japan is already suffering from population decline, just look at their birth rates.

 

[Ambracia]

Nah, there are more pragmatic solutions to that problem than militarism. Russia's solving that problem right now herself.

:lol: Bad example

Japan is already suffering from population decline, just look at their birth rates.

Yes but right now population is only staying constant, by 2050 the most conservative models predicting a more than 25 million drop in population with some even going as far as more than 45 million. 2. Population of Japan 1870-2100

 

[Orion]

Japan's economy is tanking because no one is buying electronics right now. The last thing they will do is invest in a military-industrial complex in order to pick up the slack. The Japanese themselves would not be for it. As for their population decline, what does that have to do with anything?

Over a quarter of the Japanese population lives in Tokyo... a thoroughly overcrowded place. I doubt they are worried about population decline. The country is so developed that they can scarcely develop further. More people will cause collapse, in my opinion.

 

[Ambracia]

As for their population decline, what does that have to do with anything?

Less workers and an aging population could have a very adverse effect on the Japanese economy. Japan is one of the hardest places to immigrate to in the world, so its possible that if it can't make workers come to them they'll come to the workers.

Over a quarter of the Japanese population lives in Tokyo... a thoroughly overcrowded place. I doubt they are worried about population decline. The country is so developed that they can scarcely develop further. More people will cause collapse, in my opinion.

I'd agree but that doesn't change the fact that a decline in population would be very bad for Japan

 

[Orion]

Less workers and an aging population could have a very adverse effect on the Japanese economy. Japan is one of the hardest places to immigrate to in the world, so its possible that if it can't make workers come to them they'll come to the workers.

Then the Japanese will have to adapt in order to accept immigrated workers. I realize Japan is a highly xenophobic society, but sometimes it's survival of the fittest and if they don't adapt by integrating outside workers then maybe their culture will dwindle and they will fall out of power.

I'd agree but that doesn't change the fact that a decline in population would be very bad for Japan

I have seen nothing beyond the usual mundane exaggerations to suggest that Japan's population is declining so sharply that the population is being adversely affected. Japan's #1 problem continues to be that its market is too specialized. As soon as other nations fall into hard times and the demand for electronics drops, Japan enters a recession. It's like clockwork every time.

 

[obvious Child]

Japan may now have to rearm itself - The China Post
It looks like history is slowly repeating itself.

What does DP think about this?

Nope. All Japan needs to do is change its Constitution. Japan is arguebly one of the most well armed, most advanced militaries in the world. What it lacks is political will do change from its legislative pacificism.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Japan may have to consider building nukes and improving her missile tech to deter China and it's chichuahua in Pyongyang.

It could do that in an extremely short time.

That's the realy worry there.

 

[obvious Child]

It could do that in an extremely short time.

About a month by current estimates. They have the missile technology, the manufacturing expertise to make critical masses and the raw material for both plutonium and uranium weapons.

A nuclear Japan would start a truly scary arms race.

 

[DarkWizard12]

About a month by current estimates. They have the missile technology, the manufacturing expertise to make critical masses and the raw material for both plutonium and uranium weapons.

A nuclear Japan would start a truly scary arms race.

Thing is though, with nuclear weapons already common, would japan even care enough to make them? let alone, use them against us or even their own enemies?

I mean, Japan is far from a dictatorship, I think they would be the least to be crazy enough to risk nuclear fallout just so as they can flex muscle. My eye is more on North Korea than anything.

Also, on a side note, the current Japanese generation has never attacked the US, this isn't their military days anymore. Their far-racism is more inward than outward.

 

[obvious Child]

Thing is though, with nuclear weapons already common, would japan even care enough to make them? let alone, use them against us or even their own enemies?

Now? I don't really see a reason. Especially since they are the #1 technologically advanced military in the region sans US with significant capacity to reach out and smack their neighbors. But that doesn't change the fact that Japan is capable of arming itself astonishingly quickly.