"Japan's Change on Defense Policy" Topic

For longtime observers of Japanese politics and society, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's announcement last week that Tokyo would not only double its defense spending from 1% of GDP to 2% in the next five years, but also acquire counter-strike capability to hit enemy missile launch sites, is nothing less than "earth-shattering," as one veteran Japanese diplomat put it…

Military: link

I guess they're tird of living under the threat of being attacked by N. Korea.

The only way to make sure your country does not get attacked by Nukes is to have a credible nuclear deterrent. Having Nukes with a effective delivery system.

Japan must do this to survive.

Yes, the Japanese want to survive … The Norks are a threat. Regardless, the Japanese have be able to defend themselves.

Of course, as we all know if Un and his crew start tossing missiles across a border(s), it's their last move.

I'm really surprised it took so long.

North Korea's leaders, Un and his sister are NOT happy about this development.

I wonder when the other shoe drops, and the Japanese start producing nuclear weapons and long-range (ballistic and cruise missiles) for their own defense?

Seems to me like it is just a matter of time.

North Korea's leaders, Un and his sister are NOT happy about this development.

Anything that gives them heartburn is good with me. They are just criminals, gangsters, etc. Japan has the right to self-defense. I don't think they will get nukes. Their Uncle Sam has many of them.

Just for grins, we should loan them and SK some nuke-tipped cruise missiles, since sadly it appears all of our short-range, ballistic missiles have been scrapped.

That would certainly give Un and his sister a major case of heartburn.

Perhaps some nuke bombs too, for their aircraft as well.

We did that during the Cold War to good effect.

With our strong support of the ROK. Un knows we, the USA has nukes/WMDs. And many are in range of any point in Un's nation.

However, he has to know, we can turn his military and "gov't" into lifeless corpses without using WMDs.

He likes to saber rattle for local consumption. He, is daddy and grandaddy were/is only still in power because of the PRC/CCP. The CCP continues to prove to be a threat …

I think it about the Chinese more then NK

When it comes to North Korea, it is always about China standing in the background. The UN defeated the North in '50. If the PRC/CCP had not crossed the Yalu the war would have been over by Christmas. The Chinese did not want a US ally on its border. A unified Korea. It still doesn't want a US ally on its border AFAIK.

During Vietnam the concern was, when the French were there then the US. China was a consideration, i.e. would the Chinese cross into Vietnam and support their Communist brothers. Like they did in North Korea.

Again, Un's daddy and grandaddy knew they had China's support if anything happened. Just like Un does.

However, we still have to consider what Un will do with or without China.

The ROKs thinks Un is a threat … I agree … of course …

link

I think in it own special way NK is as much of a problem for China as it is for US and our friends…just different.

Yes, I think the PRC/CCP/Xi as time goes on may see Un's nuke saber rattling could be problematic. If Xi thought Un was going to nuke the ROK, etc. He may just intervene, move in to the North and make is part of the PRC.

exactly or if China attacks Taiwan the Chinese have to worry That Un will try to bust a move on ROK and there by making their little war a regional war.

Un may just do that if the PRC/CCP tries to attack Taiwan and we send support to that island. Take advantage of the US being spread thin. Hopefully we will never have to find out.