Referring to China as the "greatest strategic challenge Japan has ever faced", Japan unveils plans for an unprecedented military build-up which will see it become the 3rd largest military spender on earth.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2022/12/16/pacifist-japan-unveils-unprecedented-320bn-military-build-up

Japan is planning to invest heavily in "counter-strike capacity", the aim of which is to be able to hit launch sites within China itself.

Japan's primary concern is that China will attack Taiwan, emboldened by Russian precedent, which not only puts Okinawa at risk, but provides China with a stranglehold on Japanese trade.

Yes very good news, they will double their military budget. Aljazeera funded by Qatar btw.

America's nightmare.

I like to read a wide variety of news!



In some respects. If the United States were presented with a fait accompli re: Taiwan, I'm not sure what they'd do. Coming to the defense of Japan is a no-brainer.

Yes, one in my bookmarks:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Not the best neutral one for your topic but a great article !

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/12/16/national/japan-dramatic-defense-shift/

What I meant by America nightmare is.

1. Japanese are very innovative. Please note before WW2 and during WW2 the Japanese military is one of the top military in the world.
2. I am not saying Japan will do another Pearl Harbor it is not possible.
3. As a matter of Fact I hope they develop some nuclear weapons around 50 to 100 will be good.

Here is the thing. What do you think will happen if the Japanese do not depend on US " security " anymore.

I don't think that's likely. Japan's economy is much smaller than China's. Even a very significant military build-up will leave it in poor shape if it's required to face China alone. The United States and Japan collectively can hold off the Chinese indefinitely, as Chinese economic growth slows and demographic challenges leads to a much smaller China.

Japanese Economy almost took over the United States in the late 70s and 80s.
When that happened the US because of the control she has on Japan beat them back to the ground.
They have the capability of matching China in some way or another.

If the internet and social media was thriving back in the 80s and early 90s.
The Japanese would have suffered a much worse fate from the West compared to what the Chinese are facing now.

Most of the Japanese and Koreans that I personally met have very anti American government sentiments when I was there. Anti American government and not Anti American sentiments ( please note the difference).
If Japan have a chance , they will definitely want to rise again. But they are currently emasculated by the American government in certain areas. They know they are being used as a proxy to contain China.

Therefore , I am more than happy that they develop some sort of Nuclear Weapons. If they do, this will be more than enough to deter any Chinese threat ( which don't exactly ) exist at the moment.
And when Japan's security issue is being rectify. There will be no more reason for Okinawa's air base. And they will sit well with their neighbours and settle problems via diplomacy.

And if you don't realized apart from ( Taiwan ) which is not a country at the moment. Everyone in East Asia have a bone to pick with the Japanese.
The Koreans, the Chinese, 90% of South East Asia apart from Malaysia and Thailand.

This post was edited by Hamsterbaby on Dec 16 2022 09:31am

Aren't they facing a declining birthrate? How are they gonna find men to enlist in their army.

They are a very repressed society. If they ever get enlisted and fight a war. They will go all out. So they don't need much people.