Japan plans to beef up military

[The New Lowlands]

Wrong, Japan has a military. It's just restricted to self-defence purposes.

Want me to show you Article 9?~

nope, no military here

I love constitutional loopholes.

[Oaledonia]

This is a good thing, the F35s will be useful on the Izumo-class Helicopter Destroyer. Considering it was designed specifically with the F35 in mind.

That's a myth. The JMSDF never said anything about buying F-35Bs for the Izumo-class, or Ospreys for that matter. Plus even if they did buy F-35Bs, the Izumo-class couldn't operate them, the exhaust would melt the deck. A and C variants of the F-35 are out of the picture for obvious reasons.

But it doesn't have a ski-jump nor a catapult, the internetz lied to me!11!

[Constaniana]

Wrong, Japan has a military. It's just restricted to self-defence purposes.

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Officially, they don't have one. But they do have SDF, which the government do not consider a military I think.

Ah, that sounds about right. A check around Wikipedia says they're officially classified as an extension of the police. Just police with tanks and destroyers.

[The Ben Boys]

Finally. Now we can stop subsidizing them, and if we luck out they would become a military power to ostensibly challenge North Korea and maybe China on some level whilst still being a close ally. Wistful thinking, but hey, it's a nice thought.

[The New Lowlands]

Finally. Now we can stop subsidizing them, and if we luck out they would become a military power to ostensibly challenge North Korea and maybe China on some level whilst still being a close ally. Wistful thinking, but hey, it's a nice thought.

America subsidises Japan...?

[Lingang]

Go on Japan!

Though if China actually tried going for Japan, I bet the US would be in there pretty sharpish with the UK following suit.

The US may have a tough time choosing who to side with. Potential economic giant or longtime ally? This is what I feel is Japan's greatest danger right now, as even with this new hardware, I doubt the JSDF will be able to stand against 2 million PRCs.

Well, if the U.S ditched it's ally (Japan) then we would look REALLY bad. I don't think that is an option for the U.S.

[Edward Richtofen]

I hope they use it to destroy North Korea and then follow up with such diplomatic skill that there are no negative repercussions.

[Grantica]

A very good thing! Japan is a good country these days, and I highly doubt that Japan would attack China. Meanwhile, if China is unhappy with Japan's buildup, that probably means the buildup is necessary.

[The New Lowlands]

I hope they use it to destroy North Korea and then follow up with such diplomatic skill that there are no negative repercussions.

Because killing 24 million people can be swept under the rug.

[Grantica]

Finally. Now we can stop subsidizing them, and if we luck out they would become a military power to ostensibly challenge North Korea and maybe China on some level whilst still being a close ally. Wistful thinking, but hey, it's a nice thought.

America subsidises Japan...?

In the sense that we spend boatloads of money keeping our military around and on their country in order to protect it.

[The Ben Boys]

America subsidises Japan...?

In the sense that we spend boatloads of money keeping our military around and on their country in order to protect it.

Exactly. As I recall we , have about 50,000 in Japan, and though I can understand the rationale behind it and even support it to some extent, it's still needs to be revised to have a largely Japanese presence. Better than the 42,000 still in Germany, though.

[Arumdaum]

Want me to show you Article 9?~

nope, no military here

I love constitutional loopholes.

The JSDF is a military in all but name, due to Article 9.

My point was that Article 9 exists. Do you have a problem with that?

[Arumdaum]

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Officially, they don't have one. But they do have SDF, which the government do not consider a military I think.

Ah, that sounds about right. A check around Wikipedia says they're officially classified as an extension of the police. Just police with tanks and destroyers.

Hahaha, I love (jk, actually hate) it.

[Death Metal]

OBJECTION!

Technically, the JDSF is a domestic defense force, roughly equivalent to the United States National Guard.

Still, good for them.

[The New Lowlands]

nope, no military here

I love constitutional loopholes.

The JSDF is a military in all but name, due to Article 9.

My point was that Article 9 exists. Do you have a problem with that?

No, I just find it amusing.

[Imperializt Russia]

Japan could develop nuclear weapons in a week..... they even said so and they have some Uranium and the scientists to do so. If Japan can develop Robots and lasers (not laser guns) fare beyond any other nation, it tells you something. As for South Korea they won't have nukes anytime soon.

SK used to have a nuclear weapons program, but the US told SK to discontinue it.

Japan has a large amount of nuclear reactors, and that's a big part of the reason why people say Japan could shortly and easily develop nuclear weapons.

Well, the UK did also spend a decade shipping hundreds of tons of fissile plutonium to Japan.

revenge for

All those party poopers saying mechas are stupid.

I'll keep laughing when it fails catastrophically, falls over or merely succumbs to the superior firepower of basically any armoured vehicle.

Even though they outspent china in Military spending China could still easily defeat japan. For two reasons
1. China has nuclear weapons
2. the size of the Chinese army is enormous and could probably just win through numbers alone.

Then again anything could happen.

Two reasons why china isn't a threat
1.they would never use there Nuckes
2.China's Army is huge but Navy and Air force is Crap compared to almost anyone

That "crap" Navy and Air Force, because of happy geographical accident, are plenty capable of defending against the US. For broadly the same reason the USN is capable of defending the US.

Want me to show you Article 9?~

nope, no military here

I love constitutional loopholes.

You're implying that fighter jets, battle tanks and warships have no place in a defence force.
Somehow.

[Oaledonia]

You're implying that fighter jets, battle tanks and warships have no place in a defence force.
Somehow.

Muskets, katanas, and cannons only.

[Luveria]

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Officially, they don't have one. But they do have SDF, which the government do not consider a military I think.

Ah, that sounds about right. A check around Wikipedia says they're officially classified as an extension of the police. Just police with tanks and destroyers.

I'm okay with police having tanks and destroyers. Gotta stay ahead of the criminals.

[Gujiristan]

I hope they use it to destroy North Korea and then follow up with such diplomatic skill that there are no negative repercussions.

Because killing 24 million people can be swept under the rug.

They're 24 million brainwashed people, they might as well be from Mars. Who would ever care?

[Luveria]

Because killing 24 million people can be swept under the rug.

They're 24 million brainwashed people, they might as well be from Mars. Who would ever care?

I would.

[Immoren]

You're implying that fighter jets, battle tanks and warships have no place in a defence force.
Somehow.

They obviously could go into "Let's invade pacific" mode again.

[Towson]

I'm disappointed about no "Mechs".

[New Chalcedon]

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Officially, they don't have one. But they do have SDF, which the government do not consider a military I think.

Ah, that sounds about right. A check around Wikipedia says they're officially classified as an extension of the police. Just police with tanks and destroyers.

At, it should be added, the insistence of the US - the people who wrote Japan's postwar Constitution to start with. They wanted Japan to be more self-reliant for security in the context of the immediate post-Korean War atmosphere and ongoing class-based unrest within Japan itself.

[Nationalist Eminral Republic]

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Officially, they don't have one. But they do have SDF, which the government do not consider a military I think.

Ah, that sounds about right. A check around Wikipedia says they're officially classified as an extension of the police. Just police with tanks and destroyers.

Which is why its stupid to label JSDF as an extension of the police instead of a military. I support the repeal of that clause and just label JSDF a military, or rename it. Just repeal Article 9.

[Blakk Metal]

revenge for

All those party poopers saying mechas are stupid.

And that is no lie.