Japan prepares for war, poised to be military superpower

[Nora Xent]

That's an interesting way of saying that they killed millions of people, and got bombed and nuked for killing millions.

I'm not denying the atrocities of the Japanese army and its war crimes against China, and many other countries. But you seem to think that Japan increasing military spending means this will happen again. It won't, most Japanese citizens are pretty pacifist anyway, you need to calm down.

An increase of military spending would be fine, if not for the fact that a lot of LDP members are connected with or are members of Nippon Kaigi, a Japanese ultra-nationalist group.

[Beric]

PM Fumio Kishida has decided on a defense spending hike of nearly 60% (16 trillion yen or $125 billion dollars) to Japan’s 2023-2027 budget, bringing Japan’s annual spending well over that of Russia. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party seeks to double the budget of the Self-Defense Forces within the next decade in response to mounting belligerence from Russia and China. 51% support the measure, and 42% all oppose it, according to a Japanese pollster.

This is a massive increase but it is at least partially driven from North Korea's missile tests and China's designs on Taiwan. Japan's defense during the cold war was dependent on the US being available to deploy forces in strength regionally. Something that our current recruitment levels and regional deployment no longer supports.

Article 9 of the post-war constitution prohibits the use of war to settle international disputes, and prevents the existence of an offensive military. The LDP has previously advocated for the abolition of the article, and critics allege the new military plan - which would expand missile strike capabilities and bolster deterrence - is an unconstitutional violation of Japanese non-aggression. China has called the move a dangerous escalation and a threat to international peace, and Russia recently deployed missile defense systems to the disputed Kuril Islands.

That post war constitution is outdated and a product of the USA punishing the nation in much the same way the Allies did Germany after WW1. They should absolutely abolish the Article.

So, NSG, thoughts? Is Japan justified in its military buildup? Is the region at risk, and why?

As stated above while this is a large increase that seems excessive it can be justified based on how regional tensions could increase. If the Ukrainian War and the way the US pulled out of Afghanistan in Hal hazard fashion is any indication of how the world/US will respond to threats from the regional powers around Japan, they are absolutely right to prepare to defend themselves.