Posted on 07/12/2022 11:56:08 AM PDT by Zhang Fei
The landslide victory of the governing Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito alliance in Japan's upper parliamentary house on Sunday means that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has both the mandate and means to amend the constitution. The prospective changes would allow Japan to use military force in more circumstances and bolster its offensive combat capabilities. On Monday, Kishida suggested he would move to make these changes without delay. They would have to be approved by a public referendum, even if the country's parliament did give its assent. But it is clear that Japan is moving toward a more robust deterrence doctrine in the West Pacific.
Japan sees escalating Chinese threats to Taiwan and aggressive joint Sino-Russian incursions near Japanese waters and airspace. It also faces pressure from the U.S. to take a more robust stance. Yet, while Kishida is set to make big boosts to defense spending, it will take years for Japan to reach even 2%-of-GDP annual defense allotments. Significantly more than that will be necessary to deter China and provide credible support to the U.S. military in any war. Japan particularly needs more longer-range missiles, submarines, and a higher level of readiness on the part of its naval and air forces.
Regardless, these moves are positive. Alongside Australia, Japan recognizes that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which most U.S. military and intelligence officers believe is likely to occur by 2030, would dramatically undermine its own security and sovereignty. Were China to conquer Taiwan, its forces would be within 70 miles of Japan's Yaeyama Islands. Those islands eventually connect to Okinawa and then the southern Japanese home island of Kyushu. To put Japanese concerns in perspective, imagine if Taiwan was 70 miles from Guam. Xi Jinping's imperial destiny-driven ambitions have made Japan wake up to a very dangerous new reality.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
I agree with that.
Japan probably has mini Gundams.
With this election, Kishida, the new PM, has a supermajority. This means that if he can maintain party discipline, he can change the constitution.
His nickname is the “Salaryman CEO”. Some express concern that he may be a Keynesian. But the big questions will all concern his military and foreign policies.
I live on Kyushu , in Kumamoto City .
I can see Mt. Unzen in Nagasaki from our living room .
Modern wars are very similar to video games. In the future, even more so.
Totally agree.
I think Japan knew they were in trouble when the US Carriers were not in Pearl Harbor. It’s kind of hard to see it, but there is only a difference of 7 months between Pearl Harbor and Midway.
Much can change very quickly.
True for First Person shooter games. The Jap soyboys are more into MMORPG games.
Long past time for Japan to become the military powerhouse of Asia.
Tired of those loud mouths. Really tired.
You are full of crap
But just LOOK at how FIERCE those cartoon characters appear!
Mad, angry and ain't about to take it any more!!
Mad, angry and ain't about to take it any more!!
(Possibly because of all the pixelating going on in the OTHER subject mentioned.)
Japan: MYOB, China. Our constitution is OUR business.
You mean the Biden family?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.