Japan today has 150,000 troops, 480 attack aircraft and 140 warships. The numbers are low compared with China's, North Korea's or even Taiwan's, but Japan's troops are among the best equipped and trained.
This statement is correct, but also a little misleading....China's naval numbers are greatly inflated by counting a lot of warships that are unmanned and never leave port, a ton of small, ancient patrol craft, etc. In effective strength of frontline units Japan's Navy is LARGER than China's. Same for the Chinese Air Force...most of their "thousands" are ancient Korean/Vietnam war level technology with pilots that get very little flight time. Everything Japan has is either brand new or fairly recent, and is well-maintained by well-trained troops.
So once again I have to take issue with the whole CONCEPT of "Should Japan re-arm?" They already have. As the article notes, they have the 4th largest defense budget in the world. The only issue really is whether they go nuclear or not.
The Japanese have some first line equipment, accordingg to Janes. The Kongo class DDGs are Japanese Arleigh Burkes. However, they only have 4. The Japanese have few other ships that could survive long without air cover. They have some destroyers with SM-1 missles, but these are the equivalent of the recently retired Charles F Adams class. Most of the remainig Japanese navy is made up of Destroyers and Frigates armed priomarily for ASW duty. They have 10 modern diesel subs.
The Japanese have a fair number of F-15Js and F-16s, as well as some older F-4Js. For support they have AWACS and many ASW planes.
Is that really that much for a country 1/2 the size of the US and with 1/2 our GDP?
The US Navy has more front-line aircraft than the entire JSF.
I think Japan should invest in the Arrow ABMs and in building more Kongo's to use for the same purpose.
Getting 2 squadrons of F-15E's and some dedicated or dual purpose Naval strike aircraft like the F-18E/F would be nice.
Furthermore, Japan should build 4-8 diesel subs for Taiwan, if only to keep the Chinese pre-occupied.
I won't comment on nukes. I understand the reticence of the Japanese to have any in their area.