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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012.Japan's military: well-armed but untested in battle
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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012.
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DoLittleBeLate
Ospreys will never carry American troops to anything in connection with the Diaoyu. Those islands are fool's errands, everybody konws that. If Japan wants to fight, Japan will fight alone, and rebuild it's ashes alone. Other nations have functional diplomatic corps to deal with international friction, Japan should look into that.
Famuyiwa Olukayode
The rise of the "invincible" Japanese army
Disillusioned
Let's hope the never get into battle. This is a 'self-defense' force. Sending them to the disputed islands seems like an act of aggression and a show of military power, which should be considered a breach of their military treaty. There is no military threat on these islands, therefor nothing to defend. Although WW2 finish 70 odd years ago, the actions of the Japanese war machine in the first half of last century are still very fresh to many countries throughout Asia and the rest of the world.
bass4funk
Japan has all the latest gadgets and hardware, but Japan has not been actively engaged in any war since WWII. Even if it came to a real conflict. Is Japan emotionally ready? When push comes to shove, can Japan pull through? Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but they are not seasoned and something like this could get out of hand quite quickly and then what? South Korea, are definitely quite capable of engaging in a military conflict, but Japan...
MasterBape
Are the islands really worth loss of lives?
This isn't Kansai they are having to defend.
Continued military advances will only end badly.
Eduardo Gonzalez
3 million more and we'll be safe from the Koryo by the coming decades
nigelboy
I hate to break it to you but neither are the so-called "threats" (China, NK) for the commanding officers who were involved are retired. (Korean War, India-China border disputes, Battle of Kinmen).
Many of these nations are conducting military drills just like Japan.
Thomas Anderson
Then you should have no problem defending the Senkaku islands. Good luck.
morrison_rm
//Japan's military: well-armed but untested in battle
Good. I hope they stay that way. Better than getting caught up in other's pointless overseas wars.
But, if I could make comment on the article, it says Japan is nuclear weapons free. By sheer coincidence, it just happens to be a country with a great deal of nuclear material to hand, and a mature rocket industry. I'm guessing that it would be possible to combine the two quite rapidly.
ExportExpert
Fire the politicians not bullets.
nigelboy
I'm not defending it. It will be Japan that's defending it. If in fact Japan does station JMSDF there, it's pretty much over for China.
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/120720/chn12072018590002-n1.htm
NeoJamal
But Britain has an independent nuclear deterrent and a working aircraft carrier battle group. Will the Chinese shudder at Japan's AEGIS destroyers and Patriot batteries? :P
If we are barbaric as our reputation from WWII would suggest and outright remorseless as the Continent would portray us. YES
Dennis Bauer
i thought that japan did not have a military army only a Japanese Defense Force?
SenseNotSoCommon
JSDF should be fully involved in UN PKO, and not just as porters.
Time to stop just throwing money at issues, and line up with other peace loving nations. Let's put boots on the ground: peacekeeping and policing support for those less fortunate than us.
just-a-bigguy
How old were the average age of Japan ground self defense force member?
nath
JT, how about using the same nomenclature for money values. Please
just-a-bigguy
Japan’s defense budget fell for the 10th straight year to 4.65 trillion yen for the current fiscal year ending in March 2013, reflecting the constraints of Japan’s huge public debt, which is the worst among industrialized nations
Does Japan has intentions to expand her military influences? Of course they do, they still owing the dream of owning all the maritime traffic in west pacific, they still see themselves above others and they wants to abolish article9 ...or even to own nuclear arsenals. Those hawkish believes were not just a few rightist but the entire SDF, key general like former JASDF chief Tamagami openly denial Japan being the aggressor of WW2 has caused alarm from China. The Japanese nation just refused to understand how sensitive it was when some words should never be spoken!
my2sense
I've always thought that tossing article 9 now would be the best thing for the country. They have gone soft over the last 70 years and perhaps should start letting/learning to take care of their own nation again (no way would that Imperial slaughter would happen again). Similar to Korea with a 2 year stint if you do not head to uni. Sure would take the chinpira, bozos and yaks to lower levels (estimated at about 250K total). I was watching some early teens (20s) the other night from my place at conbini around midnight. They were chucking cigs, ramen cups and beer cans all in the front in the parking lot. Just trashing the place and terrorizing people. Sorry but I think this country's youth could learn some manners and discipline as well... It has been getting out of control over the last few years.
OssanAmerica
LOLOL.. That's China today. Right now.
Thomas Anderson
The majority of people in Japan still support the article 9, it's just the crazy but vocal right-wingers who want to abolish the article 9.
oberst
At least the J Self Defense Force has a better reputation than the J cops. That speaks volume.
Awatemono
If push came to shove, it would be no contest with Nth Korea or China. It's a question of scale in most battles. I have no doubt that most would maintain the bushido spirit, even if some lack the soul. It's a question of training. Grt that right, get the battle right.
DropPhone
I agree that the rocks/islands themselves aren't worth much. However, it's the natural resources around the islands that make them worth, at the very least, making a diplomatic play for ownership. Allegedly there are natural gas deposits around the Senkakus. Also, as traditional fishing grounds get over-fished by rapacious Chinese (and other) nations, the fisheries around the Senkakus and Takeshima (a.k.a. Liancourt Rocks) will become increasingly important over the next few decades.
So, I'm pretty sure it's in Japan's interest to keep their claims for those natural resources. Food and Energy are always good things for a nation to control... ^_^
just-a-bigguy
Does the Japanese nationals feel safe after watching their SDF tanks shooting at the foothill of Mt Fuji every year?
Sae Ah Yoo
As for the definition of independent State, I believe Japan has its rights to hold an army without limits in defending its own state. However it comes by a delicate situation in an international sense... especially to those who hold the big guns and are calling the shot and doing it so in the name of world peace. Not sure if its right or wrong but i guess our kids will know for time will tell. But before getting into all this law talks... i think it would be best for Japan (the State) to revisit a moral issue. How has Japan (the State) treated the victimized countries and the people after WW2? Sure they have made lots, and i mean A LOT of contributions world wide and i almost believed it to be from good nature. However, they seem to have lost some heart along their steps. They are not taking in the responsibilities that still linger around the well alive hurt ones. Just pay a few money to the governments, builds schools, hospitals, finance their historic developments.. but neglects the individuals who went to hell and back without apologizing. More specifically 'comfort women'. Even if the Japan State has ordered that they be of voluntary, but being the invaders and known for their cruelty and their sense of superiority, do you find it hard to believe as the comfort women recall it to be? (Lets say... for imagines sake...) Having a gun pointed at your family and asked if you would voluntarily follow them .... would not be really voluntary would it? But on papers it would. Whether true or not, i would have expected Japan State to be a bigger man and just apologize! Is it just hard to apologize? Others argue that once apology is sent they would ask for something else. That may be true but because of that they are not able to say sorry? Without say sorry, it seems that Japan the State is trying to neglect their wrong doings of WW2. Heck a lot of the Japanese population grew up learning a different history than that of the World.
Seem to get side tracked here.LOL A lot of people just want to hear an apology from the Japan State. And in saying sorry they are happy that Japan(State) is acknowledging to one of their wrong doings within WW2 and now.