politics

Defense ministry to request special budget to buy long-range cruise missiles

36 Comments
By Kazuhiro Nogi

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Over the last decade or so there has been so much integration between the JSDF and US Forces in terms of joint exercises, shared facilities and interoperability that it is hard to imagine Japan ever having to use such cruise missiles other than as part of a larger operation involving the U.S. and South Korea. In other words if Japan ever ends up in a situation where they deploy multiple cruise missiles it's a good bet that the US will be deploying even more at the same time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I believe that the purpose of defence is to be able to defend yourself. We know that these Cruise missiles are able to make surgical attacks, they are expensive and used only to destroy military threats. If North Korea has 100 planes, 100 tanks, 100 missile launchers, then Japan should have 600 of these Missiles. 2 for each threat.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan should have missiles. It may not matter home made or US made. Scare N. Korea, Trump, or Russia?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The agreement between the U.S. and Japan already provides missile support to deter armed aggression from another country against Japan’s mainland. Why would GOJ want to aquire expensive weapons already deployed ovia U.S. Forces stationed there?. A better and less expensive move, would be to shore up their present agreement with the United States.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Regardless of the intent and who benefits and who profits.., it is "too late" for Japan at this stage of current N Korean threat by funding it next year. Does it make sense..?

This is and will always be a problem for Japanese governments and corporations alike, when there is no flexibility in budget by allocating and spending more than the tax revenue for unjustified projects and without a realistic flexible reserve for emergency needs other than for natural disasters. Like the USA, it is always "borrowing" from the international and national banks based upon future revenue.

But the real issue is current and future necessity and its benefits when technology changes so quickly and such defense systems are already outdated considering how quickly N Korea was and is able to advance their technology within months. USA does not need or want such missiles when it is the drones and robots that will be doing the battles. Japan will only be helping to get rid of old ordinance which the USA does not want to keep and maintain.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is just common sense. If someone starts shooting missiles at you then obviously you want to be able to take out as much of their inventory as possible pre-launch.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't want my tax dollars going into the pockets of US merchants of death. Tonight on NHK news there was a story about a boy cancer patient who sells lemon aid to make money to donate to help fellow child cancer patients. Why can't the government do something life sustaining instead of supporting something life destroying and wasteful?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Japan should produce its own missiles.

Japan is developing the Xasm-3 but it wont be ready until 2019z

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why don't the Japanese develop their own missiles being a technologically advanced country if the North Koreans can what wrong with the Japanese.

Could be part of Japans defense industry that Abe wants to build up. I guess the situation calls for a more immediate solution and they simply don't have time to design, build, test, build enough etc. Talking years for that sort of work to come to fruition

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Andrew Crisp

Why don't the Japanese develop their own missiles being a technologically advanced country

Very good question. Every clearly-thinking Japanese should ask J-government this question.

@mukashiyokatta

Buy them from whom?

Japan should develop and produce its own missiles. If you have to spend money on military hardware spend it at home, at least some positive effect on your own economy, plus developing scientific and technological capabilities.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Buy them from whom? -- Trump, of course, the travelling salesman for armaments.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why don't the Japanese develop their own missiles being a technologically advanced country if the North Koreans can what wrong with the Japanese.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why does this make me think of the Lockheed scandal of over 40 years ago? Does history repeat?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Bluewater: "How can you defend against someone if you have almost nothing to hit him with."

Depends on how you interpret the word "defend". Fortunately, most of us realize that "preemptive strike" does not actually equal "defense" and is in fact "offense", and not actually FOR defense purposes. Fools are easily duped, though, and believe that enabling yourself to have an army but call it a "self defense force" is not unconstitutional if you spin the meaning, and even include it to mean sending troops into overseas conflicts which have nothign to do with you, and believe that offensive weapons are somehow needed for "defense". Your way of thinking is exactly what we're going to see all of our taxes go into under the GUISE of defense, when in reality it is just a return to Japan's pre-war "glory" by a bunch of old-codgers who think "this time it'll be different!".

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I've always said that without Cruise missiles Japanese defense is worthless. How can you defend against someone if you have almost nothing to hit him with.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

It’s illegal under Article 9.

The article is such a nonsense that Japanese people allow their government to "interpret" in anyway appropriate for various realities.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan should also build a dozen of SPY Satellites (dedicated to NK and China monitoring). Japan already has 4 SPY SATELLITES but mostly they are used in SENKAKU.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Buy several maybe a dozen or two, then produce locally.

Just like a dozen F4E, dozen F15, then built more than a hundred locally.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Just as has been predicted by myself and tons of others - A strategic plan by the govt to up the military budget with the big spin-off of reinvigorating the local weapons industry. And to satisfy the drools of  nippon-kaigi associates with cloudy visions of the good old days. 

All round winner for Abe Inc.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

kim jong helping abe with his dream

0 ( +6 / -6 )

I don't think Japan should have them. They make so many mistakes as it is with announcements of missile launches, and there are as many lunatics in office here as in NK (many more so, in fact), so they'd probably launch them in a panic and only realize too late (or have planned it to begin with) they started another war that will destroy them.

In any case, I see they are introducing the idea to the public with the usual fear-mongering and maps of projectiles.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

BTW when I wrote "offensive" I meant "causing someone to feel resentful, upset, or annoyed." And in my humble opinion that fits the bill!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ZENJIToday 08:49 am JST

Trump is bullying the Japanese, South Korean and Chinese governments to fire the first shots and start this war. As soon as this happens Trump will just simply say I DID NOT FIRE THE FIRST SHOT and then blame those that did.

Best read you history books. Most wars are started udner some false pre-text, so Trump is following established war protocol. Most likely a missile claimed by Japan/US to be from NK will hit some lightly populated area of Japan, allowing all parties to enter the fray, guns ablazing

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Trump is bullying the Japanese, South Korean and Chinese governments to fire the first shots and start this war. As soon as this happens Trump will just simply say I DID NOT FIRE THE FIRST SHOT and then blame those that did. Trump wants a war with North Korea. Trump wants a war in the Middle East

Bit dramatic isn't it? The U.S does not want a war with North Korea. If they did, they would have done so a very long time ago when the odds of victory with lower loss of life and military hardware was far greater than it is today. Instead they chose to allow North Korea to build up. It is clearly not in their interests short or long term. With war, comes, potentially, millions of dead South Koreans & Japanese along with Americans. Widespread animosity in much of North Asia towards the U.S not to mention a potential scenario in which China could take control over the Peninsula, which seems to be something nobody has considered. If they decided to deploy their entire army, its certainly possible. They do not want Americans on their door step.

I would suggest Trump has business interests in supplying weapons/materials to the Waring nations

Undeniable. Its both business and defense policy in one. The more money companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin make, the more they can invest in research which gives the U.S a technological advantage. That is the theory and it has played out like that up until now. Now they have China to contend with and its likely they will lose their advantage in the medium term, if they haven't already. Still, the U.S has a military that nobody will mess with unless its a case of last resort.

Why else would you bring into law new tax laws to suit the super rich.

Less to do with weapons exactly and more about paying back his political backers, some of which are no doubt involved in the arms business. The big end of town. Despite his campaign trail rhetoric he has absolutely no interest in offering tax cuts to the lower and middle class.

Trump is a feeble idiot, shallow as a dried up lake. A master of nothing. The only thing more important than Trump himself is, well nothing actually.

May our Gods protect us from this monster.

I just pray he doesn't do any more damage to U.S allies and interests. They have already lost Germany, for the long term apparently. This is why countries like Australia are now broadening their horizons beyond their alliance with the U.S. We want deeper relations with Japan, India, Indonesia (if we can get it) and even Europe.

The Europeans are in the early stages of forming a European army. It will come. Do not be surprised if Australia offers them a nice little place to call home when that happens. Look at the map, its a nice little halfway point to refuel and refresh. I would be encouraging it for sure.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

It’s illegal under Article 9. Prison is required.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

I like Japan. I would like Japan to arm itself. It is good to have allies. But be prepared for anything. Trust your country first.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Trump is bullying the Japanese, South Korean and Chinese governments to fire the first shots and start this war. As soon as this happens Trump will just simply say I DID NOT FIRE THE FIRST SHOT and then blame those that did. Trump wants a war with North Korea. Trump wants a war in the Middle East. Being a cynic I would suggest Trump has business interests in supplying weapons/materials to the Waring nations. Why else would you bring into law new tax laws to suit the super rich.

Trump is a feeble idiot, shallow as a dried up lake. A master of nothing. The only thing more important than Trump himself is, well nothing actually.

May our Gods protect us from this monster.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

The article in the thread below……

Cabinet OKs Y2 tril package for child-care support, education….

These defence contractors are not in favour of buy one get one free or coupon days.

The costs have to balance what realistically is within the Governments revenue stream.

At least look at alternatives, joint development programs. Also look into leveraging the important of strategic and logistic advatage forward bases give the US especially in the area on contributory costs.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

gogogoToday 07:11 am JST Can't really be called a defense ministry with attack missiles can we?

Any weapon can be both offensive and defensive. The difference in most cases is how they are used. Of course some weapons tend to have predominant offensive potential, like ICBMS, strategic bombers and carrier strike groups. But calling cruise missile "attack missiles" is silly, there is no such thing. All missiles are "attack missiles" in that they attack a specific target. There does exist the term Land-Attack Missile, a Navy term for a ship to surface missile. Defense Ministry is perfectly fine. The country that probably has the most offensive capable weapons has a Department of Defense run by a Secretary of Defense

6 ( +11 / -5 )

"missile is coming! but in the mean time, let's enjoy pachinko slot"

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Can't really be called a defense ministry with attack missiles can we?

I would call it the "Offensive Ministry" which is exactly what it is turning into with the push of Dear Abe.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Can't really be called a defense ministry with attack missiles can we?

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

To be honest it was only a matter of time before the SDF requested such devices. Honestly, with the way things are going, you cant blame them for wanting some form of defense, although it will come down to semantics about whether or not these missiles are offensive or defensive!

If this is approved it will provide a good argument for changing the constitution and clause 9 in particular. Im likely to be shot down for this (no pun intended) but with everything going on around japan and with a hostile and unstable nation shooting nuclear capable missles (that are yet to prover to be accurate or even reliable) over your territory would you not want to have the capability to defend your self and take action if necessary? The arguments grow more compelling with every North Korean test and with every missile that flies over Japan.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Japan should buy them and train for their use. And hope they never need to be used.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

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