Japan, Sweden agree to promote defense equipment cooperation

This means Japan buying Swedish defense equipment, not the other way around. There is nothing of Japanese make that Sweden would want.

On the other hand, former defense minister Ishiba Shigeru is a big fan of Gripen, and promoted scrapping expensive US fighters like F-35 and buying hundreds of Gripens instead for less money.

@Samit Basu exactly, basically one country import and other country export. In this case Japan import from Sweden.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/03/20/sweden-s-arms-industry-has-gone-from-strength-to-strength_6638500_19.html

https://www.statista.com/statistics/865459/exports-of-arms-from-sweden-by-country/

Sweden has always been one of the biggest exporters of weapons and during WW2, taking full advantage of its neutral position, made a lot of money by selling weapon to both Germany and the Allies. Cooperation with the longstanding death merchant will surely help improve quality of Japanese-made weapons. By the way, Gripens use US-made engines.

Kishi what are you doing far away from your country???...

Get back and focus in your OWN people..

 There is nothing of Japanese make that Sweden would want.

Any proof of that??..

In which circus did you learn about international trade?..

I don’t think China will pay much attention to this news. American defense industry maybe, but not China or Russia.

Excellent idea. With all the threats/aggression across the world currently, the US cannot supply all free nations with all the necessary equipment, so cooperation like this is definitely necessary. Plus, if Trump ends up being elected, the US will become totally unreliable for at least four years.

Japan has diligently pursued bilateral/minilateral defense cooperation since the Trump Shock. In addition to this with Sweden it has a fighter jet program with the UK and Italy, reciprocal access agreements with the Philippines and Australia, and heightened cooperation with all kinds of other partners.

Despite the incessant noise from JT's resident Japan-haters, I think Japan is navigating this period of geopolitics extremely well.

While China is expanding and modernizing its transportation, infrastructure, and IT... Japan is following the US model of ignoring infrastructure in order to expand the military.

Build Back Better Biden was a big con. Almost all the money ended up being spent on the war and the military.

This week's shinkansen disruption may well be a sign of things to come for Japan's infrastructure.

This means Japan buying Swedish defense equipment, not the other way around. There is nothing of Japanese make that Sweden would want.

What is Sweden bringing to table?

Samit Basu exactly, basically one country import and other country export. In this case Japan import from Sweden.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/03/20/sweden-s-arms-industry-has-gone-from-strength-to-strength_6638500_19.html

LOL, Japan makes its own guns and anti tank equipment.

As long as we call it defense equipment no problem

Japan needs to diversify even more to cut its heavy defence reliance on America so this is a good small step

While China is expanding and modernizing its transportation, infrastructure, and IT... Japan is following the US model of ignoring infrastructure in order to expand the military.

China is putting more resources and effort into building up its military than anything else internally. This is what forces others to also build up their military forces as counter balance to China to ensure their defence.

Peter14

Today 01:09 pm JST

While China is expanding and modernizing its transportation, infrastructure, and IT... Japan is following the US model of ignoring infrastructure in order to expand the military.

> China is putting more resources and effort into building up its military than anything else internally. This is what forces others to also build up their military forces as counter balance to China to ensure their defence.

If China is out to attack other nations why didn't China attack the Philippines when it was defenceless like the US, Australia and other allies invaded Iraq and murdered hundreds of thousands of people?

It should be obvious that China aims to make every country its market can't do that by killing the customer

ianToday 01:30 pm JST

If China is out to attack other nations why didn't China attack the Philippines

China is attacking the Philippines, and illegally occupying its waters (and those of other nations).

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/20/2364234/china-coast-guards-pirate-like-actions-ayungin-shoal-condemned

China's actions speak for themselves.

ianToday 01:38 pm JST

It should be obvious that China aims to make every country its market can't do that by killing the customer

Then they would have no need for the largest navy in the world which they assembled.

ianToday 12:49 pm JST

As long as we call it defense equipment no problem

This but ironically. No country with lots of missiles has been invaded.

*unironically

So Japan is getting Ikea tanks and H&M uniforms?

isabelle

Today 02:48 pm JST

ianToday 01:30 pm JST

> If China is out to attack other nations why didn't China attack the Philippines

> China is attacking the Philippines, and illegally occupying its waters (and those of other nations).

> https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/20/2364234/china-coast-guards-pirate-like-actions-ayungin-shoal-condemned

> China's actions speak for themselves.

Lol there is a reason for that.

The reason for the US and allies invading Iraq and murdering it's people is a lie like you often make

China is definitely no angel but the US and allies are biggest threat to the world

Very few know but the US has deployed nuke capable missile system/s in their base/s in the Philippines.

I think many of you warmongers would be ecstatic to know.

Intro photo: The Japanese are said to be of smaller stature?

Moderator

Today 03:45 pm JST

Back on topic please.

Yes moderators.

Please excuse

ian

Today 03:48 pm JST

Very few know but the US has deployed nuke capable missile system/s in their base/s in the Philippines.

> I think many of you warmongers would be ecstatic to know

Very important info for everyone to know please don't delete

I hope even the rabid supporters would realize the implications of deploying such a missile system in the backyards of another nuke superpower

God save the Philippines

IKEA and H&M already exist in Japan. Scandinavian furniture has been popular since the 1990s.

Japan has difficulty exporting weapons, but it is important for Japan's national defense to cooperate with a technologically advanced country like Sweden.

I would like Sweden to cooperate with Japan in the joint development of submarines and tanks, in addition to developing fighter planes with the UK and Italy and jointly developing weapons with the US.

If there is no Philippine law that prohibits the introduction of nuclear weapons into the Philippines, there is no need to worry.

China took the Philippines' territory, and China lost in an international court case, but it has not returned it.

It is inevitable that Asian countries, led by the US, cooperate with China, which can be called the tyrant of Asia.

Although China pretends to be the leader of Asia, it has never been of any use to Asia.

Yes, more IKEA meatballs for Japan.

It is inevitable that Asian countries, led by the US

Suddenly US is an Asian country? What are you on?

USA has 800 military bases (that we know of) ALL over the world, many of which are right next to China, and China is the threat? Gimme a break.

This means Japan buying Swedish defense equipment, not the other way around. There is nothing of Japanese make that Sweden would want.

Japan produces the great majority of its defense equipment in Japan. Often it is a licensed copy of something made elsewhere. Much of GSDF equipment is of Japanese or European design manufactured in Japan. Japan designs and manufactures all of its warships using a mix of license produced European and American weapons, Japanese sonars, mostly Japanese radars except for the big AN/SPY-1s on the big DDGs (the X-Band radar on the DDHs and some DDs were designed in cooperation with a Dutch company and are similar to those used on some German and Norwegian warships). Japan produces its own unique surface to air, air to air and air to surface missiles. Japan was the first country to put an AESA radar on an air defense missile of any kind. You greatly underestimate the capabilities of Japan's defense industry.

Sweden has a lot of experience with advanced data links, cooperative engagement (they were doing it way back in the 1970s) and building fighters on a budget but Sweden can learn much from the Japanese as Sweden doesn't make a high end air defense missile or the radars they require. Japan does and they are considered to be very good. Sweden also does not make its own air to air missiles and has to buy them where Japan makes their own. So there is much each nation can share with the other.

I would like Sweden to cooperate with Japan in the joint development of submarines and tanks, in addition to developing fighter planes with the UK and Italy and jointly developing weapons with the US.

The Swedes have not produced their own tank since the 1960s. Their army operates a version of the German Leopard 2. Japan builds its own tanks to its own designs. The current Type 10 tank is considered to have the most advanced metallurgy of any tank in the world, along with a very advanced fire control system of Japanese design. If anything the Swedes would learn about tanks from Japan.

Likewise Sweden would be the student when it comes to submarine design. Sweden's former submarine builder went out of business. Sweden is trying to team with a German company to reconstitute its submarine knowledge and replace its old worn out submarines. Japan has always been on the cutting edge of submarine design. When I was active duty Japanese subs were widely regarded as the best non-nuclear subs made and second only to a Los Angeles Class SSN of the US Navy. They are that good.

Pukey2July 26 10:39 pm JST

USA has 800 military bases (that we know of) ALL over the world, many of which are right next to China, and China is the threat? Gimme a break.

US bases in the Asia-Pacific have only decreased over the last 70 years. Try to disrupt the international order and you are going to get burned...

USA has 800 military bases (that we know of) ALL over the world

How about stating the number of nations instead? Often with allies like Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea or Australia the US will have dozens of bases large and small in any given country.

If you look at the chart in this link you can see the nations the US has bases in. Even this makes it look bigger than it is as the US only has a single base in Greenland.

https://www.statista.com/chart/3550/military-bases/

No US bases in any Nordic country, no US bases in France either. It shows the expected nations in NATO, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Middle East where the US is known to have more than one base. Even Australia exaggerates the US presence there because the only US facilities are in Woomera, Freemantle and around Darwin in the far north. From Tindal south to Woomera there are no US bases and nothing at all on the east coast.