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Japan unlikely to develop nuclear arms: expert

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"Facing China's military rise, Tatsumi said she does not think Japan would increase its level of activities (re developing nukes) unless it is further provoked by Beijing."

what does that even mean?

China forced us to go nuke?

Anti nuke Japan is a joke at best. Seriously. Despite all the usual crocodile tears at this time of year.

Japan is a de facto nuclear power...with proven ballistic capabilities. It also wants to support a US first strike policy option while being under the US nuclear umbrella.

it has TONS of weapons grade material on hand.

Maybe Lennon got it right.

strange days indeed.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Of course, that would be very hard to explain the hypocrisy if NK is currently sanctioned for developing nuclear weapon but Japan allowed to do it...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Japan unlikely to develop nuclear arms because we already possess one like Israel.

China is not a threat to Japan for reasons that Beijing only knows .

The only threat to Nippon is from within where the hybrid 'Ally-Colonizer' is twisting Shinzo's arm to perform a naihanchin.

It was formerly using the PH to do its very belated provocative actions in the SCS/WPS but when Manila refused to be a pawn choosing instead to have a more independent foreign policy, Washington then turned to a person still suffering from Stockholm syndrome named Shinzo.

Hoping our doctors will find a cure soon before it's too late for Japan!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I find it hard to believe that there is not an obscure government agency at an isolated location somewhere in Japan developing nuclear weapons.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

They probably have developed them already, we know they have the uranium, plutonium probably tritium and most certainly dueterium. I wouldn't be surprised if they have fabricated all the other parts they are just waiting to be put together.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If Japan. is or will develop nuke arm,, it is not going to reveal because it is unconstitutional and entire government officials will be in jail. Maybe Japan already developed? Who knows? How come Japan has been purchasing M3 from France for many years? There are isolated locations in Japan. Not because N Korea but S Korea behaves Japan's enemy.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

gokai_wo_manekuAug. 20  09:59 pm JST

I find it hard to believe that there is not an obscure government agency at an isolated location somewhere in Japan developing nuclear weapons.

Absolutely. It will be denied to the end until a worst case scenario occurs- it's disclosure or use is needed to save Japan and the US is unable to fulfill it's nuclear umbrella obligation. Meantime it is illegal under Japan's constitution and laws so either way it doesn't exist.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Legal or not, Japan developed the Epsilon space rocket. A solid fuel Rocket. Also, Japan can develop the bomb and built it at 70%. Its not a nuclear bomb if lacks any device.

so actually Japan would be able to make it in 3 months. Completen with an ICBM

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Aughhhh, a design of a nuclear fission device had been created by a uni student decades ago, a nuclear fission explosion is simulated within a super computer these days.

Japan had been involved with development of a nuclear fusion science for the past 50 years and have all the live data of nuclear fusion reaction not to mention all the devices to create a runaway nuclear fusion event beside the thermonuclear fission fuse.

So if Japan creates a powerful fission bomb with the knowledge and parts then a nuclear fusion device is easy to develop as well.

Japan may not have a completely assembled one right now but it does not mean Japan will not develop one within a week or two.

I would give one month tops for Japan to become nuclear armed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

who is this expert? Japan couldn't catch up to NK? I find that extremely hard to believe.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

inkjetToday  03:16 am JST

who is this expert? Japan couldn't catch up to NK? I find that extremely hard to believe.

Good question. Japan has been on and off mentioned as either having nuclear weapons in the basement, or having the capability to produce an enormous number in six months since the mid 1980s. While they obviously don't have the testing record, they have rocket technology and access to U.S. assistance as well as other nuclear states.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Who is Yuki Tatsumi ? Her stupidity can only be matched by Pawn Minister Abe. Taiwan is a part of China. There is someone who is bullying Taiwan, but the bully is not China. If not for China, Taiwan people would live in a status not different from Japan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

unconstitutional and entire government officials will be in jail.

I've never seen this happen.

we have nukes, it is just 70 year old technology. I'm more worried about biological warfare and the other new tech like creating earthquakes. never been to alaska though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

AbeyToday 09:55 am JSTWho is Yuki Tatsumi ? Her stupidity can only be matched by Pawn Minister Abe. Taiwan is a part of China. There is someone who is bullying Taiwan, but the bully is not China. If not for China, Taiwan people would live in a status not different from Japan.

Taiwan is threatened by only one country which has declared a willingness to take it by force if it declares independence. This is the same dictatorship that is clamping down on Hong Kong. Taiwan is already defended by the U.S. through the Taiwan Relations Act.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

unlikely but they should. can't rely on the U.S. to do what's best for Japan. the Ukraine gave up nukes for the promise of U.S. protection but look what it got them. economic sanctions, oooh, scary...won't work against China.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"The Senkaku issue is a sovereignty issue," she said. "(Japan) will not back down." She explained that how Japan responds is closely watched not only by Beijing, but also by the Philippines and Vietnam, which face a similar challenge in the South China Sea.

If the Senkaku issue is a sovereignty issue, even more so is the Futenma-to-Henoko relocation issue. Why?

U.S. bases in Japan, especially in Okinawa, are like concessions in 19th century China. They are self-supplying communities not very different from small towns in the U.S., installed with movie theaters, supermarkets, chains of restaurants, schools, recreation centers and what not. Residents there -- military personnel, their dependents and civilian employees -- are beyond the reach of the Japanese constitution and law, thus enjoying extraterritorial rights to their content. In a nutshell, these bases are foreigner colonies.

Constructing yet another base in Okinawa thus means adding another colony on top of already-existing ones. Isn't the Abe government committing high treason?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan may not have nuclear weapons, but that doesn't mean they don't have nuclear weapons parts lying in close proximity...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's Japan's non-nuclear principles of non-possession, non-production, and non-introuction of nuclear weapons that prevent Japan from developing nuclear weapons. But these principles are already nullified by the nuclear umbrella Japan seeks with the U.S., I think. Under a secret bilateral agreement in 1972 when Okinawa was returned to Japan, the U.S. can freely bring nuclear weapons to Okinawa when needed.

U.S. forces in Japan can also attack other countries with impunity, without being constrained by the Japanese constitution that prevents Japan from taking such military actions as a means to solve international conflicts. But if Japan sanctions for the U.S. forces to attack other countries, doesn't it mean Japan iitself is attacking?

These may be the reasons why North Korea hates Japan like hell as a mortal enemy. (In Kobe)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

voiceofokinawaAug. 21 01:58 pm JST"

Constructing yet another base in Okinawa thus means adding another colony on top of already-existing ones. Isn't the Abe government committing high treason?

Isn't Henoko being built to REPLACE Fuetnma?

voiceofokinawaToday 10:06 am JSTIt's

These may be the reasons why North Korea hates Japan like hell as a mortal enemy. (In Kobe

I think NK hates the USA more. Look at their propaganda.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Back on topic please

OssanAmerica,

Are 19th-century concessions still in existence?  They are all gone now.  Likewise, U.S. bases in Okinawa must go away one by one until all are gone some day.

The U.S. cannot demand a replacement facility be built equipped with new functions in return for an old, dilapidated one, saying this is for the reduction of Okinawa's burden because the relocation is from a densely populated area to a less populated one.  All this indicates the U.S. intends to maintain bases for good when days of colonialism are long gone in other parts of the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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