Japan's next defense budget to post biggest rise in 18 years

Um guys? Your population is declining and your will be dying out as a race in like 800 years. Maybe you can start getting your people used to the harder times that are coming, because if you think I'll pay 80% tax to support this stuff you're wrong. Malaysia has my name on it, the next time they raise my taxes.

AlexNoaburgDec. 22, 2013 - 12:59AM JST Not surprising to see that when the drum beats of war are sounded, most of the Japanese public pick the side of the >country they're in.

No, most people pick the side of the non-aggressor.

What does Japan hope to win? China has nukes, if there is a war, Japan, with its densely populated cities, one hit on >Tokyo and it will be sure to be among the losers.

Talking about "nukes" is just plain stupid on so many levels. China is not interested in a global WWIII, it wants to take territory. Using nukes would trigger the US-Japan Defense Treaty and China will be blown back to the stone age and they would no longer have an over population problem. So let's forget about "nukes" ok?

jeff198527,

I have a question: Why is it wrong for a country to defend itself?

It isn't.

But, in Japan's case, nobody's attacking.

There is no one that Japan needs to defend itself from.

Abe, the American sycophant, perhaps, but that's another story.

I agree completely with Jaymann:

There is no problem with a country defending itself. However, even a right-wing, conservative? ...( just looking for whatever you think the opposite of a "liberal" is...) 'non-liberal' should have an issue with a government manufacturing a crisis with a neighbouring country merely to push through a nationalist agenda.

Liberals? In US-speak that means something like "socialist"? Being liberal actually means that one is opposed to too much state intervention. Being "liberal" means that one values freedom of the individual above all other things - yes I am 'Liberal'; or more correctly a libertarian. Do you not value your freedom?

There is no problem with a country defending itself. However, even a right-wing, conservative? ...( just looking for whatever you think the opposite of a "liberal" is...) 'non-liberal' should have an issue with a government manufacturing a crisis with a neighbouring country merely to push through a nationalist agenda. Surely people are not so obtuse as to miss this rather glaring fact?

You liberals want the world to hold hands and sing campfire songs. That's not how the world works. There have always been wars and there will always be wars. China, if left unchecked could one day be a threat to regional peace.

Well-spotted Jaymann - You have absolutely nailed it!

It's not defense that is bad - It is "manufacturing" of a crisis in order to present expanded defense as a fait accompli that is bad. One has only to read the quite confused postings up above to see that. There are many here who support these actions in order to have a 'necessary' defense against China; that is the definition of confusion. China were provoked and then responded in the child-like, bully-boy nature that the global community expects from the world's biggest, fat-child, bully on the block. Japan you have been played - but to be fair all the pieces were in place already with a rabid right-wing ready to soak up any of the nationalist manure being thrown in your faces and the caricature-like Chinese response a dead cert.

I have a question: Why is it wrong for a country to defend itself?

Both China and the people of Japan have been expertly played by Abe and his right-wing cabinet. Abe has everything he wants now: More guns, a proper army (on the way), a 'big, bad enemy (China have responded exactly as they wished) and a removal of the few rights the citizenry had enjoyed. Well done Abe! Bush and Cheney couldn't have manufactured a situation with any more panache.

I said this a year ago. "Abe is a mastermind" I said it before and will always say it. I love that guy

Not surprising to see that when the drum beats of war are sounded, most of the Japanese public pick the side of the country they're in

What makes you think 'most of the Japanese public' are in favour of war or an increased military budget?

Not surprising to see that when the drum beats of war are sounded, most of the Japanese public pick the side of the country they're in. What does Japan hope to win? China has nukes, if there is a war, Japan, with its densely populated cities, one hit on Tokyo and it will be sure to be among the losers.

Not sure if the recent news of Chinese stealth fighters is part of some information warfare to let us have a sense of urgency. Abe is a kind of premier who in his heart would like to make ATD-X (a stealth fighter developed and produced in Japan) a real demonstrator and use it for FX instead of F-35. But of course he would keep mum lest he should get scrapped.

captainjohannDec. 21, 2013 - 08:59PM JST USA is not going to fight China and one has to defend oneself.

It's really amazing how so many people are somehow clairevoyant and know this. All that needs to happen is some hotshot Chinese pilot to intentionally kill an American in it's self declared ADIZ.....

Japan was sermonising India about re arming and spending on Nukes while it had nculear umbrella. Now it should understand India's problems with nuclear armed China and Pakistan in a different perspective. USA is not going to fight China and one has to defend oneself.

Just in case you people didnt know. Japan current H-2a and MV-5 rockets are capable of deliver 4 tons to china if used as an ICBM like the minuteman or peacekeeper. Japan started investigation about nuclear warheads (secrecy bill). Japan will have its nuclear missiles just like Israel.

japan should develop Nukes and missiles as equal as China has, I mean 3000 nuke missiles. All aim at China. You will see a different China who love and co-operate with all the Asian nations around it.... Simple...

I entirely agree. The only mistake is that this should have been done years earlier.

For all of you that have no experience or knowledge about war... Even if you don't want to fight them, they want to fight you. If you think for 1 second that China is just going to sit back and let all of the other little countries keep those little disputed islands, you are in for a rude awakening. There have always been wars throughout history, and there always will be. Just because it is 2013 doesn't mean that humans have grown out of fighting. It is about time for the world to purge itself of some of this infestation called 'humanity' because it is severely draining the ecosystem and sustainability.

Maybe laws prohibit, but Japan should make military hard/softwear by herself.

Well China is pushing so Japan has no choice but to by hardware and start developing some really nasty stuff of their own. Mr Geng from Chinas defense department just stated that Japan aimed at playing up the "China's military threat", increasing regional tensions and using the pretext of safeguarding Japan's own national security and regional peace for its military expansion. How is it possible for someone to be so completely unattached to reality? Unless of course he/they have their own reality, like in a political propaganda war. Looking back at the statements from Chinas different ministers and militaries over the last year there is one thing that stands out quite clear. The speaker is almost always positioned from top to down, in psychological terms, a parent talking to their kid. I guess it could reflect their view (hubris) of themselves or possible a planned propaganda strategy, or both. However Japans officials has not uttered the same kind of propaganda in response. Are China thinking that they can contribute to improved relation by this or is an attempt to make Japan angry?

Good for Japan.

No doubt the anti Japan nationalists from various Asian nations are rallying the warning cry about how Japan is re-arming itself and how Japan is denying/repeating its past wartime mistakes.

These nationalists should look at themselves in the mirror if they want a reason WHY Japan has decided to place more of an emphasis on militarizing.

Better raise the consumption tax to 16 percent.

Yep, certainly very good business for military hardware manufacturers.

The BBC have just reported that Japan are 5th in terms of Military spending. The US first, China second.

China have just come out and denounced the measures, saying that Japan are 'raising tensions in the region'.

Didn't see that coming.

Yeah that's the scary part, its all about some one making money and not any other real reason.

The munitions manufacturers have always been all for having their products used in large quantities.

I'm sure that US "defense" contractors are cracking open the Champagne!

Well done, guys!

You just flogged a s**t load of weapons of mass destruction.

Now all you need is a war or two and you will be able to flog some more!