Japan ruling bloc agrees on acquiring 'counterstrike capability'

Launching a first strike on another country violates the Japanese constitution.

A mistake or a false flag could easily lead to war!

'counterstrike capability'

"counterstrike capability" 

enemy base strike capability

The ruling bloc left some ambiguity regarding the conditions, targets and timing for counterattacks, which observers said could raise fears that Japan may attack countries arbitrarily

"ambiguity".... just what's needed when legislating for war.... dear oh dear!

Really? Does Japan want these incompetent LDP members to decide on a situation that is so serious and life threatening? These clowns can't even manage their own scandals...

What happened to the “We Japanese love peace,”mantra that was rammed down our throats ad nauseam 30 years ago.

Launching a first strike to start a war or invade another country is prohibited by the first paragraph of Article 9. However, Japan's right to self defense has been firmly established, and targeting enemy assets preparing for a launch against Japan would clearly be self defense. More importantly, the mere existence of such a first strike capability will serve as a deterrent for other nations to launch an attack.

Those who criticize what Japan is doing militarily are blind to the daily news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what the Russians are targeting. Or, they just want Japan to remain as defenseless as possible in the face of China, Russia and NKorea, all while claiming that it's "occupied" or a lapdog.

The entire world has entered a new arms race since February 2022, and many nations, including Japan, are left with no choice but to upgrade their defense systems to meet the new security risks posed by the autocracies.

What ever capability you deny yourself will be used against you by your adversaries, and it's not necessarily a stronger adversary.

Ukraine has clearly taught everyone a lesson, no nukes (or giving up nukes) is an open invitation for Russia (even Belarus) to view you as a legitimate target. Sadly!

Komeito approved the planned counterstrike capability at a party meeting, after focusing discussions with the LDP on issues such as the conditions for utilizing such a capability and the potential targets for a counterattack.

Good to see that Komeito has taken a pragmatic stand here. Many LDP hawks do blame Komeito for being soft on China especially since they played a significant role in the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the PRC.

The adversary’s overwhelming counter strike capability they already have on a huge scale, would probably overwhelm Japans defences and it’s storage sites very quickly should they think the LDP were going to use their counter strike capability’s. just seems like a pointless exercise, and just creating an environment where Japan is supplying targets rather them protection.

Japan-peace loving country with economy in serious problems,record high debt and useless government is going to steal money from taxpayers just to please uncle Sam and his interests,regrdless rea;ity on the ground...something is not right here guys.

Hurry up China! We need you. Our leaders are stuck in the Showa/Edo period. We need you to lead our country with a 5000 year experience. We don’t want to go to war. We are forced to by outside orders and these old family LDP types.

people here don’t want a war we can’t win. We love peace. We don’t want offensive weapons. Please forgive our leaders. Kishida only has 32% polling. We love peace.

Japan has spent 80 years building up a reputation as a peaceful country. Spoil that reputation, and the trust is wiped out in an instant. The world will no longer regard Japanese as peaceful people, and they will never be treated with respect again.

Ruling party call preemptive attack 'counterstrike' and deceive the masses.

But Japan where cannot even detect North Korea missile launch soon and authorities use warning after missile passed has no even capability to distinguish military drill or military attack, and don't know where are missile bases.

Moreover, another threat, China's scale of territory or armaments are far larger than Japan, that Japan destroy all of them by first strike and "save country" with no damage are impossible.

Their 'counterstrike capability' is just delusion.

There is also pointing that LDP who continued to fraud immense taxes from the masses just use neighbouring countries to threat the masses for more tax increasing.

This Japan's expansion of armament including 'counterstrike capability' will kill citizen indirectly by tax increasing, not defend citizen.

Launching a first strike on another country violates the Japanese constitution.

By definition counterstrike means what a nation does after some other nation has attacked it.

Ruling party call preemptive attack 'counterstrike' and deceive the masses

The deception, if any, is on your part. Counter means after or against. It is what a nation does after some other nation has attacked it. It is not a first strike.

Japan has spent 80 years building up a reputation as a peaceful country. Spoil that reputation, and the trust is wiped out in an instant.

I have news for you. Until about 8 or 10 years ago China was more highly regarded than Japan. Japan was widely distrusted due to lingering memories of WWII. Japan to this day refuses to teach their children the truth about their 20th Century barbarities. From time to time some right wing Japanese politician would make an outragous comment that was counter to historical fact. The end result was much of Asia distrusting Japan and looking to the US to contain them. As long as the US military was there Japan didn't need to re-arm. This allowed Asians to sleep at night. Japan did nothing to rehabilitate its image.

What had rehabilitated Japan is Xi Jinping. Suddenly China looks a heck of a lot scarier than post war Japan ever did. Now nations look to Japan to provide some muscle to counter China. In addition Japan has not felt directly threatened by another nation as they do today by China. Even the Soviet threat seemed remote compared to modern China. That China covets some Japanese islands makes Japan look like one of the good guys now, but you can thank China for that.

Until about 8 or 10 years ago China was more highly regarded than Japan. Japan was widely distrusted due to lingering memories of WWII.

The end result was much of Asia distrusting Japan and looking to the US to contain them.

Sweeping statements like these are uncalled for.

Most people in my country love Japan inspite (or maybe because) of the second world war. Not sure who gave you the right to speak for all Asians, but the more than 1.4 billion people of my country who have always loved Japan and hated China will disagree.

On the other hand, the US is distrusted more than Japan will ever be because it was the Nixon administration which brought China back from isolation so most Asians know how surefooted the US foreign policy is.

Sweeping statements like these are uncalled for.

Most people in my country love Japan inspite (or maybe because) of the second world war. Not sure who gave you the right to speak for all Asians, but the more than 1.4 billion people of my country who have always loved Japan and hated China will disagree.

I worked and traveled widely in Asia during the 1980s and 1990s. There was a visceral dislike and distrust of Japan, especially in places like the Philippines and China. My own WWII veteran parents too, detested Japan and told me to never trust them. My Chinese born wife still tells me to never trust the Japanese. You Japanese do not even realize how much you were distrusted by your neighbors. That is part of the problem Japan has to this day. It has never fully atoned for its WWII barbarities and too often some idiot right wing Japanese politician flaps his or her yap and tries to deny Japan'e aggressions or war crimes. Your education system does not tell the truth either. All of this breed distrust of Japan. Instead of complaining and denying you need to take it to heart and confront that past directly. I had close relatives permanently disbled by the IJA so it is real to us.

You Japanese do not even realize how much you were distrusted by your neighbors.

LOL I am not even Japanese.

I worked and traveled widely in Asia during the 1980s and 1990s.

Not widely enough I suppose. Asia is a huge continent of 4 billion people and your naval tours of duty might have taken you mostly to places allied with the US. That is hardly an experience of divergent viewpoints.

My own WWII veteran parents too, detested Japan and told me to never trust them. My Chinese born wife still tells me to never trust the Japanese. I had close relatives permanently disbled by the IJA so it is real to us.

Your views towards Japan are prejudiced because of the experiences of your close family members. People hear what they want to hear, and they subscribe to sources which reinforce their biases.

Anyone who suggests that the 1.4 billion people of my country preferred China to Japan at any point of time in history would be scoffed at. Even during the second world war in which 2.5 million troops from my country fought on the side of allies (among them was one of my relatives as well), most of the common people in my country supported Japan more. You don't know anything about the part of Asia that I come from.

Not widely enough I suppose. Asia is a huge continent of 4 billion people and your naval tours of duty might have taken you mostly to places allied with the US. That is hardly an experience of divergent viewpoints.

Does that matter? I worked and traveled in places in Asia where Japan was if not reviled at least very much distrusted and where their military people were of the opinion that having US forces in Japan protected them, not from China which wasn't a concern at the time, but from a potential of resurgent Japanese militarism.

Based on your post you come from India (there is only one other nation of 1.4 billion souls besides China). It is duly noted that the Japanese trained, armed and financed the Indian National Army during WWII, hoping the INA could force the British out of India and establish a friendly nation on the border of Burma, which Japan sought to conquer and make a part of their Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. INA members would go on to help run the British out of India after WWII . The far right in Japan remains fond of the INA and often uses their struggle for independence from Britain to whitewash Japans barbarities in the region. However post war India became a Soviet client state while Japan was firmly rooted in the west. It has only been in the past decade and half that there have been any kind of military to military dealings between Japan and India and these are rooted not in any historical friendship so much as a mutual fear of China. I remember it was a very big deal the first time Japanese ships visited Singapore in the 2000s, and then not again for a few year as there remain bad memories of what Japan did to SIngapore in WWII. Don't confuse nations today holding their noses in the face of an aggressive China to any true affection for Japan. Japan has yet to fully atone for WWII and I doubt she ever will.

However post war India became a Soviet client state while Japan was firmly rooted in the west. It has only been in the past decade and half that there have been any kind of military to military dealings between Japan and India and these are rooted not in any historical friendship so much as a mutual fear of China.

The fact that India and Japan were on the opposite sides during the Cold War does not matter since most common Indians have an affection for Japan which goes beyond political affiliations.

Don't confuse nations today holding their noses in the face of an aggressive China to any true affection for Japan.

Wrong again. China claims to be a leading Asian civilization when many elements of their fake 5000 year old culture were borrowed from India which they now proclaim as their own.

As far as ancient civilizations go, even Iran is held in higher regard in India than China. The one exception being Tibet but Tibet is not really China. So your claim that China was more highly regarded than Japan in Asia is hollow at best and prejudiced for the most part.

I have news for you. Until about 8 or 10 years ago China was more highly regarded than Japan. Japan was widely distrusted due to lingering memories of WWII.

You are usually a font of knowledge. But, you are incorrect on this one.

I worked and traveled widely in Asia during the 1980s and 1990s. There was a visceral dislike and distrust of Japan, especially in places like the Philippines and China. My own WWII veteran parents too, detested Japan and told me to never trust them. My Chinese born wife still tells me to never trust the Japanese. 

Ah. That explains your first comment. Of course China is more highly regarded in China, and by your Chinese-born wife. Duh.

As for the Philippines, and other first-hand victims of Japan's aggression during WWII, it is understandable. Although, those born after WWII are far less likely to feel that way.

But, in Europe, North America, and Oceana, Japan has generally been more highly regarded than China for many decades, way longer than "until 8 or 10 years ago", despite some economic envy during the '80's.