Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister. Yahoo/Reuters
Japan, once a pacifist nation, is considering acquiring weapons that would give them offensive capabilities. Yahoo/Reuters. Japan has been pacifist since its defeat in World War II, but an intense rivalry with China and concerns about North Korea has changed things. Japan's current forces, while formidable, are mostly defensive in nature. Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, is very pro military and wants to expand it. The United States is wary of such proposals. Not only is it seen as an antagonizing move by China, U.S. ally South Korea, with its own history of conflict with Japan.
My Comment:
I agree with Japans thinking here. They live in a rough neighborhood and their former protector, America, is clearly declining in power. At one point it was completely clear that if Japan was attacked, America would come to Japans aid. That's probably still true to some degree but it is no way as certain as it was even 10 years ago. Given China's saber rattling against pretty much all of its neighbors and the ever present threat of North Korea, and the general weakness and incompetence of America's current government it's a wonder this hasn't happened years ago.
Of course China and the two Koreas have good reason to not be happy about Japan turning to a military bearing. Both countries suffered horribly during World War II. Japan isn't likely to turn into the same kind of government that Japan had back then but I can see why they would be upset.
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