Should Japan be allowed to re-arm and flex its muscle on the global scale?

Answer 1

that would be fun.....

Answer 2

Once again, this is the sort of question where the ignorant descend like vultures on a fresh carcass. A mild riposte is in order:

Japan has only lost one war – the Second World War.

In the First World War, Japan was an ally to Britain, France, and later America.

“imperialistic samuri mentality”[sic] is errant nonsense. The fascists in the Japanese military during the Second World War originated from peasant upbringings, brought to power by a “modernized” conscript force that saw its formation after the reforms of the Meiji era – the same period saw the Samurai stripped of all their traditional prerogatives. Bandying Westernization as the sole determinant of virtue is an insult to otherwise peaceable, traditional societies that have existed for centuries.

Japan as a true military power is more errant nonsense. Japan does not have true offensive capability. It lacks key technologies, unit organization, the numbers, and the munitions to truly wage offensive warfare. Its bloated defense spending is a result more of inefficiencies in its arms procurement than successful application of its economic might to military requirements. Painting Japan as some sort of brute regional military power on par with Israel is coarse humor that the contacts and friends I have in the Japanese military find nothing short of ridiculous, and I second that sentiment.

Japan is not “worse than Israel to its neighbors”. Japan does not “invade” anyone. Japan is hobbled by a restrictive Peace Constitution that is enforced rigorously by the Japanese people unto themselves. The territorial disputes it has with the ROK, PRC, and Taiwan, were they truly legitimate, would have been corrected at the conclusion of the Second World War. These various disputed islands have been repeatedly occupied by radical elements of the ROK, PRC, and Taiwan. The PRC in particular is fond of military incursions into Japanese territorial waters that have nothing to do with the disputed territory. These islands are Japanese territory, and to insist on otherwise through bilateral intimidation rather than international mediation is proof positive that the claimants have less than respectable motives to begin with.

Japan has developed a careful approach to diplomacy characterized by peaceful overtures and foreign aid. It is NOT a combatant in the war against radical Islam, nor would it be productive in the least to drag a nation that is essentially peripheral at best to the War on Terror into fighting it. Such idiocy only escalates the scope of the conflict when every effort should be made in managing it.

Japan will adjust its Peace Constitution on its own terms. For this to be accelerated, either the Japan-US Security Pact would have to break down completely, or the threat from the DPRK or PRC would have to reach unmanageable proportions. For any other nation to dictate to a functional democracy and sovereign nation whether it has the right to possess and use military force for its own national survival and interest is garbage.

Answer 3

Japan has one of the top conventional military power in the world already. Their current airforce figher jets can rival US fighters. There were news about Japanese Surface and air to ship missle is more accurate than the US. And they have the warships that uses US technologies.

They have been using their military power, to lay claim on islands that does not belongs to them. They are invading the territories of S.Korea, China and Taiwan. And that is drawing protest from S. Korea, Taiwan and China.

Little known but to some, Japan is just as bad if not worse than Israel to it's neighbor.

Answer 4

Yes... to protect its interests and those of its allies its self-defense forces should be fully rearmed. Flexing military muscles through peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance or military operations other than war (MOOTW) will be a great help. As for another possible superpower, there's China on the edge of its territory. The room will suddenly get too crowded.

Answer 5

What do you mean by "Allowed"?
If circumstances force Japan to revamp its muscle it has all the potentials for a Strong comeback.
Japan, after being nuked, changed its focus from military to economy and is on top of the world now.
Better do not test them.

Answer 6

Yes. I believe they have matured on the international scene over the decades and I think that with their technology, they might be able to make a difference.

Why not. The imperialistic samuri mentality they had back then has definitely changed for the better and they have become more Westernized.

Now we just have to work on the Middle East.

Answer 7

Conspiracy K is right about their military capabilities, I know that the Air Force sells them our 15s with a dumbed down radar package.
However, he has no idea what he is talking about in regards to their multiple invasions. watch CNN. stop making stuff up. pass that on to whoever told it to you. It is just wrong to repeat such ignorant allegations.

Answer 8

NO, every one take care of the military and international force while people are dying with starvation.

Answer 9

I think we have enough muscle flexing already.

Answer 10

Yes! We need all the help we can get to wipe out Islam!

Answer 11

No. Japan is the Hitler of the East!