A Nuclear Japan?

[psi29a]

source

No one knows how long it would take Japan to go nuclear, though estimates are days or weeks. But for 60 years Japan has refrained from becoming a nuclear power and remained militarily quiescent. That particular sun may be rising again, however, thanks to the support by China and South Korea for the military threats of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il.

This is the meaning of a remarkable, but underreported, comment last week that Japan might want to knock out North Korea's missile bases with a pre-emptive military strike. "If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack . . . there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. "We need to deepen discussion." The head of Japan's Defense Agency made a similar observation.

Article 9 of Japan's 1946 Constitution bars military force in settling international disputes and prohibits Japan from maintaining a military for the purpose of warfare. Even so, Japan has 243,000 men under arms and one of the world's most technologically capable militaries. Only the U.S., Russia and China spend more on defense.

Is it about time, or oh shit? Depends on what side of the fence you are on.

[Brainpiercing]

Well, japan won't make any friends in SEA with any sort of preemptive action. Doing so might easily bring China down on them.