Japan Creates Ministry of Defense

[Oberon]

Well, after DPRKs sabre-rattling a few months back, it's hardly surprising that Japan is going to step up its military plans, China will of course, continue with its military build-up.
Whether this is the beginning of a Far-Eastern arms race? Perhaps...
Time will tell. But this comes as no major surprise.

[Cpt. Stewker]

This reminds me that there was talk within Japan (only talk at this point) about a possible nuclear deterrant to counter North Korea. Japan has plenty of nuclear fuel and the knowledge know how to be able to create a nuclear device within months if they wished it. I haven't heard anything about this for some time though. Not since North Korea's "nuclear fizzle" was front page news.

[Abraham]

I have no problem with a more active and self assured attitude of Japan in defense matters. WWII is too long ago, Japan is a democracy and an economic partner of the West as well as a military partner of the US.
Germany is recently playing a more active military role as well, in Afghanistan for instance.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Abraham

I have no problem with a more active and self assured attitude of Japan in defense matters. WWII is too long ago, Japan is a democracy and an economic partner of the West as well as a military partner of the US.
Germany is recently playing a more active military role as well, in Afghanistan for instance.

I'm more perplexed about this.
It is true that ww II was over 50 years ago, but the Japanese (as a society) has always had a negationist view towards their responsability in ww II.
German society on the other hand, has accepted their responsabilities in the last war. That is a big big difference.
I could care less that japan is a military partner of the us, letting japan build an effective armed service, including a nuclear arsenal is the wrong thing to do.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by goldorak

I'm more perplexed about this.
It is true that ww II was over 50 years ago, but the Japanese (as a society) has always had a negationist view towards their responsability in ww II.
German society on the other hand, has accepted their responsabilities in the last war. That is a big big difference.
I could care less that japan is a military partner of the us, letting japan build an effective armed service, including a nuclear arsenal is the wrong thing to do.

I am with you. They still deny some parts of there history.

[Camaero]

The Japs are our strongest eastern ally. They face two major enemys - N. Korea and China. The US also faces these countries. I don't mind at all if they are building up. They are way too democratic to go backwards now.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Camaero

The Japs are our strongest eastern ally. They face two major enemys - N. Korea and China. The US also faces these countries. I don't mind at all if they are building up. They are way too democratic to go backwards now.

Says who ?
Democracy is not a god given right.
It can go away as easily as it came.

[geetrue]

Originally Posted by Cpt. Stewker

This reminds me that there was talk within Japan (only talk at this point) about a possible nuclear deterrant to counter North Korea. Japan has plenty of nuclear fuel and the knowledge know how to be able to create a nuclear device within months if they wished it. I haven't heard anything about this for some time though. Not since North Korea's "nuclear fizzle" was front page news.

I think they have already developed the atomic bomb ... It's Japan's biggest secret of course ... If you stop and think about it being used for defense only ... Why tell anybody? It would just upset the people of Japan, not it's very intelligent Army/Navy

[Der Eisen-Wal]

as far as i know japan still hasn't gotten those resources and land that it desperately fought for in WW2, i'm sure that's still on teh agenda. While I don't see them going full out on China again, why tempt them?

ps, revisionist history is , at least the germans owned up to it and made laws against it... the Japanese are still printing some textbooks that distance themselves from their WW2 atrocities in the South-East Asian Sphere of Co-Prosperity... and the worst part is their kids are reading it.

[P_Funk]

This thing in Japan of altering the curriculum to make children more nationalistic is a huge backwards step in the growth of democracy. The one that is most important in maintaining the justice of a democratic society is the awareness of its people. Being aware of what is being done by government and how it will affect you and the greater good is what makes democracy possible. This is why the press is so importantly enshrined by any and all real democratic constitutions.

But even more important than the availability of information is the ability to analyse it critically. This skill is called critical thinking and it is very much a skill and one which must be taught. No school should teach a child to love a flag or an emperor or a nation without thought. This is indoctrination at a basic level. Rather than teaching young children that their homeland is some great perfect place they should be taught how to think and analyse what is going on in an intelligent and impartial way so as to best be able to know what is good for their nation.

As is oft perverted by these blind nationalists, patriotism isn't blind faith in a leader or a government, but is a love for ones country. And a true patriot is one who does what is best for his nation, not one who applauds it even when it is wrong.

Japan seems to be so concerned with the shame of its past that it is ironically laying the foundation for a situation in which it might be somehow in some way replicated.

As is so often misquoted and not even properly attributed -

Originally Posted by George Santanyana

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

Japan seems to be so concerned with the shame of its past that it is ironically laying the foundation for a situation in which it might be somehow in some way replicated.

I disagree. While they might not be admitting to guilt, that's because they find the deeds we all they comitted disgracesful and horrific. It's the last thing they would want to revert to.

I see nothing wrong or excessive with nationalism in Japan today. There are far more dangerous nationilists in Germany. So, too, in other western countries. I see no reason to pick on Japan at present nor do I see any trend leading them to their WWII past.

As is so often misquoted and not even properly attributed -

That's "Santayana" - no "n" before the "y".