NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/12/15/japan.pacifist.rollback.ap/index.html

I think its a good thing. The Japanese should have the power to become a regional power, expecally with threats from all over Asia these days, esspcailly with it being hard to count on the US. This is good, They don't have to rely on our slopy incompotent asses anymore. They can build they're own effeicent military again.

There was an earlier topic. By me >_>

It's a good thing, they shouldn't have to be looked after by the US as part of the 'American Empire'. It puts some beef against the Chinese and the North Koreans .

There was an earlier topic. By me >_>

My apologizes:)

I think every country should include this “"to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."” in their primary school curriculum.

"The education measure, the first change to Japan's main education law since 1947, calls on schools to "to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."

The reform reflected concerns voiced by Abe and strident Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki that Japan's long stretch of economic prosperity has eroded the morals and cooperative spirit of prewar Japanese.

"The new education law will allow children to acquire a good understanding of their heritage and become intelligent and dignified Japanese," ruling party lawmaker Hiroo Nakashima said during the upper house debate."

I think every country should include this “"to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."” in their primary school curriculum.

"The education measure, the first change to Japan's main education law since 1947, calls on schools to "to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."

The reform reflected concerns voiced by Abe and strident Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki that Japan's long stretch of economic prosperity has eroded the morals and cooperative spirit of prewar Japanese.

"The new education law will allow children to acquire a good understanding of their heritage and become intelligent and dignified Japanese," ruling party lawmaker Hiroo Nakashima said during the upper house debate."

Well hopefully this will lead to us getting our troops out of Japan, as all they do there is twiddle their thumbs and be a waste of money. Having another strong nation in asia is good also as it will offset chinese power.

SNIP

sounds like the breeding ground to ignorance and its evil son fascism to me

I don’t think Japan needs a big military there isn’t any nation in Asia apart from the U.S who can take it on in the water and its not like North Korea is anything more than a quick artillery barrage, there is also the fact that Japan can build nuclear weapons very quickly

I guess they will need to increase their power with North Korea sending a Missle over/near their heads recently.

Plus i rea something about America intending to pull troops out and reallocating forces to new bases of greater Imperical importance.

This is about North Korea. Japan has said they want first strike capability if it comes down to it against North Korea. The U.S. is not going to back this up.

new bases of greater Imperical importance.

like where its a fairly safe spot near North Korea, China and Russia?

This is about North Korea. Japan has said they want first strike capability if it comes down to it against North Korea. The U.S. is not going to back this up.

wouldn't that be against Japans constitution?

wouldn't that be against Japans constitution?

I think they could change it if they wanted to. The US would certainly allow such a change given that Japan is one of our best allies in the region.

They need to rearm and reequip themselves as a strong military force; it would provide another containment measure for North Korea as well as give us a valuable ally against Chinese manuevering in the region. In fact, a Japanese military buildup might put some pressure on the Chinese regime.

wouldn't that be against Japans constitution?

Kowazumi (sp) , the last Jap PM, just about burnt that document in public. Sending Japanese troops to Iraq kind of put off everyone else in Asia who might have thought about contributing like South Korea, Philipines, Thailand maybe Chinese Taipei.

The education measure, the first change to Japan's main education law since 1947, calls on schools to "to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country.

That sounds pretty stupid.

Really, the entire thing sounds stupid. I can maybe understand beefing up the airforce or whatever, but an expansion across the entire military is just ridiculous. The only thing they might have to worry about is Korea. China and Russia will never attack Japan. And even if, say, China did want to do it, well...there's really nothing other than nuclear weapons that can save Japan from China...

I think they could change it if they wanted to.

I doubt your average Japanese voter would support it though (maybe that’s why there is the effort to increase patriotism/nationalism)

They need to rearm and reequip themselves as a strong military force; it would provide another containment measure for North Korea

why would you need another containment measure for North Korea you, me, China, South Korea, Japan, North Korea and a peasant boy in Mongolia know that every road out of North Korea is a dead end...literally

as well as give us a valuable ally against Chinese manuevering in the region.

what manoeuvring? when was the last time China did any serious manoeuvring?

In fact, a Japanese military buildup might put some pressure on the Chinese regime.

why on Earth would you want to do that! the last cold war wasn’t too fun IMHO in fact it outright sucked balls why do you feel we need to play this game again…and again…and again?

SNIP

I completely agree (well there is also the few mile of sea and the odd island in Chinas way as well of course...)

edit:

Kowazumi (sp) , the last Jap PM, just about burnt that document in public. Sending Japanese troops to Iraq kind of put off everyone else in Asia who might have thought about contributing like South Korea, Philipines, Thailand maybe Chinese Taipei.

you had me puzzled for awhile on this but after looking it up I found this little Gem...

Japan's constitution prohibits the use of force in international disputes, but the Japanese Government argues the country is entitled to exercise self-defence and the troops will be able to return fire if they are attacked.

Japan only sent troops in 2004 so they are only doing peacekeeping and humaniterian work (oh and South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines have all sent troops)

Either way we need to remove U.S troops from japan, germany, and italy. World War 2 has been over for quite some time and its time that these now stable countries defend themselves. If Japan wants to expand its military, thats its choice.

Either way we need to remove U.S troops from japan, germany, and italy. World War 2 has been over for quite some time and its time that these now stable countries defend themselves.

thus cancelling a big part of Americas force projection, troop experience in foreign climates, bombing capacity and rapid reaction capability…how cunning :rolleyes:

If Japan wants to expand its military, thats its choice.

That it may be doesn’t change the fact that it’s a stupid choice though

Good, they live in a crazy unstable region. They need to be able to defend themselves.

Good, they live in a crazy unstable region. They need to be able to defend themselves.

the pacific?

I completely agree (well there is also the few mile of sea and the odd island in Chinas way as well of course...)

Pfft, those few miles are nothing. The Chinese can make people rafts, people bridges, and, the newly designed but yet to be tested, people isthmuses.

Pfft, those few miles are nothing. The Chinese can make people rafts, people bridges, and, the newly designed but yet to be tested, people isthmuses.

don't be wasteful they will just send Giants to cross the water and ravage Japan just like the olden days.

http://www.thepeeps.co.uk/blog2005/images/tall_boy.jpg

don't be wasteful they will just send Giants to cross the water and ravage Japan just like the olden days.

http://www.thepeeps.co.uk/blog2005/images/tall_boy.jpg

They have giants? omfg, and we've spent so much energy being freaked out by North Korea. Why hasn't the UN slapped sanctions on Chine for this?

They have giants?


didn’t you catch on after they killed the last Chinese River Dolphin! (http://images.usatoday.com/news/_photos/2006/12/14/man-large.jpg)

I can't of been the only person who merged those two stories in there head...

They have giants? omfg, and we've spent so much energy being freaked out by North Korea. Why hasn't the UN slapped sanctions on Chine for this?Maybe because he's Mongolian? I hear he's handy when you need to retrieve someone from a dolphin's belly.

I think every country should include this “"to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."” in their primary school curriculum.

"The education measure, the first change to Japan's main education law since 1947, calls on schools to "to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."

The reform reflected concerns voiced by Abe and strident Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki that Japan's long stretch of economic prosperity has eroded the morals and cooperative spirit of prewar Japanese.

"The new education law will allow children to acquire a good understanding of their heritage and become intelligent and dignified Japanese," ruling party lawmaker Hiroo Nakashima said during the upper house debate."

Nationalistic bullshit. It's not the purpose of schools to indoctrinate the people. No nation should allow this in their schools. People should be taught to be open minded, and be prepared to change traditions if necessary.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/12/15/japan.pacifist.rollback.ap/index.html

I think its a good thing. The Japanese should have the power to become a regional power, expecally with threats from all over Asia these days, esspcailly with it being hard to count on the US. This is good, They don't have to rely on our slopy incompotent asses anymore. They can build they're own effeicent military again.

I think every country should include this “"to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."” in their primary school curriculum.

"The education measure, the first change to Japan's main education law since 1947, calls on schools to "to cultivate an attitude that respects tradition and culture, that loves the nation and home country."

The reform reflected concerns voiced by Abe and strident Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki that Japan's long stretch of economic prosperity has eroded the morals and cooperative spirit of prewar Japanese.

"The new education law will allow children to acquire a good understanding of their heritage and become intelligent and dignified Japanese," ruling party lawmaker Hiroo Nakashima said during the upper house debate."

This is the exact sort of thing that lead to the pre-war facists take over.

Well hopefully this will lead to us getting our troops out of Japan, as all they do there is twiddle their thumbs and be a waste of money. Having another strong nation in asia is good also as it will offset chinese power.

Err... you have that sort of backwards. Most Japanese would prefer the US troops were gone, but the US wants to keep them there as Japan is functionally the worlds largest aircraft carrier.

This is about North Korea. Japan has said they want first strike capability if it comes down to it against North Korea. The U.S. is not going to back this up.

Citation, please. Otherwise I'm calling BS on that. (There was discussion earlier this year about the possibility of pre-emptive airstrikes, but this is not the official or even unofficial position you make it out to be.)

wouldn't that be against Japans constitution?

It absolutely is. And note that the article was included at the insistence of PM Kijuro Shidehara, and not the US (as a civilian politician, he did not trust the military leadership).

ARTICLE 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

第九条　日本国民は、正義と秩序を基調とする国際平和を誠実に希求し、国権の発動たる戦争と、武力による威嚇又は武力の行使は、国際紛争を解決する手段としては、永久にこれを放棄する。

In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

二　前項の目的を達するため、陸海空軍その他の戦力は、これを保持しない。国の交戦権は、これを認めない。

Note that Japan has been in material violation of the second paragraph since 1950, when MacArthur ordered the creation of a paramilitary police force. And, in the current situation, the SDF uses a fig leaf of an excuse - they aren't an army, navy, or air-force - they are just heavily armed police. (As if any police force anywhere operated MBTs, F-15s, etc....)

Kowazumi (sp)

Koizumi. ;)

the last Jap PM, just about burnt that document in public. Sending Japanese troops to Iraq kind of put off everyone else in Asia who might have thought about contributing like South Korea, Philipines, Thailand maybe Chinese Taipei.

Again, Japan has been flauting Article 9, at the US's insistence, since 1950.

I think they could change it if they wanted to. The US would certainly allow such a change given that Japan is one of our best allies in the region.



They need to rearm and reequip themselves as a strong military force; it would provide another containment measure for North Korea as well as give us a valuable ally against Chinese manuevering in the region. In fact, a Japanese military buildup might put some pressure on the Chinese regime.

Err... Japan already has re-armed and re-equiped. (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/index.html)

This is the exact sort of thing that lead to the pre-war fascists take over.

Japan has found economic prosperity, but lost God in the process. This measure seeks to make the first step in rectifying the country's immoral and indifferent stance by making the populace proud to be Japanese and cognizant of what that entails.

Japan has found economic prosperity, but lost God in the process. This measure seeks to make the first step in rectifying the country's immoral and indifferent stance by making the populace proud to be Japanese and cognizant of what that entails.

lol your either American or Italian I can't pick which...

Japan has found economic prosperity, but lost God in the process.
They never had your God in the first case. Christianity never managed to get much of a foothold in Japan. Learn some history.

They never had your God in the first case. Christianity never managed to get much of a foothold in Japan. Learn some history.

They never had a Christian god, but their religion carried with it a minute shred of morality. Even worshipping a pagan god is better than being an atheist. However, their souls will only be saved if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior, so even if they become religious, it will only matter in this world, not the next.

They never had a Christian god, but their religion carried with it a minute shred of morality. Even worshipping a pagan god is better than being an atheist. However, their souls will only be saved if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior, so even if they become religious, it will only matter in this world, not the next.

Dear god, not another one.

They never had a Christian god, but their religion carried with it a minute shred of morality.
What makes you say that Japan has no morality today?

Japan has found economic prosperity, but lost God in the process. This measure seeks to make the first step in rectifying the country's immoral and indifferent stance by making the populace proud to be Japanese and cognizant of what that entails.

Are you being ironic? Japan didn't lose God due to prosperity. They lost God when he surrendered to the allies.

Japan has found economic prosperity, but lost God in the process.

Err... Japan was never a Christian nation, so they never had God to loose. However, if, by God,you mean religion, then I would reccomend you read the chapter on Japanese religion and it's relationship to secular materialism in Jon Woronoff's Japan: The Coming Social Crisis. It should disabuse you of the myth that Japan as a nation has ever been anything but materialistic.

This measure seeks to make the first step in rectifying the country's immoral and indifferent stance by making the populace proud to be Japanese and cognizant of what that entails.

That is the exact sort of legislation that Barry Goldwater was speaking of when he said "You can't legislate morality." (One ought not to confuse this with the later, twisted meaning of that phrase. Legislation is indeed based on morality. But simply enacting legislation will not forcw people to be moral.)

What makes you say that Japan has no morality today?

That was one of the reasons cited by the Japanese government to impose the new educational measures. Perhaps it has a modicum of morality, but there are no modern-day kamikazes who are willing to sacrifice their personal well-being to benefit their country.

Are you being ironic? Japan didn't lose God due to prosperity. They lost God when he surrendered to the allies.

They believed that the emperor was a distant relative of God, but they also knew he was human. That's not what I was referring to.

That is the exact sort of legislation that Barry Goldwater was speaking of when he said "You can't legislate morality."

That means that Barry Goldwater was wrong; morality can easily be legislated. The first step would be to make the Bible equired reading either in English class, history class, or Christian class.

thus cancelling a big part of Americas force projection, troop experience in foreign climates, bombing capacity and rapid reaction capability…how cunning :rolleyes:



That it may be doesn’t change the fact that it’s a stupid choice though

Well, unlike you I dont believe its our job to waste money on defending other countries. Our country becoming the world police is case of many of our woes and quitely frankly is a waste of tax payer money. We could reduce defense spending by a bit and still be the most capable military force on the planet. Not to mention its the duty and right of a individual country to secure its own borders....

That was one of the reasons cited by the Japanese government to impose the new educational measures. Perhaps it has a modicum of morality, but there are no modern-day kamikazes who are willing to sacrifice their personal well-being to benefit their country.
You do know that Jesus wasn't too keen on nationalism, right? He preferred the whole "do what is good by your neighbour" and all that stuff.

They never had a Christian god, but their religion carried with it a minute shred of morality. Even worshipping a pagan god is better than being an atheist. However, their souls will only be saved if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior, so even if they become religious, it will only matter in this world, not the next.

LOL I like you. You're funny. (Yes, I know it's an Ad hominem abusive, but seriously,

What makes you say that Japan has no morality today?

That is the question that goes straight to the heart of the education question.

Are you being ironic? Japan didn't lose God due to prosperity. They lost God when he surrendered to the allies.

Nope. Emperor Showa was a god, not God.

You do know that Jesus wasn't too keen on nationalism, right? He preferred the whole "do what is good by your neighbour" and all that stuff.

Your neighbor is typically a compatriot, so I'm afraid I don't see your point. He never claimed that love for one's country was something to be avoided; in fact, support for an efficient and religious administration would be lauded by Jesus.

in fact, support for an efficient and religious administration would be lauded by Jesus.

Let me guess: You asked him this question yourself?

That means that Barry Goldwater was wrong; morality can easily be legislated. The first step would be to make the Bible equired reading either in English class, history class, or Christian class.

It would be nice if you bothered to read what I wrote.

That is the exact sort of legislation that Barry Goldwater was speaking of when he said "You can't legislate morality." (One ought not to confuse this with the later, twisted meaning of that phrase. Legislation is indeed based on morality. But simply enacting legislation will not force people to be moral.)

That was one of the reasons cited by the Japanese government to impose the new educational measures. Perhaps it has a modicum of morality, but there are no modern-day kamikazes who are willing to sacrifice their personal well-being to benefit their country.

Now you're getting somewhere. Yes, the problem is seen more or less in those terms by the elite. But that's simply because Japan is functionally still a feudalistic society, and the elites are loosing their grip on the levers of power over the people.

They believed that the emperor was a distant relative of God, but they also knew he was human. That's not what I was referring to.

Nope. See above.

That is the question that goes straight to the heart of the education question.
Yeah. I mean, I've heard a lot about the various counter-cultures, and disillusioned kids and so on. But maybe a better way to prevent extremes would be to make the Japanese education system easier on a person's mental health. I hear the pressure can be quite atrocious.

I know the Emperor was not the God. But he was important to the average Japanese's religious life. Their disenchantment with religion has more to do with the fact the Emperor either allowed them to do such horrible things in the war or that Emperor let them lose the war. I'm sure back then the latter was the prominent opinion. But in the modern era the former is probably what gives most people a bad taste in their mouth.

I really think that Caucasia is making an attempt at satire. It's just too silly to not be.

Your neighbor is typically a compatriot, so I'm afraid I don't see your point. He never claimed that love for one's country was something to be avoided; in fact, support for an efficient and religious administration would be lauded by Jesus.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_1998_Nov_11/ai_53268456

This should answer your questions.

@Daistallia 2104

This is tangentially related: I read about a week or so ago - in the WSJ i think - that Japan is going through a period of renewed national confidence with itself. Businesses are more optimistic about the future, and people have higher expectations for the future than a few years back.

In your experience, is that happening? Or is it just silly reportage.

I don't need a long answer, just whether or not you agree with the WSJ. (If that was where I read it).

Yeah. I mean, I've heard a lot about the various counter-cultures, and disillusioned kids and so on. But maybe a better way to prevent extremes would be to make the Japanese education system easier on a person's mental health. I hear the pressure can be quite atrocious.

I was refering to the monvement by conservative elites to reinforce "moral", nationalistic/partiotic based education in order to reinforce their feudal grip. But yes, that's another aspect of education that needs reforming. And not only does the system exert rediculous pressures, it doesn't educate students all that well, at least in my experience. In particular, universities here are widely known to be a joke - they are not institutions of learning, but great giant playgrounds.

I know the Emperor was not the God. But he was important to the average Japanese's religious life. Their disenchantment with religion has more to do with the fact the Emperor either allowed them to do such horrible things in the war or that Emperor let them lose the war. I'm sure back then the latter was the prominent opinion. But in the modern era the former is probably what gives most people a bad taste in their mouth.

I really think that Caucasia is making an attempt at satire. It's just too silly to not be.

Hopefully this will clear all this up:

The Japanese concept of the divinity of the Emperor is often misunderstood by Westerners. Neither the Emperor nor most of his people ever thought that the Emperor was a God in the sense of being a supernatural supreme being.

From the 6th century onwards it was accepted that the Emperor was descended from the kami (in this context gods), was in contact with them, and often inspired by them.

This didn't make him a god himself, but rather imposed on him the obligation of carrying out certain rituals and devotions in order to ensure that the kami looked after Japan properly and ensured its prosperity.

The Emperor as akitsu mikami

During the 1930s there were some who taught that the Emperor was akitsu mikami ('manifest god') a human being in which the property of kami nature was perfectly revealed, but they qualified this by saying that the Emperor was neither omniscient or omnipotent.

However the Emperor's qualities of kami nature together with his direct descent from Ameratsu, the highest of the kami, made him so superior that the Japanese thought it entirely logical that people should obey the Emperor and worship him – but it did not make him God in the Western sense.

Both quoted from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/history/emperor_1.shtml

@Daistallia 2104

This is tangentially related: I read about a week or so ago - in the WSJ i think - that Japan is going through a period of renewed national confidence with itself. Businesses are more optimistic about the future, and people have higher expectations for the future than a few years back.

In your experience, is that happening? Or is it just silly reportage.

I don't need a long answer, just whether or not you agree with the WSJ. (If that was where I read it).

Magic Eight ball answer: Reply hazy, try again.

Simple answer: It's hard to say - there are indications either way. But I wouldn't bet the homestead on it.

Hopefully this will clear all this up:
Similar to the Pope, basically.

Magic Eight ball answer: Reply hazy, try again.

Simple answer: It's hard to say - there are indications either way. But I wouldn't bet the homestead on it.

Cheers. That's useful.

That was one of the reasons cited by the Japanese government to impose the new educational measures. Perhaps it has a modicum of morality, but there are no modern-day kamikazes who are willing to sacrifice their personal well-being to benefit their country.

Ah, yes. The Bushido Code.

Yeah, that's gone.

Similar to the Pope, basically.

Kind of. It would be pretty much exactly the same if the Pope were direct hereditary desendant of Christ.

Cheers. That's useful.

:)

Ah, yes. The Bushido Code.

Yeah, that's gone.

Not to mention it was largely a myth in the first place.

Hopefully this will clear all this up:





Both quoted from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/history/emperor_1.shtml



You're just nitpicking. And I'm not even trying to have an arguement with you. I'm not an expert on Japan, the country has always seemed a bit dull to me, but I understand they didn't see the Emperor as a "god" in the Yahweh/Allah sense. He was more like a Pope - even though you'll probably pick at this comparison, so I will further explain that I know he is not exactly the same as the Pope but it's the best Western equivalent I can think of at the moment. I was just generalizing when I said “They lost God when he surrendered to the allies.”

The point in my post was that prosperity doesn't kill religion. The association of religious institutions with unethical or outright evil governmental actions does. Or if the religious leaders prove to be hypocritical and go against what they’ve been preaching. This can be said of both Japan and Europe.

You're just nitpicking. And I'm not even trying to have an arguement with you. I'm not an expert on Japan, the country has always seemed a bit dull to me, but I understand they didn't see the Emperor as a "god" in the Yahweh/Allah sense. He was more like a Pope - even though you'll probably pick at this comparison, so I will further explain that I know he is not exactly the same as the Pope but it's the best Western equivalent I can think of at the moment. I was just generalizing when I said “They lost God when he surrendered to the allies.”

Sorry if that seemed like I was picking at you in particular. It wasn't aimed at you, but at all those posting common "the emperor was God" mispeception.

(What may seem pedantic to you is mearly a point of clarity to others. And in retrospect, your post probably should not have been the one I chose to make that point on. :))

The point in my post was that prosperity doesn't kill religion. The association of religious institutions with unethical or outright evil governmental actions does. Or if the religious leaders prove to be hypocritical and go against what they’ve been preaching. This can be said of both Japan and Europe.

Agreed.

Sorry if that seemed like I was picking at you in particular. It wasn't aimed at you, but at all those posting common "the emperor was God" mispeception.

(What may seem pedantic to you is mearly a point of clarity to others. And in retrospect, your post probably should not have been the one I chose to make that point on. :))



Agreed.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so pissy. Finals have me a bit on edge.

Ah, yes. The Bushido Code.

Yeah, that's gone.

And pretty much no one really ever followed it in the first place, just as with the code of chivalry.

I doubt your average Japanese voter would support it though (maybe that’s why there is the effort to increase patriotism/nationalism)

I don't know; given that it's never been attempted, we have no idea. It should be an option at the very least; if the people don't want it, that's fine but they should at least have a chance to decide.

Perhaps it's time to give it a shot rather than unfairly forcing Japan to keep itself weak. WWII is over, and the war crimes of the Imperial Army are a thing of the distant past. It's time to lift those archaic regulations and allow that country to rebuild the martial prowess it once had.

why would you need another containment measure for North Korea you, me, China, South Korea, Japan, North Korea and a peasant boy in Mongolia know that every road out of North Korea is a dead end...literally

Why not? Even better, a militarized Japan would be a powerful counterweight to China and would give us a way to put further pressure on that regime and give us more power to bargain with in the region.

what manoeuvring? when was the last time China did any serious manoeuvring?

Taiwan?

why on Earth would you want to do that! the last cold war wasn’t too fun IMHO in fact it outright sucked balls why do you feel we need to play this game again…and again…and again?

It'll end up coming down to the US, Russia, and China battling for dominance in the region. I'd rather us come out on top in such a fight because that's what matters. China doesn't give a shit about the US, and once they have the chance to assert their weight in the region, they're going to. We need to nip such a threat to our regional influence in the bud.

Until Japanese officials admit Japan's past atrocities against its Asian neighbors then it doesn’t deserve to have an army. North Korea must be dealt with swiftly so its neighbors don't resort to an arms race and an Asian-styled cold war. The whole problem with these countries trying to obtain nuclear power is that, there are only few special-club nations that give themselves the authority to have a nuclear bomb but won’t allow other nations to also follow their footsteps. Iran was called an “Axis of evil” by Bush before he attacked Iraq, lets not forget he also mentioned North Korea. So, is it ironic that these two nations are so hell-bound in getting nuclear technologies? I wonder who scared them into doing such drastic measures. Bush picked on one too many enemies to fight with, I mean, Iraq itself is turning out to be quit a handful for Bush :D .

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so pissy. Finals have me a bit on edge.

No worries. Luck to you!

And pretty much no one really ever followed it in the first place, just as with the code of chivalry.

Exactly so.

I don't know; given that it's never been attempted, we have no idea. It should be an option at the very least; if the people don't want it, that's fine but they should at least have a chance to decide.

Perhaps it's time to give it a shot rather than unfairly forcing Japan to keep itself weak. WWII is over, and the war crimes of the Imperial Army are a thing of the distant past. It's time to lift those archaic regulations and allow that country to rebuild the martial prowess it once had.

I don't think most Japanese want to rebuild their "martial prowess."

Why not? Even better, a militarized Japan would be a powerful counterweight to China and would give us a way to put further pressure on that regime and give us more power to bargain with in the region.

Japan wouldn't be a long-term counter balance. Japan would only "counter-act" China for around 20 years. Maybe less. Depends on how fast China can upgrade its military. If the USA is really that paranoid about China then buffing up their military bases throughout Asia would be better than Japan blowing money on irrelevant equipment. And really, why does there have to a counter-balance to China? I seriously doubt China has any interest in world or even regional conquest. At least, not military conquest. Maybe economic.

Taiwan?

I don't remember China doing anything incredibly threatening to Taiwan. They might have said some words and rattled their sabers, but I bet they would've never done anything. Besides, the legality of Taiwan is questionable. Even to the government of the USA.

It'll end up coming down to the US, Russia, and China battling for dominance in the region. I'd rather us come out on top in such a fight because that's what matters. China doesn't give a shit about the US, and once they have the chance to assert their weight in the region, they're going to. We need to nip such a threat to our regional influence in the bud.

The only government that seems overly worried about dominating the region is the USA. Russia is too busy dealing with their little Caucasian uprisings. Not to mention rebuilding their economy. China right now cares more about getting rich than anything else. And it seems to have found a fairly successful formula which relies upon staying in the good graces of the West. However, I do think Chinese "dominance" of East Asia is inevitable. Just like India will eventually dominate South Asia. Or how the US dominates North America. Or Brazil in the South. The only regions where a single nation is unable to dominate are regions where there's a cluster of nations with basically the same amount of resources and population. Like Europe and the Middle-East.