Is Now The Time For Japan To Step Up It's Defense Commitments?

In this Oct. 14, 2012 file photo, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer Kurama leads other vessels during a fleet review in Sagami Bay, south of Tokyo. Japan's Cabinet endorsed Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 a record-high 92.6 trillion yen (US$1.02 trillion) general budget for the coming fiscal year aimed at buoying growth through more public works spending while raising defense outlays to counter tensions with China. The 4.75 trillion yen (US$52.5 billion) in proposed defense spending, up 0.8 percent from last year, is the first such increase in 11 years and is partly aimed at beefing up Japan's coastal and marine surveillance around islands also claimed by China and Taiwan. Photo: Itsuo Inouye

It's Time To End Japan's Defense Dependence On The United States -- Doug Bandow, Forbes

America’s war in Afghanistan is winding down, but the U.S. must worry about conflict elsewhere. Once viewed as inconceivable, war between China and Japan now looks possible, though thankfully still unlikely. Tokyo should get serious about its own defense.

The U.S. used its power as occupier after World War II to impose a constitution on Japan which forbade possession of a military. But America lost its enthusiasm for that arrangement early during the Cold War. When Washington subsequently pushed Tokyo to rearm, the latter hid behind its constitution.

Read more ....

My Comment: It looks like Japan is getting the message.