Japan Joins The Global Arms Trade

BBC

After 70 Years, Japan FINALLY Joins the Global Arms Trade -- Kyle Mizokami, War is Boring

Meet the world’s next big weapons exporter.

The fifth most expensive army in the world is one many people don’t even realize exists. Japan has a reputation for being a pacifist and even unarmed country because its post-World War II constitution technically forbids it from having a military.

The reputation is wrong. In addition to possessing its own powerful armed forces, Tokyo is finally becoming an arms exporter … seven decades after the constitution discouraged but did not outright ban weapons sales.

Instead of an official military, Japan has what it calls “self defense forces”—an army, navy and air force trained and equipped for defense.

But “defense” is a fig leaf. In reality, Japan has one of the largest and most powerful—albeit mostly unproven—militaries in the world, with more ships than the French navy, an army larger than Germany’s and more jet fighters than the British Royal Air Force.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Japanese are like everyone else .... they want the money. My prediction .... the Japanese are going to be major players in the arms trade.

Japan’s Defense Industries Are Set To Boom

Photo Credit: U.S. Navy

Japan’s Defense Industry Lifeline -- Trefor Moss, The Diplomat

The Japanese government’s decision to relax rules on defense exports has the potential to give the country a much-needed national security boost.

By deciding this week to relax its rules prohibiting the export of defense equipment, the new Japanese administration of Yoshihiko Noda has done something that local defense industry and the country’s security experts have for many years been crying out for.

Read more ....

My Comment: Japan has some of the best tech in the world .... so I would not be surprised if their foray into the global arms trade brings benefits to Japanese industries, as well as maintaining their industrial defense base.

Japan To Become An Arms Exporter?

Japan To Consider Relaxing Weapons Export Ban -- Washington Post

TOKYO - Japan will consider relaxing its long-standing ban on weapons exports as the country explores ways to bolster its military capabilities, Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said in an interview Thursday.

The move reflects concern among some Japanese leaders that Japan is falling behind in security and weapons technology, even amid potential threats from China and North Korea.

Read more ....

My Comment: Japan is realizing that with U.S. power in decline .... especially in their part of the world .... they will now have to start formulating defense and security policies on their own. Developing and growing a homegrown arms industry is one of the many pathways that are necessary to achieve this goal .... a pathway that they are now more than eager to pursue.

The era of Japanese pacifism and 'anti-militarism' (since the end of the Second World War) is now coming to an end.

Japan's Weapons Industry: The Potential Consequences Of Japan’s Resumption Of Arms Exports.

From Global Research:

Reforms being backed by the Japanese government are likely to see further easing of, if not an outright end to, Japan’s stringent restrictions on military arms exports. That this may well be a necessity due to current trends toward joint development of weapons systems between nations and corporations, should in no way be taken to mean it will not have major consequences for Japan. The Japanese arms industry currently exists to serve the Self Defense Forces but should its raison d’être change from national security to profit-making, Japan is likely to see a major increase in both governmental corruption and the ‘revolving door’ system of conflicts of interest, which have compromised the security of nations such as the UK and USA.

Read more ....

My Comment: With the Japanese economy in a recession, and exports down in double digits .... the Japanese Government will look to expand their economy .... and arms exports will be one of them.