Japan Defence Forum

[Peter]

Japan building up its military related industry by selling weapons to countries that are considered an enemy of China. Who knows, maybe even sell some to Taiwan which China has tried to prevent any submarines being sold to them. And if China were to go to war with the U.S., you can considered Australia as a participant of an alliance against China.

I don't think China will ever dare to go to war against the U.S. (period).

 

[Sasquatch]

Hi @GR!FF!N ,

You know several years ago when I first came to the United States (my port of entry was through Los Angeles via Nagoya, Japan), the first thing that I did was to visit the cities in California with some of my then-classmates at University of California at Berkley. One of the cities we visited was San Diego, which is home to the United States Navy , and with my own eyes I was witness to the supreme military prowess of this country, this United States. I saw 3 carriers, and assorted number of DDGs , and frigates docked. I wished, then, that Japan would be able to field similar inventory in the future, and key to this is an enhanced Japanese military defense industry; and i think by opening Japan's doors to international market, this can help drive Japanese military R&D.

As for India and Japan; I am positively optimistic that this century will hold limitless possibilities between Japan and India. India is the largest democracy in the world, and formidable global power that has the potential to be a force for stability and change in not only South Asia, but also in East Africa, and the Pacific. Last i remember, there were members of the keidenren who were talking of investing more into India. Currently, Japan has invested billions of dollars in China, namely we have production facilities in China, as we've outsourced many of our manufacturing arms there. As you know the situation between Japan and China is complex, and to mitigate financial loss in a contingency, it will be to Japan's interest to diversify its production arm by investing in more developing countries outside China. India has much man power, and good work ethic as seen in the Indian State of Gujarat, which under Narendra Modi's governorship, truly performed above other states; a whopping double digit growth. If Gujarat's performance can be replicated throughout India !

Yes, I also hope that the Mod @Web Master , and @Hu Songshan can consider opening a Japanese Defense section. It would be great!


Respectfully Yours.

You will have to talk to Webmaster, until then post all the threads military wise related in the Japan military sticky.

 

[Aepsilons]

You will have to talk to Webmaster, until then post all the threads military wise related in the Japan military sticky.

Sir @Hu Songshan , noted and I will do as recommended. Thank you.

 

[visom]

Welcome to PDF Nihonjin1051!

Regarding the pacifist constitution that Japan has to follow after WWII, what exactly is the limit of the military size Japan can have? Your Navy fleet is already massive and consists of advanced technology, it seems like it alone can take on most armies.

 

[Aepsilons]

Welcome to PDF Nihonjin1051!

Regarding the pacifist constitution that Japan has to follow after WWII, what exactly is the limit of the military size Japan can have? Your Navy fleet is already massive and consists of advanced technology, it seems like it alone can take on most armies.

As per our constitution, the defense expenditure of the Japan Self Defense Force is 1% of the GDP with a cap at 3%. Currently, Japan spends only 1% of our GDP on national defense; around $60 billion.

The total strength of the JSDF's branches: 1) JGSDF, 2) JASDF, and 3) JMSDF is at 246,000 with an additional 41,000 - 46,000 in the reserves. The Article 9 on our constitution does not put a limit to the number of personnel in the JSDF, limitation is based on the defense budget for the fiscal year.

In my opinion, the JSDF is modest in size. It has not reached its full capacity. In order to do so, Parliament must reinterpret Article 9 of the constitution, or, just simply rid it.

 

[UKBengali]

@Nihonjin1051 :

Japan Navy is a tremendously powerful with spending a tiny 1 per cent of GDP on defence.

Do you think this could increase substantially as Chinese builds a very powerful Navy as the years pass.

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan building up its military related industry by selling weapons to countries that are considered an enemy of China. Who knows, maybe even sell some to Taiwan which China has tried to prevent any submarines being sold to them. And if China were to go to war with the U.S., you can considered Australia as a participant of an alliance against China.

As you know, our relationship with Taiwan is very sensitive. The Japanese government does not maintain a 'One China Policy'. In fact, we neither acknowledge a 'One China Policy' or a 'One China, and One Taiwan Policy' as set in the 1972 Japan-PRC Joint Communique. Japan has special designs for Taiwan and we value our special relationship with the Taiwanese people and government. Do you know that Japan grants Taiwanese citizens visa extensions [this is very rare for Japan to do]. The only roadblock to Japanese military to military relations with Taiwan is the ban on military arms. If this ban is removed, there is no reason why Japanese military arms cannot be reviewed by interested foreign countries. Taiwan , of course, would not be prevented from acquiring goods.

@Nihonjin1051 :

Japan Navy is a tremendously powerful with spending a tiny 1 per cent of GDP on defence.

Do you think this could increase substantially as Chinese builds a very powerful Navy as the years pass.

If we were to increase our national defense expenditure to 3%, then our defense spending would be at $180 Billion. And this is allowed as per our constitutional mandate. Recently my country passed a decision to procure $281 Billion worth of military hardware and technology transfer.

In regards to Chinese response, well, it would be their best interest to prevent gaps in strengths and weaknesses. Failure to do so would be a parvenou-like failure in defense policy.

 

[tranquilium]

Japan building up its military related industry by selling weapons to countries that are considered an enemy of China. Who knows, maybe even sell some to Taiwan which China has tried to prevent any submarines being sold to them. And if China were to go to war with the U.S., you can considered Australia as a participant of an alliance against China.

This argument doesn't make sense at all:
1. US sells weapons to China's competition all the time and it is better quality AND lower price than the Japan counterpart.
2. The limitation on Japanese military industry has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US, I don't see how this will change things.
3. We have zero disputes and China is Australia's biggest trading partner by a wide margin and consist of 20% of Australia's total export. Why would Australia be an enemy of China?

 

[Aepsilons]

hell yeah ...

A little bit of history! Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force has the predisposition to naming current vessels after vessels that were part of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In fact, most of our current destroyers, destroyer escorts are named after famous destroyers or carriers in the Imperial Navy.

Also, the world 'Soryu' means 'Blue Dragon' in Japanese. The Soryu - class of submarines was named after the Soryu class of aircraft carriers that served in the Imperial Japanese Navy. There were two Soryu-class aircraft carriers in the Imperial Navy, the IJS Hiryu and the IJS Soryu

These two carriers were part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet that struck Pearl Harbor. These two, in addition to the Kaga and Akagi, heralded modern carrier warfare.

This argument doesn't make sense at all:
1. US sells weapons to China's competition all the time and it is better quality AND lower price than the Japan counterpart.
2. The limitation on Japanese military industry has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US, I don't see how this will change things.
3. We have zero disputes and China is Australia's biggest trading partner by a wide margin and consist of 20% of Australia's total export. Why would Australia be an enemy of China?

The Australians are very wise in their foreign policy. They are courting Japanese military hardware transfer and keen interest to purchase our military hardware. At the same time, touting that 'China and Japan are the best friends of Australia'. They are very wise , very Machiavellian in leadership.

 

[Oldman1]

This argument doesn't make sense at all:
1. US sells weapons to China's competition all the time and it is better quality AND lower price than the Japan counterpart.
2. The limitation on Japanese military industry has nothing to do with China and everything to do with US, I don't see how this will change things.
3. We have zero disputes and China is Australia's biggest trading partner by a wide margin and consist of 20% of Australia's total export. Why would Australia be an enemy of China?

1. We don't sell diesel/electric boats while Japan has such capability to build one.
2. The limitations was imposed because of what happened in WW2. But that don't mean they can't change it. Look at the Germany and its military force.
3. Why was Australia at war with Japan in WW2 even though they attacked the U.S.? You tell me how alliances work.

 

[Aepsilons]

1. We don't see diesel/electric boats while Japan has such capability to build one.
2. The limitations was imposed because of what happened in WW2. But that don't mean they can't change it. Look at the Germany and its military force.
3. Why was Australia at war with Japan in WW2 even though they attacked the U.S.? You tell me how alliances work.

A response to #3,

@Oldman1 ,

Indeed the Australians have every right to ally themselves with the United States and maintain their special strategic partnership. It was only some 70 years ago when the Imperial Navy made air bombings on Sydney and key military installations in Northern Australia. If the United States Navy and Marines did not challenge the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army in Guadalcanal, then most likely Japan would have conducted a naval and land invasion of Australia. After the Imperial forces were ejected from Guadalcanal, and after the Turk Island campaign, Australia was truly saved. Strategically speaking, Australia is vulnerable to attack from the great powers in Asia. They lack any solid submarine fleet , tho they do have a 'decent' ASW capability. Concurrently, it is to their interest to maintain strong links with the USN, and even the JMSDF, which can provide assistance to their forces.

Australia only has 2 geopolitical concerns on basis of proximity: 1) PRC and 2) Indonesia.
















Joint Statement from the Japan-U.S.-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting

Release No: NR-270-14
May 30, 2014

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Australian Defence Minister David Johnston held trilateral defense ministerial talks in Singapore on May 30 on the margins of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. This was the fourth meeting of its kind among the three nations’ top defense officials.

The defense ministers exchanged views on the regional security situation, including major threats to regional stability such as North Korea. They reaffirmed the importance of working together to build a rules-based regional architecture that supports the peaceful resolution of disputes. On North Korea, they underscored their concern that North Korea’s provocative behavior undermines the stability of the entire region and urged North Korea to take concrete steps toward its denuclearization. In discussing maritime security, the ministers underscored their shared interest in the maintenance of peace and stability; respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce; and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the East China and South China Seas. They also expressed their strong opposition to the use of coercion or force to unilaterally alter the status quo in the East China and South China Seas. They called on claimants to refrain from actions that could increase tensions to clarify and pursue claims in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and they reaffirmed their support for the rights of claimants to seek peaceful resolution of disputes, including through legal mechanisms, such as arbitration, under the convention. They also called for ASEAN and China to reach early agreement on a meaningful Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The Japanese and Australian defense ministers reaffirmed that their alliances with the United States are essential to peace and security in the region and reaffirmed the importance of strong U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, and they underscored their strong support for the U.S. rebalance. In this sense, the Japanese and U.S. defense ministers confirmed close collaboration in revising the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation and decided to share updates with the Australian Defence Minister and other regional allies. The U.S. and Australian Defense ministers welcomed and supported Japan’s recent efforts to play a greater role in regional and global security, including through examining the relations between the right of collective self-defense and constitution as well as adopting the new principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology.

The defense ministers affirmed the value of multilateral coordination in response to regional crises, and noted the excellent cooperation surrounding the international response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the search and rescue operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean involving 26 countries including Malaysia and China. The defense ministers confirmed that the three countries will continue to enhance practical trilateral cooperation and welcomed the trilateral exercise Cope North conducted in Guam in February 2014. They also welcomed the Republic of Korea’s participation in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief portion of the training for the first time this year.

The defense ministers confirmed their commitment to continued trilateral cooperation in defense capacity-building, especially in Southeast Asia and Oceania. They also shared the intention to closely coordinate and cooperate in the fields of regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) and maritime security together with other regional countries. The defense ministers affirmed the value of frameworks such as the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus in helping to coordinate regional maritime and disaster relief training. Noting the importance of ASEAN the ministers from Australia and the U.S. expressed their intention to support Japan's leadership with Laos to develop practical military-to-military cooperation in the HA/DR field through the ADMM-Plus HA/DR working group.

The defense ministers reaffirmed their strategic goals for trilateral cooperation and pledged to further enhance trilateral defense cooperation. Building on these strategic goals, the defense ministers decided to develop the action plan to promote a dynamic and flexible trilateral defense relationship in order to enhance the security and prosperity of the region.

Defense.gov News Release: Joint Statement from the Japan-U.S.-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting

 

[tranquilium]

A little bit of history! Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force has the predisposition to naming current vessels after vessels that were part of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In fact, most of our current destroyers, destroyer escorts are named after famous destroyers or carriers in the Imperial Navy.

Also, the world 'Soryu' means 'Blue Dragon' in Japanese. The Soryu - class of submarines was named after the Soryu class of aircraft carriers that served in the Imperial Japanese Navy. There were two Soryu-class aircraft carriers in the Imperial Navy, the IJS Hiryu and the IJS Soryu

These two carriers were part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet that struck Pearl Harbor. These two, in addition to the Kaga and Akagi, heralded modern carrier warfare.

The Australians are very wise in their foreign policy. They are courting Japanese military hardware transfer and keen interest to purchase our military hardware. At the same time, touting that 'China and Japan are the best friends of Australia'. They are very wise , very Machiavellian in leadership.

Australians are free to do whatever it was deemed to be appropriate for their nation interest. They got a long coast line and neighbors with disputes, so it would only make sense that they try to strengthen their naval force. I am still not getting how this would involve China, considering this has nothing to do with China.

 

[Aepsilons]

Australians are free to do whatever it was deemed to be appropriate for their nation interest. They got a long coast line and neighbors with disputes, so it would only make sense that they try to strengthen their naval force. I am still not getting how this would involve China, considering this has nothing to do with China.

^ Please read my previous post.

 

[Aepsilons]

１ / ２ [自衛隊は必要です] 海上自衛隊 - YouTube

 

[Aepsilons]

I also wanted to share this old navy hymn, it was the anthem of the Imperial Japanese Navy.


軍艦行進曲

The composer was Tokichi Setoguchi, circa 1897.

I also wanted to share this old navy hymn, it was the anthem of the Imperial Japanese Navy.


軍艦行進曲

The composer was Tokichi Setoguchi, circa 1897.

This hymn was very popular for veterans who served in the Imperial Japanese Navy. I remember this hymn very well; namely because my grandfather served in the IJN. Everytime during military parades or veteran events they played this, it was an emotional one for him.

Here is the vocal with it as well. Beautiful hymn , too.


軍艦行進曲 "Warship March" with English translation - YouTube