Japan Is Leading the Global System to Collapse

[C130]

nah...japan had the bad luck of running into the US navy, is all. China was not important enough.

care to explain?? do you mean the opening of Japan in the 1800's??

 

[Aepsilons]

nah...japan had the bad luck of running into the US navy, is all. China was not important enough.

Off topic: On your signature. Never knew you were the Shakespearean type!

Here's one for you! "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse !"

 

[Cat Shannon]

Off topic: On your signature. Never knew you were the Shakespearean type!

Here's one for you! "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse !"

it's actually off the first page of dogs of war by Frederick Forsyth, attributed to Shakespeare ! i like Shakespeare, epic stuff..

PS : i mean Cat Shannon is a character off the book. have you read this one ? highly recommend. got me pumped up enough to get through SSB, you know our indian service selection board..

 

[Aepsilons]

it's actually off the first page of dogs of war by Frederick Forsyth, attributed to Shakespeare ! i like Shakespeare, epic stuff..

PS : i mean Cat Shannon is a character off the book. have you read this one ? highly recommend. got me pumped up enough to get through SSB, you know our indian service selection board..

 

[Cat Shannon]

haudu saar !

 

[Aepsilons]

haudu saar !

?? translate for me, please ??

 

[Cat Shannon]

?? translate for me, please ??

yess sirr !

 

[SvenSvensonov]

Japan never had any intentions of being a superpower or the like.

How could Japan have been a superpower? It doesn't have the global political clout of the US or China, even the once powerful Russians are having troubles influencing anything beyond their immediate borders, so this checkbox on the superpower checklist is unchecked. Japan limits its military buildup and overseas activities, which are also hallmarks of superpowers and are another unchecked box on the checklist. Economically, Japan is in better straights, but it still isn't and wont be a dominant international force. Japans couldn't have been a superpower, it never wanted too and constrained itself with laws, but even without its self-imposed limitations Japan's all-aspect power is limited. Where Japan is a superpower, and one only rivaled by the US is in the cultural dominion and I happily accept Japan's cultural saturation and spread into the rest of the world.

 

[Aepsilons]

How could Japan have been a superpower? It doesn't have the global political clout of the US or China, even the once powerful Russian are having troubles influencing anything beyond their immediate borders, so this checkbox on the superpower checklist is unchecked. Japan limits its military buildup and overseas activities, which are also hallmarks of superpowers and are another unchecked box on the checklist. Economically, Japan is in better straights, but it still isn't and wont be a dominant international force. Japans couldn't have been a superpower, it never wanted too and constrained itself with laws, but even without its self-imposed limitations Japans all-aspect power is limited. Where Japan is a superpower, and one only rivaled by the US is in the cultural dominion and I happily accept Japan's cultural saturation and spread into the rest of the world.

I personally don't get the hoopla by some members' obsession with claiming superpower status. Superpowers require , as what you have said, immense military clout, as well as economic and diplomatic leverage. All of which entails capital to be spent on external. Let's look at the United States for example, shall we? She is , for all intents and purposes a Hyperpower (i don't associate America with a superpower because she is way above and beyond other nations in terms of technology and military capability that its just shear ridiculous to compare it with another nation, but with entire blocs of nations). America spends over 4% of her GDP (btw , which stands at $17.25 Trillion) on military defense. That equates to around (roughly) $680 Billion. That's immense. But this is the cost of America's hyperpowerdom, the exorbitant price of military defense and deployment.

Japan, in comparisons, has a very minor defense expenditure. Our defense expenditure is around $59 Billion per year (around 1% of the gdp). It makes no sense ofr us to raise this since we are not involved in any external wars or conflict engagement. Technically, we can raise it up to 3% (which is specified in the Constitution), and it would take Japan's defense expenditure up to around $180 Billion. But what's the point of that? Its not like we have any conflict zones. That $120 Billion can be better used in domestic infrastructure of into research and development.

Politics is about evolving to meet new theatrical exigencies. Japan is not a singlular player, and long has it been a partner with the United States and Nato. Our security and America's security is bolstered in our cooperation. Its just a geostrategic reality. Its just funny how some people equate this cooperation with "shackledom" or "slavery". I call it geostrategic interdependency and global partnership.

 

[SvenSvensonov]

I personally don't get the hoopla by some members' obsession with claiming superpower status. Superpowers require , as what you have said, immense military clout, as well as economic and diplomatic leverage. All of which entails capital to be spent on external. Let's look at the United States for example, shall we? She is , for all intents and purposes a Hyperpower (i don't associate America with a superpower because she is way above and beyond other nations in terms of technology and military capability that its just shear ridiculous to compare it with another nation, but with entire blocs of nations). America spends over 4% of her GDP (btw , which stands at $17.25 Trillion) on military defense. That equates to around (roughly) $680 Billion. That's immense. But this is the cost of America's hyperpowerdom, the exorbitant price of military defense and deployment.

Japan, in comparisons, has a very minor defense expenditure. Our defense expenditure is around $59 Billion per year (around 1% of the gdp). It makes no sense ofr us to raise this since we are not involved in any external wars or conflict engagement. Technically, we can raise it up to 3% (which is specified in the Constitution), and it would take Japan's defense expenditure up to around $180 Billion. But what's the point of that? Its not like we have any conflict zones. That $120 Billion can be better used in domestic infrastructure of into research and development.

Politics is about evolving to meet new theatrical exigencies. Japan is not a singlular player, and long has it been a partner with the United States and Nato. Our security and America's security is bolstered in our cooperation. Its just a geostrategic reality. Its just funny how some people equate this cooperation with "shackledom" or "slavery". I call it geostrategic interdependency and global partnership.

The military to military political exchanges with NATO, the US or any other nation (such as Russia) can have a negative impact on a nation's political power though. It does improve Japan's standing with its friends, offers new opportunities to train or acquire military arms or enter into defense and intelligence agreements, but the effects are not positive alone and this is why I don't consider Japan's political dealings to be one of its strengths. Now I'm not one of those that believes, and wrongly so, that the US dominates Japans political dealings, but by dealing with other powers, Japan dilutes its own political power. The more powers you have involved in any given project, such as NATO, the less noticeable individual voices become. NATO for all intents and purposes is an extension of the US military given the US's large role and all other voices tend to follow the US or are overpowered or bullied by the US. Japan has its own foreign policy, but its not global enough or persuasive enough to make it a superpower. It's a power, one that has built up relations with regional nations very nicely, but not always unilaterally. Japan's friendships with some nations are as much a testament to the US's own persuasive powers as their are Japan's ability and need to reach out to South Korea or Australia. Japan is strong politically, in its region of the world, but not globally. It's military is making many welcomed (from a US perspective) strides and will continue to make them as its region remains a tinderbox awaiting a spark. Japan doesn't need to spend more money, just spend it better on its military (reduce the size and equipment of the JGSDF and use the money to bolster the JMSDF and EW arms). Economically Japan needs work urgently, thought the sky isn't falling. Japan still has leverage in this sector and its reputation has earned it not only prestige, but also contracts in places such as India with their border road project. Culturally is where Japan's power lies. Even in China, friendly, but not the most pro-Japan nation on this planet, cultural saturation of Japanese goods, services and entertainment is a force to be reckoned with.

 

[tranquilium]

If Japan had properly atoned for its crimes or better yet never invaded China in the first place it would be a superpower today

Small nation has never been super powers in human history. Every European colonial empire has vast amount of territory to support itself. Both USA, USSR are enormous nations as well. With a small nation, you simply don't have the resource and potential for it.

 

[senheiser]

 

[mike2000]

The military to military political exchanges with NATO, the US or any other nation (such as Russia) can have a negative impact on a nation's political power though. It does improve Japan's standing with its friends, offers new opportunities to train or acquire military arms or enter into defense and intelligence agreements, but the effects are not positive alone and this is why I don't consider Japan's political dealings to be one of its strengths. Now I'm not one of those that believes, and wrongly so, that the US dominates Japans political dealings, but by dealing with other powers, Japan dilutes its own political power. The more powers you have involved in any given project, such as NATO, the less noticeable individual voices become. NATO for all intents and purposes is an extension of the US military given the US's large role and all other voices tend to follow the US or are overpowered or bullied by the US. Japan has its own foreign policy, but its not global enough or persuasive enough to make it a superpower. It's a power, one that has built up relations with regional nations very nicely, but not always unilaterally. Japan's friendships with some nations are as much a testament to the US's own persuasive powers as their are Japan's ability and need to reach out to South Korea or Australia. Japan is strong politically, in its region of the world, but not globally. It's military is making many welcomed (from a US perspective) strides and will continue to make them as its region remains a tinderbox awaiting a spark. Japan doesn't need to spend more money, just spend it better on its military (reduce the size and equipment of the JGSDF and use the money to bolster the JMSDF and EW arms). Economically Japan needs work urgently, thought the sky isn't falling. Japan still has leverage in this sector and its reputation has earned it not only prestige, but also contracts in places such as India with their border road project. Culturally is where Japan's power lies. Even in China, friendly, but not the most pro-Japan nation on this planet, cultural saturation of Japanese goods, services and entertainment is a force to be reckoned with.

Sir i do enjoy your comments/analysis. Good read.

 

[somsak]

Are Toyota vehicles cheaper because weaker Yen?
Are Sony smart phones cheaper because weaker Yen?
Any one who knows the global price of Japanese products, please. tell me.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

Are Toyota vehicles cheaper because weaker Yen?
Are Sony smart phones cheaper because weaker Yen?
Any one who knows the global price of Japanese products, please. tell me.

The yen depreciation is unlikely to help Japan or make its products cheaper:

Japan’s record trade deficit raises fresh DOUBTS about ABENOMICS ! | Page 5

What Japan needs are demand-side solutions, i.e. tax cuts instead of the tax increases it's been pursuing, and/or addressing its demographic problem either through increasing immigration quotas, or being first in the developed world in discovering how to massively increase total fertility rates.