We don't desire to compare with the United States Navy, nor do we have designs to have such an interventionist-designed military like the United States. The Japanese Self Defense Forces are -- designed -- to protect Japanese overseas interests and core interests. Whether you or others may not see us as a 'blue water' navy does not affect our policies and our developments. As it stands, we have 5 light carriers, and 6th one soon to be inducted to the Japanese Navy. Our surface fleet will soon exceed over 67 combat ships, with 16 and soon to be 22 sub force that is the top of its class. Tho we do not talk much or reveal much on our full strength, our navy is more than double the size than the Royal Navy and many other European navies combined. Not to mention our measly defense budget (which is already at $50 billion per annum) is less than 0.9% of our GDP. If we so desired to raise it to 2-3 %, we can easily have a defense budget of $150 Billion per annum. But we do not desire to. We are confident of our abilities , and our ability to exterminate any threats if we so desired.
We do not have to prove or validate ourselves to any power. So , if you believe we are weak, then, let we are weak.
Regards,