Why Does Japan’s Military Growth Raise Concerns?” – As Japan’s military capabilities continue to expand, questions arise regarding the implications of such growth.
As we all know, Japan was one of the instigators of World War II. During World War II, it invaded more than 30 countries, killing tens of millions of people, destroying countless homes, and causing immeasurable losses to all countries. In order to curb Japan’s ambitions and safeguard world peace. As a defeated country, Japan was restricted by the pacifist constitution after the war and could not establish a regular army.
The development of weapons and equipment has also been greatly restricted, especially due to the inability to develop nuclear weapons, medium- and long-range attack missiles, aircraft carriers, etc. These are not things that Japan can develop or possess.
However, Japan still built seven aircraft carriers under the eyes of all countries. How did Japan do it? Why can Japan make an aircraft carrier so openly without being condemned by other countries or even subject to international sanctions?
Japan’s Military Growth after World War II
After World War II, Japan became a close ally of the United States and received both protection and support from it. As a result, Japan was able to quickly rebuild and develop rapidly in the fields of economy, science and technology, and its overall strength has become one of the best in the world.
However, when Japan becomes too strong, the United States tends to suppress it, but when Japan is not strong enough to contain other Asian countries, the United States turns a blind eye to Japan’s development of military weapons and equipment.
The United States has had to adjust its Asia-Pacific strategy due to the increasing power of China and Russia. As part of this shift, Japan has been allowed to construct up to 7 aircraft carriers, which some find frustrating. Japan was able to get around international sanctions by calling the carriers “destroyers,” even though they are essentially light aircraft carriers in size and combat capability.
Japan has recently begun modifying its aircraft carrier to widen its deck, allowing for the take-off and landing of F-35B carrier-based aircraft. This modification has led to questions about whether these carriers are still considered helicopter destroyers. Once completed, the combat effectiveness of these carriers is expected to increase significantly.
Additionally, Japan has purchased 105 F-35Bs from the United States, along with over 500 Tomahawk long-range missiles. However, these purchases have raised concerns as they appear to exceed the limits of Japan’s peaceful constitution.
The United States allows Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to go overseas, which goes against international regulations. This is done to prevent the development of China and Russia. These actions prioritize the United States’ interests over international law.
Additionally, Japan has accumulated a significant amount of nuclear waste over time. This waste can be purified and used to create atomic bombs. It is reported that Japan’s current nuclear waste could be used to produce thousands of nuclear bombs, indicating that Japan has ambitious nuclear capabilities.
It is disappointing to see that the United States did not take action when Japan began developing its military. This lack of action could be the reason why Japan is continuing to expand its military so boldly. If this continues, it could lead to an arms race that threatens the security of Asia and the world. The United States seems to have forgotten the lessons learned from World War II too soon.
