- 13 Jun 2019 11:59
#15011837
Recently, Japan has increasingly demonstrated a desire to strengthen its armed forces. It is worth to recall that after World War II, Japan lost the opportunity to have its own army, and in 1947 a new Constitution of Japan was adopted, according to which the country was forbidden to use the army and use military forces as means of resolving international disputes. Despite the fact that almost every of the Japanese Prime Ministers tried to circumvent or cancel that article, it is still exists in the Constitution.
So, bypassing that article, in 1954, with the help of the United States, which needed an ally in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Japan Self-Defense Forces were formed. The Self-Defense Forces with the help of Washington became one of the most powerful and well-armed armies in the world quite quickly. Now the number of Self-Defense Forces is almost 250 thousand people, which is not so little by modern standards.
Nowadays Japan’s ground forces have 700 tanks, 2.8 thousand wheeled armored vehicles, 202 self-propelled artillery mounts, 99 salvo fire systems and 500 towed guns.
The Japanese Navy has 131 combat ships: 4 aircraft carriers, 43 rocket ships, 27 minesweepers, 6 corvettes, 6 coast guard ships, 17 submarines, etc. The coast defense is provided by about 100 Tura-88 anti-ship complexes.
Over 350 anti-aircraft missile systems protect Japan’s airspace. The country owns powerful aviation (including sea): Self-defense forces comprise 288 fighters, 287 bombers and 119 attack helicopters.
In 2018, with serious help from Washington, the Marines appeared in Japan. The creation of the Japanese Marine Corps units means that the Japan Self-Defense Forces finally change their status: the Marine Corps is a strike force, it is not designed to protect its territory, which was previously the main task of the Self-Defense Forces. Thus, the Japanese army turns into one of the foremost armies of the world. All this is being done with the support of the United States, which is interested in strengthening the military potential of Japan, and now has a well-armed ally in the APR, which they themselves have equipped with the latest weapons and equipment.
And this powerful military force, thanks to the "militaristic" policy of Shinzo Abe, supported by the United States, with who Japan has an agreement on mutual cooperation and security guarantees, will expand and develop. And this causes concern to the world community. At the same time, no one in the world questions the right of Japan to provide its security with the means that it considers the most effective and necessary. But the sovereign right of other countries is to think about their security and draw conclusions about what is changing or may change in this regard in the region and in the world as a whole in terms of security.
The world community is now witnessing a rapid growth of military cooperation between the United States and Japan. So at the recent meeting of the leaders of the two countries, that was held in Japan, the expansion of military cooperation between Washington and Tokyo was discussed. President Trump and Prime Minister Abe discussed new arms shipments to Japan, the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty and the fact that Japan has a positive attitude to the deployment of various weapons systems on its territory, including the US.
Undoubtedly, the militarization of Japan is very beneficial for Washington, for which this part of the Pacific region is the most problematic, since there are three countries at once concentrated, considered by Washington as key opponents - Russia, China and North Korea. Consequently, the United States will continue to monitor the development of the armed forces of Japan. Further development of the Japanese army, which will defend the interests and tasks of not only their country, but also the interests of the United States, will undoubtedly lead to another round of arms race in an already troubled region.
So, bypassing that article, in 1954, with the help of the United States, which needed an ally in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Japan Self-Defense Forces were formed. The Self-Defense Forces with the help of Washington became one of the most powerful and well-armed armies in the world quite quickly. Now the number of Self-Defense Forces is almost 250 thousand people, which is not so little by modern standards.
Nowadays Japan’s ground forces have 700 tanks, 2.8 thousand wheeled armored vehicles, 202 self-propelled artillery mounts, 99 salvo fire systems and 500 towed guns.
The Japanese Navy has 131 combat ships: 4 aircraft carriers, 43 rocket ships, 27 minesweepers, 6 corvettes, 6 coast guard ships, 17 submarines, etc. The coast defense is provided by about 100 Tura-88 anti-ship complexes.
Over 350 anti-aircraft missile systems protect Japan’s airspace. The country owns powerful aviation (including sea): Self-defense forces comprise 288 fighters, 287 bombers and 119 attack helicopters.
In 2018, with serious help from Washington, the Marines appeared in Japan. The creation of the Japanese Marine Corps units means that the Japan Self-Defense Forces finally change their status: the Marine Corps is a strike force, it is not designed to protect its territory, which was previously the main task of the Self-Defense Forces. Thus, the Japanese army turns into one of the foremost armies of the world. All this is being done with the support of the United States, which is interested in strengthening the military potential of Japan, and now has a well-armed ally in the APR, which they themselves have equipped with the latest weapons and equipment.
And this powerful military force, thanks to the "militaristic" policy of Shinzo Abe, supported by the United States, with who Japan has an agreement on mutual cooperation and security guarantees, will expand and develop. And this causes concern to the world community. At the same time, no one in the world questions the right of Japan to provide its security with the means that it considers the most effective and necessary. But the sovereign right of other countries is to think about their security and draw conclusions about what is changing or may change in this regard in the region and in the world as a whole in terms of security.
The world community is now witnessing a rapid growth of military cooperation between the United States and Japan. So at the recent meeting of the leaders of the two countries, that was held in Japan, the expansion of military cooperation between Washington and Tokyo was discussed. President Trump and Prime Minister Abe discussed new arms shipments to Japan, the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty and the fact that Japan has a positive attitude to the deployment of various weapons systems on its territory, including the US.
Undoubtedly, the militarization of Japan is very beneficial for Washington, for which this part of the Pacific region is the most problematic, since there are three countries at once concentrated, considered by Washington as key opponents - Russia, China and North Korea. Consequently, the United States will continue to monitor the development of the armed forces of Japan. Further development of the Japanese army, which will defend the interests and tasks of not only their country, but also the interests of the United States, will undoubtedly lead to another round of arms race in an already troubled region.
- By JohnRawls
- By Potemkin