Japan is going to significantly strengthen its own armed forces. In Tokyo, they do not believe that the Americans will intercede for the Land of the Rising Sun in case of a full-scale conflict with China or the DPRK.
Last week, the former Japanese defense minister, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a likely candidate for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, said that it was time to recognize the country's Self-Defense Forces as full-fledged Armed Forces. Earlier, in May, the head of the country's government Shinzo Abe called for the Constitution of the state to establish the legal status of the Self-Defense Forces. Two years ago, Abe managed to introduce the concept of collective self-defense, which gives the right to help allies outside the country, if the threat to the Allies is a threat and for Japan. All these actions do not give the Japanese army offensive characteristics, but at the same time are a symbolic step in the movement of the country towards a certain military independence.
In parallel, the authorities of the country are taking real steps to strengthen military power, RIA Novosti notes.. Tokyo is considering buying a US ground-based anti-missile defense system Aegis Ashore. This should increase the chances of intercepting missiles from the DPRK and weaken the load on six Japanese Navy destroyers equipped with the Aegis ship system. To fully cover their territory, the Japanese need three batteries Aegis Ashore. Each of them without missiles costs about $ 700 million. The system should earn in 2023.
In addition, American corporations Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are discussing with Japanese companies Mitsubishi Electric and Fujitsu the development of new radars of increased range that can be used within the Aegis Ashore system. Further, by 2020,. The Japanese are planning to double the range and increase the accuracy of 28 Patriot PAC-3 ground-based anti-missile systems.
The next step to strengthen the defense capability of Japan could be the acquisition of cruise missiles "Tomahawk". They can be placed on destroyers with the Aegis system. This will, in fact, Japan's first offensive weapon, which it will be able to hit targets in North Korea. At the same time the submarine fleet of Tokyo can be increased from 18 to 22 submarines, and all Japanese build their boats, and do not buy them abroad.
Not for the first year, Japan's desire to acquire three US reconnaissance drones RQ-4 Global Hawk. While negotiations are underway, the Japanese are likely to learn to fly on US RQ-4 aircraft that are based at US bases in Japan.
The news of buying up arms has long troubled Japan's neighbors - Russia and China. Moscow and Beijing doubt that all these weapons are acquired with purely defensive purposes. For example, from the Aegis complexes it is possible to launch and strike cruise missiles. At the same time, the Americans can use them for their own purposes in case of aggravation of the situation in the region, including in the case of a conflict with China or Russia.
The greatest fears in the world are rumors that Japan is preparing to acquire nuclear weapons. In Tokyo, at an informal level, they talk about the need to support the work of commercial nuclear reactors, which in theory make it possible to create a nuclear warhead in the shortest possible time. Japanese officials call the warhead a necessary means of nuclear deterrence surrounded by three nuclear powers - Russia, North Korea and China.
The oil is poured into the fire by Western media, which argue that with the arrival of Donald Trump as president of the United States, Japan can become a full-fledged nuclear power. The new president does not mind: America is losing its grip in the region, and therefore will not object to the presence of a warhead from its virtually controlled ally. Indirectly, that Tokyo does not exclude such a development of events says the speech of the Japanese authorities against the holding in the UN of a meeting on a possible treaty banning nuclear weapons. Similarly, on this issue, all the nuclear powers.