Old Glory and The Rising Sun, Together?

Recently, I wrote in this blog that if China attacks Taiwan, not only will China have to deal with the US military, but China will also have to deal with the Japanese military which will come into the fray on the side of the US and Taiwan.

For some time now, Japan has had the third largest Navy in the world. Plus, it is a modern Navy. Most of its ships are new, or nearly new, and built by Japanese in Japanese shipyards.

Japan trains constantly. Her troops are leaning forward and they are sharp as a razor.

Back in the late 70’s or early 80’s China began its military build-up. China is seen by Japan as a direct threat to Japan. To offset the Chinese military buildup, Japan cranked up her war materials machinery nearly a decade and a half ago..

Under Japan’s constitution she is only allowed 240,000 self-defense troops. Japan is not allowed to engage in warfare… except in self-defense. That no longer is much of a problem. A move is underway in Japan to remove that little obstacle from the Japanese constitution. There is every reason to believe those Japanese politicians in the Diet will be successful.

It would be well to take notice that in February, of 2005, the US and Japan agreed to work together to protect Taiwan should the Chicoms attack her. That explains one reason the rhetoric, coming from China, about Taiwan, has cooled, somewhat. Not much, but some.

Japan has but several new, modern, ships of war since the early 90’s. One even appears to be a Carrier. Expectations are that Japan would deny having a Carrier, but it sure LOOKS like a Carrier. (A flattop runway and a helicopter landing pad off to one side of the runway.)

Look, China really should think twice about going to war with the US over Taiwan. Since she will face three opposing forces: the military of Taiwan, the US military, and the Japanese military.

Japan has one of the best-trained, best-equipped militaries in the world. Plus, their warrior nation history should give any adversary pause. On any battlefield, Japan will more than hold it’s on, it will put a serious “hurting” on its opposition.

When the pushing and shoving begins between China, and the US, over Taiwan, do not be surprised when the Japanese navy sails over the horizon to the aid of the nation which so completely defeated her 60 years ago.

Having been born juts a few months before Pearl Harbor; the formative years of my youth were spent hearing the hate-speech against Japan. I believe, to this day, it was right what the US did to Japanese Americans and to Japan with the Atomic Bomb. But the Japan of 2005 is a new, a different, Japan. So, if she feels an obligation to aid US forces on the battlefield, we welcome that assistance.

But… there is one thing to keep in mind. Once the Japanese Military “genie” is out of the bottle, there will be hell to pay getting it stuffed back into that bottle.

Something to think about.

“Longstreet”