Japan plans to raise military budget amid China row

[dead0man]

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While it's unfortunate that Japan has to do this, it's very understandable.

[Lief 🗽]

A little pump priming would do Japan a world of good, and nothing primes the pump like military spending!

[AkSaber]

Gotta keep the people scared.

When they're scared, they'll beg their government to make itself bigger to protect them.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Don't they officially lack a military?

[danny]

Don't they officially lack a military?

Officially maybe, but that is a technicality.

[dead0man]

Don't they officially lack a military?

Officially maybe, but that is a technicality.

Indeed.  They also aren't supposed to have nukes, but the smart money says they can double the PRC's stockpile in a couple of months if they worked at it a bit.

[wan]

Don't they officially lack a military?

Right, Japan has no official army, navy or air-force. These structures were banned after WWII and never reconstituted. However, Japan has a 'self-defence' force comprising of around 250,000 personnel in the three services. There are just under 50,000 American soldiers stationed in Japan.

[GMantis]

Don't they officially lack a military?

Officially maybe, but that is a technicality.

Indeed.  They also aren't supposed to have nukes, but the smart money says they can double the PRC's stockpile in a couple of months if they worked at it a bit.

They could have nuclear weapons in a few months, they certainly couldn't produce over 300 of them in a few months.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Don't they officially lack a military?

Yes. But they also mantain the world's sixth-largest military budget (prior to the raise mentioned in that article above).