Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Miragedriver

Brigadier
(part 1) Japan Unleashed: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
BY David Lai, Ph.D

David Lai, Ph.D., is Research Professor of Asian Security Affairs at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College. Noah Lingwall is an intern at the Strategic Studies Institute and a student at the Schreyer Honors College of Pennsylvania State University. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

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Long fettered by
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of its post-WWII constitution that renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits the maintenance of military forces, Japan is now poised to unleash its military potential both at home and abroad. The May 14 endorsement of two key defense
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(the international peace support bill and the peace and security legislation development bill) by Japan’s Cabinet signals another big step in this direction. Historically, Japan’s constitution has barred its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) from entering overseas military engagements. The international peace support bill includes the right to exercise collective self-defense, which allows the SDF to assist a friendly nation, first and foremost, the United States, and then other allies and partners, when they are under attack. The peace and security legislation development bill streamlines the process by which Japan can provide logistical support to foreign military forces. Previous constitutional provisions required parliamentary approval each time that the SDF wished to engage in a multinational military operation. This new bill provides a single law under which Japan can assist its allies around the globe.

Japan has good reason to overhaul its postwar military policy. Currently, it faces a host of threats that could require proactive and vigorous military response. North Korea’s pugnacious behavior and growing capability to threaten Japan has been a longstanding concern. China’s recently escalated contest with Japan over the Senkaku Islands and a whole array of other unresolved issues introducing a menacing element into the already precarious relations between the two big Asian nations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced that these landmark security bills will take effect over the summer. Japan’s new military posture, which is reflected in the
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U.S.–Japan defense cooperation guidelines (released in April 2015), could radically alter both U.S.–Japan relations and East Asian military relations. As the United States maps out Japan’s future defense trajectory, it ought to take note of all of its implications: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good: Increased U.S.–Japanese Cooperation

The current U.S.–Japan military partnership is strikingly unequal. The U.S.–Japan mutual defense treaty is not “mutual” at all—Japan is not expected to (by the United States) and cannot (by Japan’s constitutional restrictions) come to the United States’ defense. While Japan maintains imposing Self-Defense Forces and hosts U.S. military bases, the United States bears the immense task of defending Japan from foreign threats. In an April 2015 interview with the
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(a Washington, D.C.–based U.S.–Japan relations think tank), Admiral Dennis Blair, former Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, characterized the absurdity of Japan’s previous military restrictions by stating, “Until now, if North Korea shot a missile and Japan’s missile destroyer were in a maritime domain and could shoot it down, the commander
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, ‘The target is the United States, not Japan.’”

Allowing Japan greater latitude to employ its SDF can serve U.S. interests while easing the United States’ hefty military burden. Consider the example of a crisis in Northeast Asia or the South China Sea. As China’s territorial ambitions in the South China Sea ratchet up fear amongst Southeast Asian nations, a single political or military misstep could send the region into disarray. In the event of such a military flare-up, the United States may require extensive logistical support to mount a proper response. Japan’s SDF can now provide the United States with the intelligence and military assistance necessary to handle a delicate situation in the Asia-Pacific. According to Admiral Blair, this assistance could take the form of missile defense and minesweeping in key ports. The SDF’s newly-acquired ability to lend support to its allies will also benefit U.S commercial (as well as military) interests by bolstering freedom of navigation. Now that Japan’s armed forces are permitted to take part in foreign military operations, Japan can credibly help to defend freedom of navigation alongside the United States.

As some U.S. policymakers look at China’s rise with increasing trepidation, Japan’s new defense bills should provide a comforting counterbalance in the Asia-Pacific. The introduction of a new and formidable military presence in the region significantly complicates China’s defense calculus. With the new defense bills, China must worry about Japan as a separate military entity from the United States. The South China Sea dispute has not yet escalated to a level where military forces are required to quell the conflict. It appears that administrative and political means still offer the best chance to resolve the contentious territorial disputes. Still, even in this war of words, Japan’s new military capabilities back up words with firepower and provide balance and deterrence against Chinese assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific.


As some U.S. policymakers look at China’s rise with increasing trepidation, Japan’s new defense bills should provide a comforting counterbalance in the Asia-Pacific. The introduction of a new and formidable military presence in the region significantly complicates China’s defense calculus. With the new defense bills, China must worry about Japan as a separate military entity from the United States. The South China Sea dispute has not yet escalated to a level where military forces are required to quell the conflict. It appears that administrative and political means still offer the best chance to resolve the contentious territorial disputes. Still, even in this war of words, Japan’s new military capabilities back up words with firepower and provide balance and deterrence against Chinese assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific.


Back to bottling my Grenache
 

Miragedriver

Brigadier
(Part 2) The Bad: An Unknown Security Future in the Asia-Pacific
The rise of Japan’s SDF interrupts a decades-long trend of U.S. military dominance in the Asia-Pacific. There is nothing inherently unwise about the United States ceding some military influence to the Japanese. Still, from a U.S. policymaking perspective, the rise of Japan’s newly-empowered SDF will mean that the United States will not be able to call all of the shots on behalf of Japan. The United States must understand that, as a militarily-independent nation, Japan may choose to act in ways that clash with U.S. policy interests. For example, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's
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of "active pacifism" and the tenets of collective self-defense could allow Japan to strengthen its ties with Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other regional players. This could lead to a new regional security arrangement in which a multipolar web of alliances supplants the traditional, U.S.–led “hub-and-spoke network” of alliances.

It is also possible that Japan’s apparent commitment to providing allies with military assistance could lead to a profound “perceptions gap” between the United States and Japan. The new defense bills lead the United States to believe that the SDF will be willing to provide logistical support to U.S. forces in risky situations. However, as Japan faces deflation and a dwindling GDP, it is possible that Japanese enthusiasm for foreign assistance will soon wane. In a recent address regarding Japan’s economic situation, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared, “Japan cannot drastically increase its defense spending, but we can still ensure that the Japan-U.S. security alliance will function better.” Abe’s words attempt to strike a precarious balance between addressing domestic needs and upholding international commitments to the United States. In the event of prolonged economic stagnation or domestic unrest, Japan could falter in its promise to assist global allies. Therefore, while Japan appears committed to contributing toward U.S.–Japan joint military ventures, there is reason to suspect that Japanese contributions will not meet U.S. expectations.

Moreover, as Japan modernizes its military and begins to play a larger role in the Asia-Pacific security environment, the United States must consider the possibility of a nuclear Japan. The United States’ “nuclear umbrella” has sheltered Japan and eliminated the need for Japan to develop its own nuclear program thus far. As Japan looks toward potential threats stemming from its hostile neighbors (such as North Korea, China, and Russia) it is conceivable that its leaders may feel compelled to establish the nation’s nuclear presence. According to a senior Japanese government official, Japan has possessed the ability to build nuclear weapons since it constructed a plutonium breeder reactor and a uranium enrichment plant thirty years ago. Some of the more hawkish factions within Japan’s government boast that their nation could practically develop a nuclear weapon “overnight.” How should the United States handle a nuclear Japan? How will the introduction of a nuclear Japan alter the Asia-Pacific security landscape? These contingencies could potentially upset an already delicate regional power balance.


Back to bottling my Grenache
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Sorry, mirage, part three falls into a category where any comments or articles that speak specifically of war between two nations are not allowed.

SD Rules do not allow it.

Generally, editorial and opinion articles are not news. And even if they are, when they go down a road postulating open warfare between China and others, or between others, we are going to have to remove them.

Now, we do have threads about actual warfare crisis that go on...but this is not one of those.

Thanks.
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
I saw these photos on
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which is a Chinese military centered web site.

This caption is a general caption of what you shall see in these photos. If anyone can elaborate on the photos that information would be appreciated.


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July 2015...Recently, the Japanese military enterprises launched a new digital soldier system, the system consists of tactical vests, new information rifle, observation rangefinder, helmet-mounted displays, tablet PCs and other gear, although data on the gear is not published the system appears to be "top shelf"..

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bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
We need TerraN_EmpirE to check this gear out and give us a little knowledge about this gear.

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July 2015...Recently, the Japanese military enterprises launched a new digital soldier system, the system consists of tactical vests, new information rifle, observation rangefinder, helmet-mounted displays, tablet PCs and other gear, although data on the gear is not published the system appears to be "top shelf"..

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TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
I saw these photos on
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which is a Chinese military centered web site.

This caption is a general caption of what you shall see in these photos. If anyone can elaborate on the photos that information would be appreciated.


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The Program Is or Was Called ACES for Advanced Combat Infantry Equipment System
or at least that is the English translation. It's the JGSDF equivilant to to the French Felin, German IdZ or American land/Nett warrior

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Note full body armor. with DAPs (Deltoid Armor pouldron) Shoulder Armor.

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Here we see a heavily modified Type 89 Carbine with the Aces weapon sight which is likely a multi mode system for day and night operations and capable of being used around corners note the stock is almost identical to that seen on the Remington ACR, I wounder if Magpul was sub contracted by Howa (the maker of the type89)? this means that the stock has 6 positions of extension for better LOP and a adjustable cheek rest for height of Comb it also folds to the right yet clears the ejection/ charging handle but not perfectly I wouldn't be surprised if there were complaints about accessing the charging handle because of the large sight and the folded stock,
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This is a Remington ACR ( not sure if Real or model) it seems to be the influince for a number of the mods to the Type 89 which is logical as both Type 89 and ACR are in fact related. Both are based on Eugene Stoner's AR18.
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Here we see close up of the Pic rail looks aluminum with fixed rails. Note the Sure Fire scout light. It's actually bigger then it needs to be as there are now smaller models that would decrease weight some.
note the vertical grip It's a controller for the light and the sight and possibly more with these the User can cycle through the sights vision modes.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
More of the same;

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Here we see the Plate carrier, now on the data i have from the past the Japanese were looking to use soft plates of about level 3-4 ballistic protection what we see here it's possible. There seems to be a under vest plate carrier and a over vest fighting rig with webbing as well as a collar of likely some lesser level of protection.
not the night vision mount on the helmet.

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Here we see the armor on the soldier note the PDA tucked away center of mass and the tan rifle sling mounted to the shoulder pad.
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here we see what is my best guess as the squad or platoon leader model the large binoculars likely night vision capable possibly even able to laze for targeting.
Also note that the wearers eyes ( not the guys behind him) are blocked from view not by a blur but by a helmet mounted cueing system, although it blocks his peripheral vision the system can feed images from other sources including his rifle and squad mates.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
We need TerraN_EmpirE to check this gear out and give us a little knowledge about this gear.

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Okay close up on the helmet here... hmmm... I am not sure on this but I don't think this is the Type 88 PASGT. The Earlier mock ups used bump helmets arguing that the balistic protection to the head was inferior anyway, Could be a MICH clone or a bump helmet of a simmilar shape. but more modern materials mean that they could have a ECH class helmet that can stand up to some rifle rounds. Japanese Coast guard are known to wear MICH tyoes
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more details on the head gear we see ear buds and possibly a mic this is a headset for wear under the helmet. also note the way the vest is sagging no hard ridged plate in that but still looks to have some weight.

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Small Details of note The Camera on the PDA has it's own cut out in the holder. the Pic tail on the top of the sight for a cowitness the bungee of the sling. the groin guard

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here we see the rifles electronic sight being demonstrated. the sight acts as a camera allowing the soldier to stay nice and safe behind cover well he takes pot shots at the enemy.

all and all nothing to amazing when compared to similar systems world wide but still impressive.
 
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