Japan Introduces $243 billion Defense Spending Plan

Japan is set to abandon its pacifist past and begin a long and dangerous road to militarization and potential confrontation with its neighbors, China, North Korea and the Philippines.

Following the end of World War II, the USA military occupied Japan and imposed on the country a unique constitution which renounced war for good.

Article 9 of the Constitution disallows Japan from maintaining a military force and outlaws the use of force in settling international disputes.

Much in the same way that Japan is party to an international convention which disallows whaling all the while it still continues to take part in the globally banned activity, Japan has never really adhered to the principles of its so-called Peace Constitution.

Japan is one of the world’s largest spenders on national defense with one of the world’s best-equipped militaries, known as the Self Defence Forces (SDF), which are intended to empower the force to defend Japan in the instance of an attack.

The nation also plays host to the US military and its bases, empowering the USA to attack many defenseless nations. The US-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan used Okinawa to play an integral role through the deployment of troops and naval craft.

Now, Japan is making no secret about its intentions to become a global military force. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet approved its midterm defense guidelines and an associated defense plan, known as the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Mid-Term Defense Plan.

The plan will see Japan spend approximately $243 billion on defense over the next five fiscal years, until 2024.

For the first time since World War II, Japan is seeking to convert two ships into aircraft carriers in order to confront China, as well as the purchase of over 100 F-35’s as part of this $243 billion defense plan.

Abe’s plans for the militarization of Japan are not necessarily welcomed by the Japanese public, with thousands of protesters attending anti-war rallies in Tokyo and other major cities.

Perhaps protecting Japan is the wrong terminology to use. The latest developments may entail that Washington and Tokyo end up slowly going their separate ways; and China and Japan may end up on a path to war.

RT. com / ABC Flash Point War News 2018.