Not surprised.

[lithera]

Let me just say that I am not at all surprised by this turn of events in Japan.

Comments

[deqlan.livejournal.com]

Well, frankly, I think that it is the natural move for them. They've been pacifist for several decades now, and it's served them well, but with North Korea developing an agressive nuclear weapons program alongside agressive foreign relations, if they do not make their country capable of discouraging such an attack, they'll be run over by North Korea.

And the US has established that preemptive hostility is a viable way to justify military conflict. Personally, I think Japan is more right in revising its military standpoint than we are.

Re:

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Very true. I saw the start of this when they decided to send ships in (for medical aid only, but still) to help during our conflict in Afghanistan. They've been Pacifist because when we defeated them in WWII we pretty much stated that the only military force they could have was defensive only. Then we put in several military bases.

Now things are to a point where they're feeling threatened, aren't overly happy with us and have stated, quietly, that if threatened enough they could see attacking North Korea as a defensive action.