Japan Threatens To Fire On Chinese Fighters, China: There Will Be No Second Shot

[derspiess]

Chinese dress uniforms really are starting to look more western.

[Eddie Teach]

I wonder if China really has second strike capabilities in the face of a US attack.

Let's not test that.

[Viking]

Japan is clearly leveraging the fact that not only are their fighters better, their fighters are at least a full generation better than the Chinese ones.

[derspiess]

Japan is clearly leveraging the fact that not only are their fighters better, their fighters are at least a full generation better than the Chinese ones.

They're nowhere near as good as a flying T-72, though

[Jacob]

If Japan and China start trading blows, how do they stack up against one another (assuming at the moment that everyone else remain uninvolved)?

[Razgovory]

If Japan and China start trading blows, how do they stack up against one another (assuming at the moment that everyone else remain uninvolved)?

They really can't hurt one another that much.  It's like kids with nerf bats.

[Tonitrus]

Considering we have a number of major bases on Okinawa, being so close to China and the disputed islands...I think it is nearly impossible that we would not be involved.

Unless China were to ignore any Japanese assets operating out of Naha.

[Jacob]

Considering we have a number of major bases on Okinawa, being so close to China and the disputed islands...I think it is nearly impossible that we would not be involved.

Unless China were to ignore any Japanese assets operating out of Naha.

I'm thinking less of a full out war situation and more of a both sides send assets to the islands to shoot at each other and try to drive the other side off.

[Zanza]

I wonder what would happen if Japan would declare its intent to get nuclear weapons. It's not really feasible to put them under Iran or North Korea style sanctions after all.

[jimmy olsen]

I wonder what would happen if Japan would declare its intent to get nuclear weapons. It's not really feasible to put them under Iran or North Korea style sanctions after all.

Same thing that would happen when India and Pakistan got them.

They could also go with the Israeli option.

[Tonitrus]

I think the whole point of Japan not having nukes, is that we have basically promised that we would use our nukes in any situation that make it practical(Hod forbid) for Japan to use them.

If Japan lost that kind of faith in our alliance, and we let that faith be lost...do we really have an alliance left?

[Admiral Yi]

Most analyses I've read of Japan and nukes is that it's rooted in their horror at being the sole target.

[Tonitrus]

Well, if D-Day had not been successful, Germany probably would have gotten their share as well.

[derspiess]

Well, if D-Day had not been successful, Germany probably would have gotten their share as well.

Still, what Yi said.  Maybe it would take another generation dying out before they're open to the idea.

[mongers]

I wonder what would happen if Japan would declare its intent to get nuclear weapons. It's not really feasible to put them under Iran or North Korea style sanctions after all.

Same thing that would happen when India and Pakistan got them.

They could also go with the Israeli option.

But Japan is a party to the NNPT, whereas all three of those non-signatory countries have quite 'legally' built nuclear weapons

So I expect much of the effective opposition to such a move would be internal whether from peace activists, anti-nuclear/bomb survivors groups or those mounting legal challenges as Japan would have to break a major treaty obligation, unless it went through the process of withdrawing from the treaty first, something only N.Korea has done.