Japan's Rearmament Dilemma: Obstacles to Rearmament.
Abstract
Japan's military development has reached a point in the postwar era that the topic of an armed, militarily-revitalized Japan is not just a point of heated, partisan rhetoric, but a serious point to ponder by weighing the pluses and minuses of such a momentous decision of massive rearmament. Discussions of this topic generally follow the trend that Japan will find it extremely difficult to rearm massively given the psychological anti-military stance of her people, the limitations imposed by Article 9, and such other obstacles. However, at the same time, the real depth of these obstacles are not deeply considered, leaving the impression that if serious external or internal threat to Japan were to materialize, then Japan could somehow abandon her present course of gradual rearmament and pursue a course of massive rearmament. This study aims to show that the obstacles which Japan faces to massive rearmament are quite significant, not the type of obstacles which could be circumvented at will. These obstacles are deeply rooted in the Japanese historical experience and will continue to be significant factors affecting Japan's rearmament dilemma--how to provide for Japan's security, with or without massive armament.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA092526
Entities
People
- Edwin P. Hawkins Jr
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology