Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
Re: In Japanese streets
Posted by:
kurt
()
Date: January 07, 2004 12:51PM
<HTML>Don:
We are getting a bit off topic here, but a fair question.
No. The military period in Japanese history was an aberration. Japan is historically an isolationist country. No doubt in my mind that democracy and peacefulness are well rooted in the public's mind.
The main reason the defense budget is large is because their economy is huge - again, second largest in the world. They spend only 1% of their GDP on defense - one of the lowest levels in the world. But 1% of a huge number is a huge number.
Also note that the 1% is spent very inefficiently - the main goal being technology development and independence, not combat capability. Japanese developed and produced weapons are 3 to 5 times as expensive - and often not as good - as US equivalents.
The weapons they procure are also limited by a long list of restrictions to prevent them being capable of being used offensively. For example, until very recently, they could not use aerial refueling, or ocean going transport, or even own desert uniforms - nothing to allow deployment outside of Japan.
Their subs are restricted to being small, 'coastal' types with no nuclear propulsion, and, obviously, no nuclear weapons.
I could go on, but you get the idea. As the war fades from living memory, I expect Japan's military to become a more 'normal' military, like those of Western Europe. You can see that beginning with their participation in Iraq's rebuilding, etc.
Regards,
Kurt</HTML>
We are getting a bit off topic here, but a fair question.
No. The military period in Japanese history was an aberration. Japan is historically an isolationist country. No doubt in my mind that democracy and peacefulness are well rooted in the public's mind.
The main reason the defense budget is large is because their economy is huge - again, second largest in the world. They spend only 1% of their GDP on defense - one of the lowest levels in the world. But 1% of a huge number is a huge number.
Also note that the 1% is spent very inefficiently - the main goal being technology development and independence, not combat capability. Japanese developed and produced weapons are 3 to 5 times as expensive - and often not as good - as US equivalents.
The weapons they procure are also limited by a long list of restrictions to prevent them being capable of being used offensively. For example, until very recently, they could not use aerial refueling, or ocean going transport, or even own desert uniforms - nothing to allow deployment outside of Japan.
Their subs are restricted to being small, 'coastal' types with no nuclear propulsion, and, obviously, no nuclear weapons.
I could go on, but you get the idea. As the war fades from living memory, I expect Japan's military to become a more 'normal' military, like those of Western Europe. You can see that beginning with their participation in Iraq's rebuilding, etc.
Regards,
Kurt</HTML>
