March 24, 2009
Power Projection, Japanese Style
This post is interesting because it brings to a close a story that I have followed on this since nearly the beginning of this blog, namely that the JDS Hyuga was put into commission on the 18th of the month. Japan now truly possesses the ability to project power outward rather than merely acting defensively with at best limited offensive capability.
From the Japan Times: Helicopter carrier commissioned
From the Japan Times: Helicopter carrier commissioned
The acquisition of a combat ship that can project force far from Japan raises concerns in Asia and may even spur rivalry with China, which is rumored to covet an aircraft carrier of its own.
Setting another precedent, the ¥105 billion Hyuga will have female officers and enlisted personnel, the first combat ship to have a mixed-sex complement since the Self-Defense Forces were created in 1954.
At a ceremony at IHI Marine United Inc.'s shipyard in Yokohama, Parliamentary Defense Secretary Ryota Takeda handed the MSDF's rising sun ensign to the skipper, Capt. Katsunori Yamada, to hoist on the Hyuga.
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March 23, 2009
Exercising a Natural Right
Govt to tell SDF to 'destroy' DPRK missiles.
From the Yomiuri Shimbun:
There isn't much to say about this except that it highlights how much more willing the Japanese government is to use the tools of defense for that purpose since North Korea has acquired nuclear weapons. No nation can ignore a threat to its security from its neighbors as real as the one North Korea is to Japan. Only time will tell if the Japanese have to splash this Nork missile or if it is fired off in a different direction or blows up on the pad (which given their history is a very real possibility). For now it is just one more potential flash point in a world full of them that may or may not start a fire which no one wants.
From the Yomiuri Shimbun:
The government has decided to order the Self-Defense Forces to "destroy" missiles predicted to strike Japanese territory, in preparation for North Korea's scheduled launch of what it claims to be a satellite but is believed to be a ballistic missile, government sources said Wednesday.
The order may be issued by the end of this month, according to the sources.
The action will be taken in line with Article 82 of the Self-Defense Forces Law to enable the SDF to intercept missiles using its missile defense system.
Objects to be subject to the order will be defined as "ballistic missiles and others" deemed to pose a threat to Japanese territory. The government said the objects will include satellites predicted to strike Japanese territory--whether water or land--as well as rockets used to launch them, according to the sources.
The SDF law stipulates that prime ministerial approval alone is required for issuing such an order. In practice, however, the order would be issued following cabinet approval and would be announced to the public.
There isn't much to say about this except that it highlights how much more willing the Japanese government is to use the tools of defense for that purpose since North Korea has acquired nuclear weapons. No nation can ignore a threat to its security from its neighbors as real as the one North Korea is to Japan. Only time will tell if the Japanese have to splash this Nork missile or if it is fired off in a different direction or blows up on the pad (which given their history is a very real possibility). For now it is just one more potential flash point in a world full of them that may or may not start a fire which no one wants.
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