Japan has wanted into AUKUS – the three- means security deal among the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom – since the outset. Saying that is n’t in the Japanese language, but it seems that Americans are suggesting Japan for membership, even if not as a full member.  ,  ,
A companion from Australia recently inquired about this.
What do you think of the anticipated statement that Japan will meet the AUKUS tuberculous technology-sharing ally along with Australia, the US, and the UK?  ,
It’s a good thing, and also a natural move for AUKUS.
The statement is one point for which there’ll become backwards- slaps all around. The post-meeting hit meeting is really what US government representatives of a certain kind of enjoy. What is the check to see how the parties really feel about Japan joining AUKUS?
Why is Chinese presence a reasonable thing?  , There’ve always been two pieces of AUKUS: the atomic submarines and broader systems sharing among the three countries.  , The former piece gets overshadowed by the submarine part of the AUKUS design.  ,  ,
Japan has a lot to help in certain areas – say, area technologies and missile technologies, anti- submarine and undersea surveillance technologies, hypersonics and underwater technology, only to name a few – and its sophisticated manufacturing is world- class.  ,
 , And do n’t forget that Japan has got a lot of money to invest in all this. It’s not as though the English and Australians were making money to invest in security. Actually the Americans assert that they are tapped out when it comes to defence spending.
The Americans (especially ), the English, and the Australians ought to have some specific areas in which they want Japanese assistance, and then inform them.  , The Japanese are not thinking users.  , Do n’t make them figure out for themselves what might be of interest to the foreigners. They arrange their thinking and actions when they have something tangible to focus on, and they’ll do what’s important.
Instead of holding an opening session and asking” Whudduyuthink we should do” in some way, the other three countries should have some specific requests if Japan is allowed to join AUKUS in some way– as an associate part or something like that.
How much of an problem are Japan’s poor ( some may say non- functional ) classified information techniques?  , This is a major concern, but manageable. Simply compartmentalize the project and impose specific laws and standards ( and systems ) for handling the information and granting access to it.  , It’s not as if the Japanese did n’t understand the need for secrecy – and practice it sometimes. One even in justice points out that, despite strict safety certification requirements, the AUKUS countries have had a lot of trouble protecting their details over the years.
One more thing about AUKUS: It’s ironic that Japan can help a lot to AUKUS on the underwater engineering before.  , Wonder what they’ll state if asked.
The Japanese presumably wo n’t mention that if the Australians had given the Japanese submarines an Australian order in 2016, they would already have them on hand. Probably no nuclear channels, but darned valuable subs however. It’s true, it will take a long time for Australia to receive its atomic submarines.  ,  ,
Who should be horse-whipped and also receive a Friend of China award from Beijing for breaking the Soryu ( Japanese ) sub deal on the Australian side?
 , Does it matter that Japan is hardly a “full” part of AUKUS.  , It should n’t.  , The Chinese are breathing down all our heads, for crying out loud.  , Do what’s needed to get Japan into AUKUS in some style.  , After all, it’s one of the nation’s leading governments and a ,  , industrial powerhouse – and even has a good enough martial in certain respects.
Prime Minister Kishida is ramping up defence spending and talking about a “multilayered” empire structure. Is Japan suddenly shedding its post-World War II pragmatist approach? Is it eventually become a significant security player?
I’d suggest Japan shed its write-up- WW2 pacifist approach by about 1960 or thus.  ,  , Sometimes earlier. Build a sizable defense and call it something other than a defense, and then ask the Americans to support a deal that would require the United States to kill anyone who threatens Japan, without making a similar claim on behalf of the Americans.
That’s a nice strategy if you can pull it off.  , And Japan did for a long time.  ,  ,
Even though some of Japan’s ruling classes like to believe otherwise, those days are largely over.  , People in Japan, happily, recognized it was a farce and did their best to find Japan set to at least sort of start to get ready to protect itself.  ,
Japan has a martial – and a good one in particular specialty areas like as submarine war, anti- underwater war, marine surface warfare and surveillance, missile defense and space operations.  , But it still has loads of problems, such as failure to perform effective joint/combined operations – yet within JSDF, much less with allies and partners.
Also, JSDF is too small and is having recruitment problems that make expansion problematic.  , How much is too small?  , The Maritime SDF and Air SDF need to be doubled in size immediately.  , The Ground SDF is about the right size.
Can Japan develop its major defenses? Not particularly noteworthy in the sense that it is another country, but if it strengthens its JSDF, it can undoubtedly become a significant defense force.  ,  ,
Even the Russians do n’t want to interfere with JSDF and Japan, especially if they are closely tied to the US and US military, as they do with China and North Korea.
Naturally, developing a stronger defense role will require exporting some of its more potent defense technology and hardware with much more aplomb than has been attempted to date. Japanese companies have n’t yet honed their swords enough, and the international defense industry is a challenging one.
Does this mean that Japan no longer wants to rely solely on the US to protect it and confront China, North Korea, and Russia? What function will Australia play?
Some conservatives in Japan complain that Japan ca n’t defend itself against US forces and wants to see Japan defend itself on its own.  ,  , This is a pipe dream.
Overall,” Japan” and the Japanese are still willing to heavily rely on the United States for defense. But for whatever reason: a perceived need to hedge its bets, a sincere desire to contribute more to the alliance, fear that the Americans might object to Japan’s inaction? In the last five or so years, Japan has accomplished a lot, indicating that it takes defense more seriously.
However, there have n’t been enough real improvements to Japan’s defense capabilities to improve its chances against China.  , Not nearly enough. Really, the Japanese are n’t prepared to fight in a war. One wishes that Americans would specifically tell them what they need to do. Send along a few reliable Hawaii war planners and arrange for a meeting with the appropriate Japanese, and voilà.  ,  ,
Regarding Japan’s “multi-layered alliance structure,” it appears to have been done out of the conviction that the safer you will be the more friends you have. In recent years, Japan has signed a lot of defense agreements with other countries, but combined, especially when considering the tangible benefits of these agreements, they are n’t as useful as even a small portion of the protection provided by the Seventh , Fleet.
Even though he disliked it, the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe was aware that US protection was necessary, and his successors still think there is no substitute for Americans.
As for Australia? I’m not entirely sure what Australian defense policy today is. And I’m not sure the top dogs of the Australian Defense Force or the Albanese government understand either.  , I’m not being snide.  , That’s just how it seems. It seems almost as though the current administration is attempting to rebuild the country’s defenses. It would be nice if Australia had a more in-depth analysis of what it needs to do to protect both its interests and those in the area.  , That might be a longish wait, however.
In the meantime, the ADF – some of the gamest people on earth – will pitch in where they can, will keep doing things such as sending ships to the Philippines, fighters to Japan, and ground troops to any number of places.  ,  ,
Even an ADF game will only lead you so far if the Australian government ca n’t clear its head about national defense.