Japan's Nuclear Capabilities

Paper Summary:

This in-depth paper explores the sometimes fragile alliance between Japan and the U.S. and ponders whether or not Japan is capable, from a technical standpoint, of creating nuclear weapons. This paper delves into the possibility that Japan may already have nuclear weapons in its possession. A large number of Japanese citizens and successive governments have favored continuing the alliance with the U. S. which involves enormous reliance on American security and military power to protect Japan from attack. This paper defines article 9, the renunciation of war, of Japan's Peace Constitution. The writer also discusses the economic benefits in developing and maintaining nuclear weapons. This well-researched and informative paper considers some of the means Japan could employ to gain greater military autonomy which includes completing the development and production of advanced weapons such as the FSX fighter. This paper also discusses the various groups and parties that oppose nuclear weapons including the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.

From the Paper:

"Considering that the huge military-industrial complex of United States is an often-criticized force in the American economy and that maintaining a similarly high level of expenditures on weapons was a critical factor leading to the economic and political failure of the former Soviet Union, many in Japan are understandably content not to have a defense industry of a comparable magnitude. But there are some Japanese willing, and even eager, to duplicate or surpass American state-of-the-art military technology. Those who wish to see Japan more independent of reliance on the American power, who believe Japan's future is dependent on an autonomous defense establishment, favor the concept of Kokusanka or, indigenization of defense production."

More papers on Japan's Nuclear Capabilities:

• Research Paper # 5370 : "Nuclear Superpowers"
• Analytical Essay # 144578 : "The Abolition of Nuclear Weapons"
• Term Paper # 96224 : "A Nuclear North Korea"

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