A Growing Military in Japan

The last few years have seen growth in the Japanese military. What is only to be, according to their constitution, a defensive force, has been developing more and more offensive capabilities. With the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducting missile tests off their shores, and China's ever looming presence, a Japanese population generationaly removed from World War II are becoming more and more supportive of a strong standing military for their nation. Conservatives parties with arguments pointing out things like the fact that their pacifistic constitution was essentially written by an American general are winning over minds ever day.

I wonder how relations in the region will change if this trend continues. Does a Japan with the ability to defend its borders assert itself when it disagrees with the US? Does America lose legitimacy at negotiating tables in the region if it is no longer the de facto Japanese Army? Do hostilities rise when other Asian nations with long memories of Japanese war crimes see them re-arming? This is a situation I watch with great interest.