Japan's nuclear capacity

[kamakazi attack]

Will NK or China push Japan to go nuclear?

It is still somewhat of a taboo to mention nukes in Japan, but with NK provocation and the rise of China, will Japan ever go nukes?

Not too many people realize Japanese nuclear capacity.

It might surprise you that Japan can match the US capabilities if it wanted to.



"Japan has used plutonium in mixed oxide fuel for light water reactors and for fast neutron reactors over some 15 years. In 1994, 323 kg of plutonium was used in Monju, Joyo and Fugen reactors, and 111 kg was recovered from reprocessing spent fuel in Japan.

By the year 2000 Japan will have an inventory of about 55 tonnes of separated reactor grade plutonium. It should be noted that this is enough plutonium to manufacture ~10,000 warheads, more than the combined nominal arsenals of the U.S. and Russia combined.

7.5 Other Nuclear Capable States

"Recall, too, that in April last year Liberal Party president Ichiro Ozawa created a massive furor claiming (rightly, by the way) that Japan - to deter any China threat - could easily produce "thousands of nuclear warheads" from plutonium extracted from the spent fuel of its more than 50 commercial nuclear reactors. In late May, chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda followed suit and told a news conference (right again) that Japan's war-renouncing constitution does not prevent it from possessing nuclear weapons."

eyond that, at its Osaka Laser Engineering Laboratory, Japan has one of the world's largest, most powerful lasers for use in inertial confinement (or laser) fusion experiments. Weapons testing could be done there as it is in a comparable facility to the United States' Lawrence Livermore lab. Indeed, not only could fission-weapons designs be tested on a small scale, the same goes for much more sophisticated and high-yield hydrogen (thermonuclear fusion) weapons. "


Personally i wouldn't like to see Japan go nuclear because this might compell SKorea and taiwan to pursue nukes and will definitely get China to increase it nukes.

More nukes is not a good thing. But If Japan was pushed into a corner and can't trust the American, you will see a Japan armed to the teeth.

 

[Parashuram1]

Will NK or China push Japan to go nuclear?

It is still somewhat of a taboo to mention nukes in Japan, but with NK provocation and the rise of China, will Japan ever go nukes?

Not too many people realize Japanese nuclear capacity.

It might surprise you that Japan can match the US capabilities if it wanted to.



"Japan has used plutonium in mixed oxide fuel for light water reactors and for fast neutron reactors over some 15 years. In 1994, 323 kg of plutonium was used in Monju, Joyo and Fugen reactors, and 111 kg was recovered from reprocessing spent fuel in Japan.

By the year 2000 Japan will have an inventory of about 55 tonnes of separated reactor grade plutonium. It should be noted that this is enough plutonium to manufacture ~10,000 warheads, more than the combined nominal arsenals of the U.S. and Russia combined.

7.5 Other Nuclear Capable States

"Recall, too, that in April last year Liberal Party president Ichiro Ozawa created a massive furor claiming (rightly, by the way) that Japan - to deter any China threat - could easily produce "thousands of nuclear warheads" from plutonium extracted from the spent fuel of its more than 50 commercial nuclear reactors. In late May, chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda followed suit and told a news conference (right again) that Japan's war-renouncing constitution does not prevent it from possessing nuclear weapons."

eyond that, at its Osaka Laser Engineering Laboratory, Japan has one of the world's largest, most powerful lasers for use in inertial confinement (or laser) fusion experiments. Weapons testing could be done there as it is in a comparable facility to the United States' Lawrence Livermore lab. Indeed, not only could fission-weapons designs be tested on a small scale, the same goes for much more sophisticated and high-yield hydrogen (thermonuclear fusion) weapons. "


Personally i wouldn't like to see Japan go nuclear because this might compell SKorea and taiwan to pursue nukes and will definitely get China to increase it nukes.

More nukes is not a good thing. But If Japan was pushed into a corner and can't trust the American, you will see a Japan armed to the teeth.

But how would going nuclear serve your country? While I shall not speak about Korean peninsula as they are themselves small countries, even a conventional ballistic missile attack by China threatens the existence of Japan due to its island characteristics.

With all due respect, while Japanese forces in a possible conflict could inflict severe damage going nuclear, a second strike back of similar nature would cease the existence of your beautiful country.

Don't you think that there are better alternatives to going nuclear and use a more international approach? As a national of a neutral country I speak that even for you it is important to set some sort of political buffer zone if you cannot maintain a territorial one.

I just pray that such situations don't arise ever. The world has already seen enough during WW1 and 2. Countries have gone extinct because of trivial territorial reasons.

A QUESTION:

Do you sympathize still with the imperial Japanese order of pre-world war 2 era or is it just your nickname?

 

[kamakazi attack]

well if your read my previous post, I didn't advocate going nuclear for Japan. I am just laying out what Japan is capable of.

If push come to shove, Japan can have a very effective deterent nuclear force.

If the US decide not to protect Japan under its nuclear umbrealla, I am certain that Japan would go nuke regardless of the backlash.

who needs a 2nd strike option when you can unleash thousand of nukes in the first go? beside any 2 country in a nuclear face off will both me mutually destroy.

example, russia is a gazillion time larger than japan, in a nuclear faceoff, Japan has enough nukes to blow the world 10x over let alone russia, so 2nd strike is a mute point


No I don't sympathize with pre-WW2 Japan, just a cool nick name.

 

[DesiGuy]

Without any doubt, Japan can build nuclear bombs. They got technology and talent.

But i hope the situation never arise to that and japan will build unique robots.

 

[xMustiiej70]

Without any doubt, Japan can build nuclear bombs. They got technology and talent.

But i hope the situation never arise to that and japan will build unique robots.

You Sir,played alot of command and conquer games.

 

[Parashuram1]

That is a lot of advanced planning right there. I believe it is all in Japanese genes and their ancient samurai tradition of never backing down against a genuine threat.

However, I feel that it is high time Japan first focuses on developing an independent foreign policy that requires the guidance of no one. Your country is the world's second largest economy and has been a technological hub for so many decades.

Certainly an independent stand won't cause you much harm and infact, Japan can emerge as a United States of the east, while at the same time retaining excellent ties with Washington, considering that neither of you share common borders or territorial waters.

This is possible in a very short time if your government tries to move away from the policies of Junichiro Koizumi, who's love for United States often made him forget that other countries existed too...lol. .

I believe that Japan making itself a political and global powerhouse through soft means would be able to deter a possible Chinese/Korean/ Russian(?) invasion or missile threat.

Besides, Japan can further expand its defense revenues if your government removes the intense restrictions that has imposed on export of defense equipment. There won't be any shortage of customers for your equipment considering the technological reputation your country has built.

 

[applesauce]

That is a lot of advanced planning right there. I believe it is all in Japanese genes and their ancient samurai tradition of never backing down against a genuine threat.

However, I feel that it is high time Japan first focuses on developing an independent foreign policy that requires the guidance of no one. Your country is the world's second largest economy and has been a technological hub for so many decades.

Certainly an independent stand won't cause you much harm and infact, Japan can emerge as a United States of the east, while at the same time retaining excellent ties with Washington, considering that neither of you share common borders or territorial waters.

This is possible in a very short time if your government tries to move away from the policies of Junichiro Koizumi, who's love for United States often made him forget that other countries existed too...lol. .

I believe that Japan making itself a political and global powerhouse through soft means would be able to deter a possible Chinese/Korean/ Russian(?) invasion or missile threat.

Besides, Japan can further expand its defense revenues if your government removes the intense restrictions that has imposed on export of defense equipment. There won't be any shortage of customers for your equipment considering the technological reputation your country has built.

while i do believe japan can be a true independent world power, it is very, very unlikely to be a "united states of the east", the US don't have two thermonuclear armed neighbors right next door that is many times its size nor does the us have anyone richer than it(by far at this point). Japan can never hope to dictate its neighbors(while their government functions) behaviors like the Us can do. simply put japan is too small and at this point in time their tech is not a game changer like the British naval tech was and the fact that instead of countries in decline in the east like when the Europeans really started to take over, the countries around japan are getting stronger everyday and closing the tech gap, and especially in the case of china which for historic reasons is not too fond of japan and by all estimates china is now the #2 economy in the world, all of which means france-like power at best in the foreseeable future for japan.

 

[Parashuram1]

while i do believe japan can be a true independent world power, it is very, very unlikely to be a "united states of the east", the US don't have two thermonuclear armed neighbors right next door that is many times its size nor does the us have anyone richer than it(by far at this point). Japan can never hope to dictate its neighbors(while their government functions) behaviors like the Us can do. simply put japan is too small and at this point in time their tech is not a game changer like the British naval tech was and the fact that instead of countries in decline in the east like when the Europeans really started to take over, the countries around japan are getting stronger everyday and closing the tech gap, and especially in the case of china which for historic reasons is not too fond of japan and by all estimates china is now the #2 economy in the world, all of which means france-like power at best in the foreseeable future for japan.

Japanese don't exactly need to militarily assert their nuclear capabilities in order to attain the status of United States. The presence of China and North Korea would become a little less significant once Japanese consider arming themselves to teeth with nuclear weapons; something like the M.A.D concept. Therefore, this would reduce the requirement of needing United States' nuclear umbrella and thereby releasing Tokyo of its bindings with the United States that has been followed all these years post-WW2.

By your logic, none of the Eastern or Asian countries can ever be superpowers including China and India as in your case, Beijing is surrounded by nuclear powers as well and therefore can only grow within the limits of its present status around the world.

A nuclear-armed Japan would further weaken Beijing's chances of dominating the world scenario militarily (which it might possibly achieve in economics), as then it would be surrounded by a nuclear armed North Korea and Japan in the north east and India and Pakistan in the southwest.

I am including Pakistan here for the reason that politics in today's world is very unstable and can be subjected to radical changes with just small adjustments. No one is an eternal political friend and I am sure you are aware of it.

Add Iran into this nexus and Beijing's ambition to be the United States of the East, ends up the same way as you prescribe Japan or perhaps even lower. Then the point would not be to be able to "annihilate" an enemy nation but instead how to prevent the suicidal enemy from equally damaging your cities.

This nuclear arms race is a real nuisance now and for that, I regret liking Mr. Albert Einstein.

In such a case, the age of "Multi-polar world" has truly come.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I heard India is planning to invade Japan

 

[Nav]

You Sir,played alot of command and conquer games.

lolx...u mean Red Alert 3.

 

[thunder rules]

japan has also right to build its nuclear bombs.. and it can get help from pakistan but am afraid to think that with so many nuclear power countries what will happen world war 3

 

[applesauce]

Japanese don't exactly need to militarily assert their nuclear capabilities in order to attain the status of United States. The presence of China and North Korea would become a little less significant once Japanese consider arming themselves to teeth with nuclear weapons; something like the M.A.D concept. Therefore, this would reduce the requirement of needing United States' nuclear umbrella and thereby releasing Tokyo of its bindings with the United States that has been followed all these years post-WW2.

By your logic, none of the Eastern or Asian countries can ever be superpowers including China and India as in your case, Beijing is surrounded by nuclear powers as well and therefore can only grow within the limits of its present status around the world.

A nuclear-armed Japan would further weaken Beijing's chances of dominating the world scenario militarily (which it might possibly achieve in economics), as then it would be surrounded by a nuclear armed North Korea and Japan in the north east and India and Pakistan in the southwest.

I am including Pakistan here for the reason that politics in today's world is very unstable and can be subjected to radical changes with just small adjustments. No one is an eternal political friend and I am sure you are aware of it.

Add Iran into this nexus and Beijing's ambition to be the United States of the East, ends up the same way as you prescribe Japan or perhaps even lower. Then the point would not be to be able to "annihilate" an enemy nation but instead how to prevent the suicidal enemy from equally damaging your cities.

This nuclear arms race is a real nuisance now and for that, I regret liking Mr. Albert Einstein.

In such a case, the age of "Multi-polar world" has truly come.

first of all i have never said china or anyone else will be like the US,plus we are not discussing china here

and yes i do believe that in the future(foreseeable future that is) no one will have free reign in the world like the us has/had, ones power can grow but probably not to what the us had

now then my point was that the United states today has no equal except in nuclear arms(russia) and in the case of japan they, conventionally simply cannot out-arm themselves against someone bigger and richer, and sure they can arm themselves to the teeth nuclear-ly to prevent from being conquer thats good and all but in no way does that make them a "united states of the east" will they be able to dictate the neighborhood and contol what china does like the us can with its neighborhood? no they cant, will they have the biggest navy in the east(world in the us case) thus controlling the sea lanes? no they dont and they wont, will they have bases everywhere thus able to launch an attack on anyone, anywhere, at anytime? no they dont and they cant. thus backing my point that they can be a world power that is truly unmanaged by outsiders but they will never be as powerful economically/culturally/militarily in the east as the us is in the west(world for that matter). also going beyond that i do not say china will be a us in the future but as anyone can see china will be/is aleast as powerful as japan and highly likely to be more powerful now tell me, how can you then claim japan can be as powerful as the united states when the us has no close competitor economically/culturally/militarily and has only potential near peers. while japan already has to wonder if it can defend against china and in the future as far as anyone can tell china will only grow stronger.

 

[jagjitnatt]

Japan can build nuclear weapons but it doesn't need to. Its already a very important extension of US.
The US will protect Japan from any external threats.

Going nuclear for Japan would only harm it. US would step back and nuclear weapons won't even win the war.

 

[gambit]

japan has also right to build its nuclear bombs.. and it can get help from pakistan but am afraid to think that with so many nuclear power countries what will happen world war 3

No...Japan have no such 'right'. Agreements, contracts or alliances always restricts or even remove some freedoms and rights. There are punishments for violations within said agreements, contracts or alliances. If Japan wish to become a nuclear weapons state, Japan should withdraw from the NPT, thereby regaining the right to develop and build nuclear weapons.