Posted on 11/08/2004 7:29:54 AM PST by Ginifer
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan has determined China will become Asia's top military power and charted out scenarios for a Chinese attack against Japan which could be triggered by disputes over Taiwan or energy resources.
Kyodo News agency says the outline for potential Chinese attacks is part of a confidential report on Japan's defense strategy drawn up by military planners in September.
The report said China would "strengthen its military capability in order to demonstrate its capability to Taiwan and the United States, and will be the greatest military power in the Asia-Pacific region in the future," Kyodo said.
In the case of a clash between China and Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province, China could attack parts of Japan to prevent aid from US forces based in the country, the report said.
Under a second scenario, Beijing would try to take over disputed islands between Taiwan and Japan -- called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China -- to rally support if public criticism challenged the communist leadership.
The report also listed a third scenario in which the Defense Agency believes China could take military action to secure its interests in the East China Sea where Tokyo and Beijing dispute the development of gas fields near their maritime boundary.
A spokesman for the Defense Agency declined comment on the Kyodo report, but confirmed the agency filed a report in September on Japan's defense capability.
According to Kyodo, the defense planners called for diplomatic efforts to avoid conflicts with China.
The report said "economic and technological cooperation from neighboring countries is essential for a stable China," Kyodo said.
In a controversial report last month, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Japan should study acquiring the ability to launch pre-emptive strikes on foreign missile bases.
Japan, which is closely allied with the United States, has had a pacifist constitution since World War II, with its military known as the Self-Defense Forces.
Ahhhh, the Japanese awake to the possibility
of an aggressive China. This is good. Portends
the continued operation of major US military
facilities on Japanese soil for decades to come.
Expand Yokota, expand Iwakuni, expand Yokusaka,
expand Sasebo, expand Misawa! Do it now!
MV
and let the Japanese pay for it.
The Japs are no tightwads... they have the world's #4 defense budget, after the US, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Yes, you heard me right, Saudi Arabia has the world's #2 defense budget.
That goes wo/ saying!!!
SUBMIT! Resistance is futile!
MV
The Japanese have seen this coming for years. I know, I worked for them for over 20 years. They were the most fair people I ever worked for. Yes, produce or your out. But what is wrong with that?
Anyway, Taiwan is an enivetable rumble. Being that the USA is stretched so thin, these are truly dangerous times. Hate to say that but it is true.
Mercenaries are expensive.
So are US F-15S & Abrams tanks ,which they operate & also PAC-3 missiles which they plan to buy soon.
Interesting times.
banzai...! banzai...! banzai...!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.