Japan secretly developing nuclear weapons: Yazhou Zhoukan

Want China Times ^ | Feb 18, 2014 | staff

[bkopto]

The Hong Kong-based Yazhou Zhoukan reports that Japan is secretly developing a nuclear weapons program in anticipation of a potential crisis over the Diaoyutai (Diaoyu or Senkaku) islands in the East China Sea.

Japan is currently the only nation in the world which has a complete nuclear industry. Mitsubishi, Hitachi and Toshiba are the three largest Japanese companies which produce nuclear energy. Under those three corporations, there are an additional 200 smaller firms which possess nuclear fuel or who have the know-how to handle plutonium.

For this reason, Yazhou Zhoukan said Japan has the ability to build its own nuclear bomb if it were to revise its postwar peace constitution. Japan holds a total of 40.7 tonnes of plutonium, including 5.5 tonnes in Japan, 21.6 tonnes in France and 13.6 tonnes in the United Kingdom. The country also accumulates about 3,000 tonnes of nuclear waste in its six disposal facilities located in Aomori prefecture, which surpasses the figure for the United States.

Major General Yoshiaki Yano of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force said in an article written for Japan Military Review magazine that Tokyo should adjust its nuclear policy despite the damage this might do to its relationship with Washington. With the capability to build at least 2,000 nuclear warheads, Japan has recently demanded the United States return 300 kilograms of plutonium. A Japanese military analyst told Yazhou Zhoukan that Washington has paid close attention to the potential development of nuclear weapons in Japan.

The United States recently retrieved 579 kilograms of highly enriched uranium from Japan lent to Japan during the Cold War era for research. With 579 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, Japan would be able to build at least 20 nuclear bombs, according to Yazhou Zhoukan.

[Usagi_yo]

Yea, I suspect they have a bunch of Cruise Missiles at (A), and a bunch of TNT at (B) and some Weapons grade Plutonium at (C).

The Cold War Nuclear Leager is kaput.

[Don Corleone]

I’ve suspected that they could “have” nuclear weapons in about an hour by assembling some parts.

There are some fully assembled and functional ones parked on one of their islands which shall remain nameless, but you all know which one it is.

[null and void]

Howie66 ~ There was a time where Japan could look at the United States as a close and trusted Ally, that they could count on IF things went South.

At the same time, China knew that the last thing that they wanted to do was start some crap with Japan, because they knew that we would take a very dim view of that.

Thanks to Obama, that is no longer the case.

GreenHornet ~ Absolutely correct. Because of Obama, our enemies no longer fear us, and our allies no longer trust us.

EVERYTHING obama does either:

a) Weakens America
b) Distances America's allies
c) Strengthens America's enemies
d) Serves Islam
e) Harms Israel
Or some combination of the above.

I have yet to have anyone raise a single substantive counter example in several years of posting this.

(Although AJFavish did point out that I missed "increases dependency on the government")

[Howie66]

I agree with your list, 100%.

I think that it is pretty safe to say that Obama will NEVER do ANYTHING that would benefit America, the American People or the advancement of FREEDOM. To do so would go completely across his grain.

The sooner that he leaves office, the better for ALL concerned.

[deputytess]

But they already have Godzilla?

[EEGator]

Threatening to rape and murder innocent women and children is a cowardly thing to do.

[Blood of Tyrants]

But their military is limited to defensive assets only.

[the_daug]

It appears to me China is pushing nations in their vicinity to the development of Nuclear arms by their moves into the South China Sea and Eastern Pacific.

[shove_it]

>>I would like to see JAMES MATTIS run for POTUS in 2016.

General Mattis Crosses Potomac With 100,000 Troops; President, Senate Flee City

http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/12/general-mattis-crosses-potomac-100000-troops-president-senate-flee-city/

Me too.

[Wuli]

I see. This Hong Kong based person is trying to claim that Japan’s possession of nuclear weapons could be an issue, while China already has nuclear missiles, but to the Hong Kong person there is no need for concern about THAT.

Me thinks I smell mainland propaganda, not “Hong Kong” reporting.

[Howie66]

SEMPER FI.

My loyalty belongs to the Constitution of The United States of America.

USMC Oath Keeper class of ‘69

[roadcat]

There are some fully assembled and functional ones parked on one of their islands which shall remain nameless, but you all know which one it is.

Well, I don't know. But that leads me to pose the following scenario. The Japanese plant a functional nuke on a certain disputed island. The trigger is a Japanese flag planted above the nuke. There is a sign on the flagpole that says in Chinese "Don't touch our flag, Or Else! Future Japan amusement park.". Have a camera streaming live to YouTube, allow the Chinese to get as close to the island as they want, and enjoy what happens next.

[Sawdring]

Ah, a coup to destroy the Republic?

[shove_it]

No, a coup to restore the Republic.

The flag officers will have to lead it, if there are any patriots remaining at the top of the military.

[lightman]

Mitsubishi...maker of the Kamikaze aircraft engines.

Some things never change.

[Thud]

Japan will have nuclear weapons about 15 minutes after its Prime Minister orders that they be assembled. They could have at least a thousand in a year.

Making H-bombs (i.e., the fission-fusion-fission cycle) would take longer and is dependent on supplies of tritium, etc. Making pure fission ones is a matter of assembly for probably a few dozen. Japan has, right now, the stored plutonium for about a thousand of those.

[Army Air Corps]

Defense assets in name. Have a look at their defense assets. They do have capable main battle tanks like the Type 90 and Type 10. Their Navy and Air Force are not slouches either. They are “defensive” in name.

[Thud]

I could be wrong about whether any are presently assembled. AFAIK the “assembly” process is a matter of minutes.

[Rebelbase]

China could absorb 20 nukes and still function as a country. Japan can’t.

[Candor7]

Dai Nihon has likely had the bimb for years, thanks to the Cold War with Russia.And now the Red Chinks and Norkies are finally getting it? Buahahahahahaha! The Chinese and the Norkies realize that various sectors of their coasts could be glowing in the dark for a few generations if they attack Japan. Wow. They woke up. Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō said to President Lyndon Johnson when they met in January 1965, that if the Chinese Communists had nuclear weapons, the Japanese should also have them. Throughout Sato's administration Japan continued to discuss the nuclear option. It was suggested that tactical nuclear weapons, as opposed to larger strategic weapons, could be defined as defensive, and therefore be allowed by the Japanese Constitution. A White Paper commissioned by future Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone opined that it would be possible that possessing small-yield, purely defensive nuclear weapons would not violate the Constitution.