[musicman]

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[Bringbackthedraft]

Japan had developed some pretty nice subs during WW II, that were more advanced compared to what we and the Germans had. I can see they didn’t stop designing.

[servantboy777]

I can appreciate Japan's non-offensive posture in regards to it's military, but times have changed.

Japan IS in imminent danger from the chicoms and that freakin nut over in N.Korea.

We need to upgrade our military pact with Japan and equip them with the best of the best to bring the balance of power back into kilter.

[gaijin]

The mere fact this was announced as under consideration is a sign that the decision has already unofficially been made.

This is sort of a big deal.

[spetznaz]

As the article states, the Soryu class is quite arguably the most advanced D-E submarine in the world.

[DoughtyOne]

Go Australia.  Go Japan.  Cool...


Ramirez's latest political cartoon LARGE VERSION 05/30/2014: LINK  LINK to regular sized version of Ramirez's latest, and an archive of his political cartoons.
In this political cartoon, Ramirez presents, "Obama: Foreign Policy"

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[Trentamj]

The reason why nations other than the USA, Russia, UK, China, and France do not have nuclear submarines is that they are ALL on the wrong side of nuclear technology treaties which go back to the Cold War, and President Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" programs. Alternatively, the Russians and the Chicoms ran their own rival international nuclear power/propulsion programs. Beyond these two groups former WWII enemies of the Allies, and other countries to poor to play in the beginning, were left to be "customers" of either the US-based or USSR-based worldwide nuclear cartels. As a result, countries like Germany, Israel, and Japan, or nations solely concerned about their own national security, chose to continue pushing diesel-electric technology, rather than dance to whatever world-politicized tune the US or USSR wanted them to play.