[Jeff Head]

I've been out in front of this a little...the Japanese have been preparing for this for some time. They already have two of the following Amphibious Assault vessels that are suspiciously about the size of the Spanish Carrier:

...and with a little retrofitting or modification on the design would look just like their artists concept where they can easily, quickly build two that are compatible with the F-35 JSF.

In fact, in Volume II of my Dragon's Fury Series, when Japan and China square off, they use the modified version in just the way I describe.

[Travis McGee]

This is just Japan coming to grips with reality. They depend on open sea lanes for their survival, and they have decided that they need their own big sticks to keep them open.

[George W. Bush]

...and with a little retrofitting or modification on the design would look just like their artists concept where they can easily, quickly build two that are compatible with the F-35 JSF.

These were my thoughts too. They build something that can be quickly converted. They thereby acquire the military potential without provoking their peacenik voters.

Say, did Japan ever find that plutonium (enough for two bombs that went 'missing' a few months back)?