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| JMSDF Hyuga class (Wiki Info) |
By John W. Traphagan
Recently renewed concerns in Beijing, Seoul, and elsewhere about Japan’s military strategy for the future following the publication of the country’s most recent white paper on defense point out an interesting disconnect in how Japan is perceived when it comes to its military. While, as noted in the Diplomat, there have been incremental changes in the Japanese defense policy for some time, what is often lost in the discussion—particularly in places like China and Korea—is how the Japanese public perceive of their own military and its defensive capabilities. Awareness of these public perceptions is particularly important when some more extreme critics are stating that Japan desires to develop nuclear weapons.
Over many years of conducting research in Japan and talking with Japanese living in the U.S., I have made it a point to ask a simple question: Do you know where Japan ranks internationally in terms of defense spending? Most of the people with whom I’ve spoken do not have an answer to this question, but the assumption is that Japan must rank very low. When I explain that Japan is typically one of the top ten defense spenders in the world, the response is usually one of considerable surprise and even some doubt that I have my facts right.
Read the full story at The Diplomat