An article in Japanese magazine Pursuit, claims that Japan would be unable to defend itself against China should war break out, according to the news website of China's nationalistic state-run newspaper Global Times.
The article claims that the old stereotypes of the People's Libration Army as ill-equipped, and the Japan Self-Defense Force as well-equipped and well-trained no longer hold water. Military experts cited by the magazine do not believe that the JSDF would be able to defeat the PLA if any potential conflict were to continue long term.
Jun Kitamura, formerly a strategic analyst for the US marines, said the first consideration when it comes to war between China and Japan is ballistic missiles and long distance cruise missiles with regular warheads, and that China can hit Japan without mobilizing any troops.
The article indicated that the cost of long distance cruise missiles is cheap enough for China to bombard Japan. The PLA is currently equipped with 600-700 CJ-10 land attack cruise missiles and 100 DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles. There is also speculation that the PLA will obtain KH-32 supersonic cruise missiles in the future.
Read the full story at Want China Times