Should Japanese start building their self defense force?

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I don't know how strong the Japanese mililtary is but should they not start building their self defense force more rather than just depend on us going in and rescuing them?

I heard they only spend about 1% of GDP in defense.

Is it because of the treaty they signed in WW2 or they just figure we would come to their rescue and not spend the money?

Or are their military really stronger than most people think?
 
There is a current debate going on to amend their Constitution to permit full armed forces. They already have a robust armed force with Aegis-equipped surface war ships, patriot missiles and fighter jets.
During the 1970s they even had more destroyers in the Maritime Self Defense Forces than we had in our Navy. Right now we are training self-defense force units at one of our Marine bases in Okinawa and we just completed a joint Naval exercise with some of the war ships.
 
Not only was it part of the treaty, it was put into their constitution. Japan's population is getting older as the younger population isn't repopulating. Funding a larger military might not even be possible and the money would be needed for their social programs.
 
its bc of the treaty ... we have promised about half the countries in the world we would come to their aid in case of invasion.
What happens when two of our friends go to war with each other? Are we to support both sides? (ie - Falklands War)

We have over 700 bases world wide.

This is what Dr. Ron Paul spoke of during his campaign - Intermingling alliances ...
 
True they can only spend 1% on their military. But, what most people dont know is that they pay 75% of all cost to keep american troops in Japan!
 
Yes your right, the treaty placed by the US at the end of WWII limits Jappanese spending to 1% of their GDP on their military. To be honest who is going to attack them? China? The second China shows any aggressive move towards any country the US (and maybe India for fear on Chinese expansion) will be swarming all over them.
Also the GDP of Japan is pretty high since their economy boomed so their military is probably stronger than what most people think. Combine that with Japanese technology and you've got a fairly formiddable force.
 
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