60% of DPJ lower house members want Japan out of U.S. nuclear umbrella

Sunday 11th October, 04:49 AM JST

TOKYO —

About 60% of the House of Representatives members from the Democratic Party of Japan want Japan to pull out of the U.S. nuclear umbrella in the future, a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday. While 58.3% of the respondents in the survey said Japan should try to leave the U.S. nuclear umbrella in the future, 2.8% said Tokyo should do so immediately.

While the latest survey indicates a possible change in Japan’s defense policy following the launch of the DPJ-led government, it remains unclear whether the government can depart from the previous defense policy. The Liberal Democratic Party, which reigned over Japan for nearly a half century with the exception of a brief withdrawal, had always put the U.S. nuclear umbrella as the cornerstone of the nation’s defense policy.

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Latest 15 of 16 Total Comments Show All

mikihouse at 08:49 AM JST - 11th October

where will they get the money? Japan is a major supplier of hardwares being used to manufacture arms around the world. If Japan will have a regular army then they can begin selling weapons of all sorts.
mareo2 at 10:35 AM JST - 11th October

Some people need to get out of the paranoid cold war age. Today USA, China, Russia and Japan are trade partners. For the moment the only reason for keep the umbrella is NK.
noborito at 10:37 AM JST - 11th October

good. We can leave Japan wide open to attack from North Korea. Seeing Japanese seem not be able to get along with any of its Asian neighbors, it will be only a few short years before everyone will speak Chinese in downtown Tokyo. At least it would be a step up. Most people speak that language than Japanese.
mareo2 at 11:30 AM JST - 11th October

good. We can leave Japan wide open to attack from North Korea.

No ofense but the new say, "in the future", I think that that imply when NK nukes problem is solved. These can take years or even never happen.

Seeing Japanese seem not be able to get along with any of its Asian neighbors

Sorry, but I disagree. We just got a regime change after 60 years of LDP rule. People often said that that was an impossible thing to happen in Japan.

it will be only a few short years before everyone will speak Chinese in downtown Tokyo. At least it would be a step up. Most people speak that language than Japanese.

After 60 years the majority still cant speak engrish, so I really doubt we can learn to speak chinese that fast.
M51T at 01:17 PM JST - 11th October

Yes, even though it's a poll, this points to a new position for postwar Japanese policy. Perhaps the timing is right as the Obama administration could well collaborate on this issue.
ashika1009 at 01:27 PM JST - 11th October

Sounds good to me. Let Japan take care or not of itself. It has most pleasant neighbors in China and North Korea after all. Peaceful folk these.

Heck.America has actively defended Europe for too long. Let Europe take of itself. Let South Korea take care of itself. Why are we in Saudi Arabia. Germany? Time to go. What America SHOULD have done is honor the missile defense promised to Poland and the Czech Republic. Yes, I am an American living here and you can see I most heartily agree with the stance of that sixty percent of the DPJ lower house.

Problem is, most of this is just talk to appease (ironically enough) the deluded pacifists of Japan who most stupidly believe that the world is a safe place and that weakness and nice nice are reciprocated. Most often they are not (reciprocated). I guess listening to ipods and playing nintendo all day long is considered some form of defense system. I dunno.

When it comes to brass tacks, I can almost guarantee you the Japanese government will . . . uh . . . ask America to NOT be in such a rush to withdraw the umbrella and the forces. Just hold on a minute! If you will . . . .

I mean, people around here seem to really like their umbrellas!

Note that I do like Japan very much, but being deluded seems to be an international phenomenon.

See Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize for doing absolutely nothing.

Being nice all of the time tends to get more people killed, not less. History, history, history.

What a joke, folks!
Midnightpromise at 02:19 PM JST - 11th October

I support them 100%. USA, it's time to look out for yourself and let the rest of the world sleep in the beds they make.
ReikiZen at 02:38 PM JST - 11th October

I agree in a since but with US umbrella out who will replace it, ah China? If Japan expects non of the above it is dreaming. That is the problem with living in a harmonious society which has no idea of everything that is going on around them. Hell Japan still believes everyone in the west has guns lol. A re-militarisation is almost a joke as do they have any idea what that would cost. Not to mention if ending Korea's nuclear program is important such a move would most certainly null and void that. Also where are they going to get the fuel, money resources, to maintain a full blown military. Japan is in it's worse economy since World War II. Not a good time to be thinking of creating a military from scratch. Lastly they would be expected to participate in military campaigns or exercises under the UN charter. Even though they may just be support or humanitarian aid. They also could potential be a target for terrorists as well. Are the Japanese people really ready to take this on and all the responsibility that goes along with it? The world isn't as safe as they make it out to be. Once Japanese citizens start loosing their lives which happens even in peacetime. Will the Japanese still be so supportive of their new role. If so then I wish them the best of luck and welcome to hell kitchen.
ReikiZen at 02:46 PM JST - 11th October

Sorry I meant full blown military.
ReikiZen at 02:57 PM JST - 11th October

I must be tired as i did say that. Anyways Japan just better think a little bit about all this before it gets all gong ho. Sure it sounds all nice on paper but once you realize all that is involved they might think twice. What really puts a crimper in all this though is their extreme Xenophobia. Oh yea forget about that part. Hey I have an idea!! Maybe we can shoot all this stuff from the cannon. Great idea that way we don't have to interact with anyone. All agreed, well of coarse!! Well that would be a sight to see no doubt.
PepinGalarga at 07:19 PM JST - 11th October

mikihouse is correct, Japan would have to become an even bigger arms supplier, much inthe same way the US, France, China and Russia are doing now, if it would have any chance to raise enough cash for its own defense.

I am not familiar with that they are producing now, but i assume its mostly avionics and other components, not standalone weapons systems or munitions.

Even though this could be an incredible economic opportunity, morally many people here would be against it.
TheQuestion at 09:19 PM JST - 11th October

Have fun with that.
flatearther at 10:40 PM JST - 11th October

Sounds good to me. : )
Yelnats at 11:19 AM JST - 12th October

I bet Japan already possesses its own nuclear arsenal. They do not need the Americans to protect them. Why do you think they have built these big rockets? They are not just for satellites,
PepinGalarga at 02:35 PM JST - 12th October

Japan should do test launches of their "satellite rockets" over North Korea, see how they like it then.