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  930148mike at 09:20 PM JST - 29th March

  Both Japan and China fear each other's growing military spending and profiles. Reports say that, in 2009, China has spent US$70 billion on the PLA, whilst Japan has spent US$49 billion on the SDF. Whichever way one looks at such figures, they show substantial expenditure in both countries on military preparedness - something that each fears may bring about open hostilities between the two regional giants. Significantly, though, China is not raising strident objections to Japan's stated intention of shooting down any North Korean rocketry or debris that enters Japanese airspace. North Korea, of course, in its blustering fashion, has described any Japanese interference as "an act of war." Pyongyang, although volatile and unpredictable, would probably not be so foolish as to launch warfare against Japan over this much-trumpeted 'test flight' - knowing that such actions would result in the utter devastation of the sealed Communist state. Nonetheless, Northeast Asia as a whole is worried about North Korea's intended actions and with good cause. If tensions escalate to unmanageable levels, then armed hostilities could break out, with destructive consequences for all concerned. Hopefully, the satellite/disguised missile launch will proceed without dire consequences and an uneasy peace will return to this troubled and worried region once the flight is over.

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