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Japan, Britain reportedly eye joint arms development

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© 2012 AFP

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18 Comments
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Guns are bad, big guns are very bad. Make peace not war.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

as long as there is men who would do evil, good will always need to arm its self against them.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

UK's BAE SYSTEMS, the country's largest employer, laying people off everywhere, is suffering from lack of exports, no aircraft carriers or planes, no money from UK MOD for anything new, and is desperate for export sales. Cameron trying to stay in power, needs votes from workers. Let's rattle some sabers and bring up the threat of invasions, security, terrorism, etc.,

The Military-Industrial Complex needs feeding...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Those boys need toys, Japan has some great robots, slap a few guns on them and let's get the this economy firing.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"no money from UK MOD for anything new" That's why the uk (well some in the uk) are loving closer ties to France and the same will be true here plus add maybe with some useful leverage of tech and engineering industry for the uk and some visa versa.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What Britain wants is not what Japan wants.

Britain wants to maintain a standing army in Europe, a blue water navy, maritime, airborne and ground based special forces and charge in where ever Uncle Sam tells them to.

Japan just..wants to play lapdog

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Why would people give thumbs down to some one who is mentioning Peace is beyond me, there are some real drop kicks about.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Why would people give thumbs down to some one who is mentioning Peace is beyond me, there are some real drop kicks about.

Yeah but we still come back to JT. Drop kicks are people too!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Dear oh dear, the usual suspects complaining about Japan and defence-related issues. When there's free love and world peace, defence spending won't be necessary. But when North Korea has its finger on the button and China's spending is ever spiralling upwards it's prudent to have a military.

I welcome defence cooperation between Japan and the UK. Both countries make some good kit. True there couldn't be cooperation over things like building submarines (nuclear versus conventional), but artillery is certainly one thing that both countries need. It will be interesting to see if this turns into something concrete.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It is good for J & B to work together. It is bad that work can only commence after due consideration on both sides of the Eurasian continent. The work should and perhaps will commence next century - wished this development had gathered steam 12 years ago, then next century would have been at our doorsteps. Arms, and perhaps even more, are legs that are required in monitoring the world at large - too much talk, too little/late walk. Not that I propagate balls but we do need to educate ourselves to read between the lines and legs and see where the plot leads to.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The irony of it - two former countries of 'great glory' sent crashing down (one slowly since the end of the last world war, the other in spectacular fashion during the end of the eighties). Not surprised they're working together. Both island nations, not quite fitting with the rest of their respective continents, but in decline due to the exact opposite reasons - one being xenophobic, unwilling to let foreign elements in, with absolutely no laws on racial discrimination, and with an ageing population. The other being so PC correct, it's open the floodgates to every Tom, Dick and Harry, with welfare benefits up for grabs, and population increase despite more and more local born leaving for greener pastures.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Some weird posts here today. Am I too simple to understand such complicated points of view?

The Far East is geopolitically volatile, unlike the EU today.

Japan is surrounded by powers jockeying for position. Some of these powers have expressed disdain, even hatred for Japan, have threatened to turn Tokyo into a 'sea of fire' and have openly expressed a desire for territory that Japan holds.

Should Japan lie down and take it peacefully? Should she appear weak or strong?

These are valid questions, and history will look back and evaluate.

Although I feel uneasy at Japan relaxing its peaceful constitution, the immature and unpredictable actions of surrounding countries make such defence/defense decisions easier and more natural for her to take.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

NeoJamalMar. 04, 2012 - 07:24PM JST What Britain wants is not what Japan wants. Britain wants to maintain a standing army in Europe, a blue water navy, maritime, airborne and ground based >special forces and charge in where ever Uncle Sam tells them to. Japan just..wants to play lapdog

UK has lost countless men in operations with the United States. Japan has lost zero. Who is the lapdog?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

While it's far from enough this is a good for Japan. Military alliances on all levels with the leading Democratic countries is necessary for peace in the region. Sorry but China and Russia aren't invited.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japan's been out of the arms business since, what, 1945? What can it offer in this field?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@warnerbro

Japan builds plenty of weapons but as they are not exported production cannot be scaled up so costs are high. The new Mitsubishi Type 10 battle tank that has recently gone into production costs over $11 million each. If orders double Mitsubishi will be able to drop the price. The gun being built by Japan Steel Works is self loading so perhaps the UK wants that technology. Besides the type 10 tank a little digging on the Internets comes up with a pretty long list of arms built in Japan.

Search for JSDF on wikipedia and click on each branch to see what equipment they use. Most of it is built in Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Excellent news we might look different but we are both an Island race that has defended our Islands for centuries , we have strong principles and values. We also have honour which is something few nations have these days.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

warnerbroMar. 04, 2012 - 10:35PM JST Japan's been out of the arms business since, what, 1945? What can it offer in this field?

Japan hasn't been out of the arms business since 1945. It;s certainly been out of the arms exporting business whch is why you think so. Apart from the aircraft, tanks they have been building both under license and on their own, their real offering is in he precision machinery which canb redily be adapted from civilian use to military. Why would UK even be interested if Japan had nothing to offer?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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