I don't blame Japan for wanting to defend itself.

They have to face two totalitarian dictatorships led by old lunatics daily, one of which (North Korea) just recently launched an undeclared missile which by luck flew over Japan and then fell in the ocean without causing any damage.

i suppose with nk missles, there's actually a good chance that'd it would've hit japan and not the giant ass ocean next to japan like they intended

That is one hell of a problematic issue when we think of it.

Japan attacked by NK--America intervenes--North Korea and China get together--World War.

i half think china might be tempted to just write off nk at that point, because they really aren't worth it, but i know better than hope for that hah

Wishful thinking but I like it

The sad truth is that now China's dictator Xi has consolidated his role as supreme leader and whatever he says is law, he has reinforced the rhetoric on the "China will take Taiwan" a lot in his last speech so it would be wise to say that China will be an issue for the world soon as Russia is.

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 82%. (I'm a bot)

> Facing increasing security challenges from both Beijing and Pyongyang, Japan is now planning to extend the range of its home-developed land-based missile that will provide Tokyo the capability to strike China's coastal areas and North Korea.

> In a move that is seen as a major departure from its self-defense-oriented approach, Japan is considering extending the range of its new under-development high-speed missile beyond 1,000 km, a report by Tokyo-based agency Kyodo News said Sunday.

> While North Korea is posing a security threat to Japan with its recent missile tests for the first time in five years, the extended range of the missile will also better equip Tokyo to defend its remote islands that China claims as its sovereign territory.

Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: China^#1 Japan^#2 islands^#3 missile^#4 military^#5

There would probably be a back channel communication and promise that the US woukd never station or deploy over the 48th parallel, the current border between North and South Korea. China wouldn't like that the new united Korea would be a powerhouse but united Korea is less likely to be pro-America as much so its a wash.

Which is funny because last time there was a war between these countries it was Japan invading both. But somehow it's Japan that needs to be concerned now.