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winegum343 t1_ixtc6ln wrote

Wow, this is quite a big step for Japan and kinda goes to show how threatened by their neighbors they are feeling tbh. However am not a geopolitics expert and this is just my assessment.

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Candelestine t1_ixtn3gb wrote

Japan has always been in a precarious position, it's like the country motto. It's why they gave imperialism their best shot, and then dove headfirst into manufacturing.

With military conflict peeking its head, yeah, big volcanic hurricane-target archipelago with no major natural resources to speak of, a whole bunch of people to feed and two big, aggressive neighbors does have cause to be concerned.

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skybluerazer t1_ixtza6m wrote

Which are the two big aggressive neighbors? N. Korea is just psycho. I’ll agree that you cannot trust China.

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Sl1pp3ryNinja t1_ixu1f4r wrote

They are right next to Russia, and some of the islands north of Japan are disputed territory

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Healthy-Travel3105 t1_ixu9aj0 wrote

There was an article yesterday regarding FSB leaks discussing attacking Japan too.

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skybluerazer t1_ixu1yas wrote

Russia is such a non-threat and has become something more of a mere annoyance and troublemaker that I forgot about them. The Sharkesy Islands (can’t spell the name) north of Japan and borders Russia is the disputed territory if I recall correctly.

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KP_Wrath t1_ixu7xew wrote

Russia could be the mangiest mutated beast to stumble out of Chernobyl, but it’s still good at killing women and children, so being able to hit back at that is prudent.

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Candelestine t1_ixupvk5 wrote

Ignoring someone just because their military is not very good at fighting wars is not a very good idea. This is not a video game, these are real people dying. It doesn't matter who wins, it's still a horrifying, barbaric and frankly anachronistic activity that you do not want to engage in under any circumstances.

It doesn't have to be large, aggressive and super dangerous, though it is, like any nuclear power. It just has to be aggressive for it to become wise for neighbors to keep themselves generally well-prepared.

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darkingz t1_ixxhnnw wrote

> two big, aggressive neighbors

I’d say three at least. If not four. I get why they are demilitarized and I agree with the reasoning but Japan probably also wants to keep their own cultural identity (fair enough) and the neighbors around them are plenty itchy on the trigger often.

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