It's a frequent subject on this board, the limitations on the Japanese military. So for those of us not so well versed in the limitations could you guys spell out the major points in the document(s) and if they are a for ever and ever imposition or does it have some kind of sunset clause or something like that?

Well, they cannot be deployed for any other reason other than
1) UN peacekeeping missions
2) Incidents which endanger the national security of Japan.
The 2nd was stretched in the war on terror when Japanese warships fired cruise missiles against the Taleban. The Taleban threat was considered a threat to the whole world, and therefore also posed a national security problem to Japan.
Also, Japan has sent non-combat troops to Iraq.

They also cannot freely import weapons and they cannot export them.

This law is said to expire in 2045.

They can also have no nuclear weapons,no carriers. Basicly no offensivemilitary whatsoever.

Are there limitations on numbers of certain ships/planes/ground units?

I think their military limitations should be ended. They would make a good counter balance to China in the region.

I don't think thier are actual number restraits on units but I believe thier is a limit on how many personnel they can have serving.

Originally Posted by Big_Z

I think their military limitations should be ended. They would make a good counter balance to China in the region.

We'll have to see. The Japanese are also doing some muscle flexing too. It's not simple at all. This is a very bad neighborhood.

Not to mention, a lot of Koreans remember when they used to be oppressed by Japanese troops, as the Korean Penninsula was occupied by Japan for several decades until the end of World War II. The Japanese military expands, and just watch how quickly South Korea follows suit. It was that kind of arms race that helped trigger World War I in Europe. And I'm not entirely sure that China would sit back idol and let anybody get enough military power to challenge them in their own backyard.

Could be interesting to see how the United States would handle that kind of conflict. 3 US allies duking it out in Asia would be one huge problem. And who do you support in that kind of situation?

South Korea will probably find itself in the middle of a Japan-China power struggle. i.e. the usual.

I believe the Japanese are too anti-war for that. It would just be a strong deterrent. They lost at a horrible cost in their last conflict, they don't want to go through that again.