Japan may soon face the sticky task of defining the difference between a “defensive aircraft carrier” and an “offensive” one.
The Asahi Shimbun noted in a year-end analysis that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is mulling a proposal to convert the Izumo, a Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter carrier, into a full-blown aircraft carrier by having F-35B fighters operate from its flight deck.
The F-35B is the vertical takeoff (VTOL), maritime version of the American stealth fighter that Japan is considering purchasing from the US.
The proposal to deploy F-35Bs on the Izumo is included in possible changes to National Defense Program Guidelines that will be finalized by Japan’s government latter this year.
Constitutional hurdle
A major stumbling block is that Japan’s constitution, in its current form, prohibits the country from possessing “offensive weapons” such as aircraft carriers. Abe is trying to amend Article 9 of the post-war document to give the military a freer hand in dealing with threats from North Korea and China.
But the aircraft carrier designation remains politically sensitive. The Izumo, the largest warship built by Japan since World War II, is still officially categorized as a destroyer, though it is in all respects a small aircraft carrier.
Asahi says one way to circumvent the hubbub is to define the Izumo as a defensive aircraft carrier that will be used to guard the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu by China). The tiny island chain in the East China Sea is claimed by both China and Japan and has been the scene of saber-rattling between the two countries.
The Izumo must reportedly be refitted if the F-35B plan is approved. That’s because its current flight deck was built for helicopters and needs the addition of heat-resistant surfacing to cope with the engine blasts from VTOL fighters.
Officials downplay idea
Japan’s Defense Agency is soft-pedaling notions that that Izumo will be retrofitted or equipped with F-35Bs.
At a December 26 news conference, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera denied that consideration was being given to acquiring F-35Bs as well as retrofitting the Izumo.
But he also left the door open to future possibilities. “There is a need to always be considering various alternatives,” Onodera said.
Paradoxically, it is Japan, the ancient island warrior nation, which must show the Chinese Communist Party, that imperialism and aggression by stealth, are not the answer.
China needs an Asian power to say ‘NO!’ to its dream of Asian domination.
Of course Japan will deploy the F35 B carriers and build more and more.
Of course Japan must protect, the rest of Asia, from the threat of Chinese Communist takeover.
Would you like to live under a regime of continual spying, continual subterfuge, and ever present threats of imprisonment, torture and worse?
Ofo course not! Of course, no one would choose this life, yet this is what totalitarian China, offers all who would venture under its umbrella.
Look at Tibet!
Look at Hong Kong!
Look at Taiwan!
These lands, once independent and capable of choice, are now vanquished under the Chinese totalitarian boot.
Thank you Japan and its great People, for recognising that something determined and pointed, in the form of naval might, must be enacted, as a message, to the Chinese Communist regime.
It is important for balance of power. They have to be dual target defence or offence because PLA has an offensive ming even their fishermen are armored & can sink a navy ship & they intrude in packs of wolves.
You should perhaps look at the US and NATO before considering China.
Japan can try to compete with China but their economy cannot sustain the long term militarization without risking getting indebted to who….mmmmh China?
This isn’t just about building things, it’s about having the resources .
And that’s where China has an edge
Balance of power I prescribe.
Ahmed Alwy this isnt about resources bro. This is about standing up, defending yourself and if called upon, preparing to strike a big bully like China.
You just see China as a bully ,Talk of US thinking the world is His Wife
Clovis Contado those ships and military gear you see don’t run on emotions.
They need Money
It’s time to build up big aircraft carrier for Japan China beginning to occupie South China Sea. See those island they grab from Philippine territory? Philippines is no match to China militarily that’s why Phil needs the umbrella of US Navy to protect us from Communist bully China. There’s no way Phil can afford to have aircraft carrier or F35, F22 fighter jets or Apache Helicopter, M1 Abrams tank? Our savior is only that mighty US naval power! Our allies since WWIi
Russia is so powerful that even China can not touch it. And also Russia is selfish and doesn’t care what China does to other nations. So ultimately, USA is the only country on whom other nations depend for their security to counter the global threat of China.
Curiously, Australia has two large "helicopter carriers". We’re also purchasing F35s. Given that both carriers have the raised front ramp so they can launch VTOLs, I’m wondering if we’ll follow the same route when its politically acceptable.
Emil with pres duterti our Ally now is China and before someone could stand against it all of the area in south sea will be taken by China..it is too late for US to help it’s old allies
VMFA-121, a U.S. Marine Corps jet attack squadron using F-35B’s is now fully deployed to Iwakuni Air Station in Japan. With minimal effort the Japanese could heat proof the Izumo class decks for F-35B operation and in a threat situation deploy USMC F-35B’s… Currently, Japan is buying and building F-35A’s a land based variant that will be based in northern Japan at Misawa AB.
Japan had resisted being a total US puppet, who patronizes USA by buying their weapons, to fight "stories of Monsters" that US wants others to believe and buy more weapons from them… Japan was able to do that, as they always quoted their constitution, which forbids them using military except for defense and doesn’t allow their soldiers to be deployed overseas, which was a wise move. Recent Japanese Leaders were so stupid and self-centred, that they showed americans that they can circumvent the above restriction, and now USA is making use of it to force them further to be ready for the boogie man by buying US weapons. A harakiri by Japanese, by not sticking to their constitution…
Merlin, China is the Miliatary superpower in Asia. They don’t have to dream it… Were you sleeping under a rock all this time??? or are you like most americans, who live like frogs in a well, thinking that they are great nation or thinking that other people around the world are looking up to them??
No, sorry USA doesn’t mean anything to us in this part of the world..
Are you still sleeping, since last decade??
There is a fella called trump who only wants to make America great again.. who doesn’t care what is faced by other nations. Russia and China has showed much more statesmanship in the recent conflicts around the world. while american trump is playing a Kindergarten game back home.
Always knew there had to be a use for that VTOL feature – like using unsanforized itty bitty Jap carriers. Now, perhaps, for a visit to a new island built by the Chinks in the South China sea, China’s contribution to the common heritage of mankind. Clever people, these Chinese.
After Putin’s Russia depopulates China by pre-emptive neutron bomb ICBM attack, this will be very useful to Tsar Putin. That, at least, is the plan.
I’m not boasting, but I saw this coming when Japan built their aircraft-carrying destroyer.