Henry Kissinger said that Japan can create weapons of mass destructionJapan may create weapons of mass destruction within the next few years.
This was stated on May 26 by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
In his opinion, China seeks security, not world domination. In turn, North Korea wants to dominate Asia.
Kissinger noted that China can take such a strong position that India and Japan will have to reckon with it. As a retaliatory measure, Tokyo may "develop its own weapons of mass destruction." According to the forecasts of the former Secretary of State, this could happen within three, five or seven years.
Earlier, on April 23, Japan began preparations for a possible interception of a ballistic missile in connection with the upcoming launch of a military reconnaissance satellite of the DPRK.
On April 17, South Korea, the United States and Japan began a trilateral missile defense exercise in the international waters of the Sea of Japan. The maneuvers began after the launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile by Pyongyang.
Secretary General of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan Hirokazu Matsuno said on March 6 that China's plans to increase the defense budget and, in general, the expansion of the country's military activity in the region cause serious concern to Tokyo and the international community.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on February 28 that Tokyo would purchase up to 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States, since the national industry does not have time to develop and produce its own weapons. The country plans to accelerate the implementation of a program to create its own upgraded missiles capable of becoming part of a retaliatory strike on the territory of a potential enemy.
On February 15, the Japanese prime minister noted that Tomahawk cruise missiles, which the country plans to purchase from the United States, will be the latest modification, with the ability to evade interception. According to him, the acquisition of cruise missiles is considered from the point of view of the need to increase the country's defense capability.
On February 13, it became known that the Japanese government intends to conclude a major contract with the United States for the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to the Kyodo news agency, Tokyo plans to receive about 500 missiles in fiscal year 2023.
On the same day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that any threat to the Far East from Japan, including the deployment of hypersonic missiles near the border with Russia, would be immediately responded to by the Russian side. According to the diplomat, Moscow has repeatedly expressed a strong protest to Tokyo in connection with the build-up of dangerous activities near the borders, including joint military exercises with the United States and tests of new types of missiles and other weapons.
On February 5, the United States requested permission from Japan to deploy long-range hypersonic weapons on their territory, as well as Tomahawk land-based cruise missiles to confront China.
The American magazine Foreign Affairs wrote on December 23 about Japan's rejection of the principle of military restraint. It is noted that according to the new national defense strategy, Japan is going to double military spending. The document states that in the next five years, the defense budget should increase by about $ 315 billion. Japan is also considering the concept of counterattacks on enemy territory.
In turn, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Moscow drew attention to the adoption in Japan of updated doctrines on security and defense. According to her, it clearly follows from these documents that Tokyo has embarked on an unprecedented build-up of its own military power, including the acquisition of strike potential.
On December 16, Reuters wrote that Japan's updated national security strategy represents the country's largest military buildup since World War II.
Japan has planned to spend $320 billion over five years to strengthen its defense potential.
Prior to that, on November 27, it became known that 60% of the Japanese supported the idea of launching counterattacks when attacking the country.
