<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1WLqiBQdf4w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Japan's Giant New 'Flat Top' Destroyer Is So A Secret Aircraft Carrier Japan just unleashed one of its largest warships ever. Dubbed Izumo, it's a flat top destroyer that Japan says isn't an aircraft carrier. But look at it. One of its main duties is to "carry aircraft." You sly devils you, Japan. Izumo has been under construction for the last four years, and it was designed to be used in national defense. The 250 meter flat deck will be used to carry 14 helicopters. It is not technically an aircraft carrier. That is because an aircraft carrier could be seen as a military vehicle meant for offensive, not defensive, campaigns. Japan is constitutionally not allowed to maintain an offensive military force, something that happened after World War II. This ship comes on the heels of Hyuga, another, similar ship which was launched in 2011. Izumo isn't quite long enough for regular take-off and landing, nor does it have any of the catches or catapults to send out a fighter. However, it could be able to accommodate vertical take-off and landing crafts in the future. Japan says they have no plans to use it like an aircraft carrier. link
Oh the horror What's next? Letting Japanese politicians visit shrines dedicated to war criminals an elaborate ceremonies!?
One country that shouldn't be surprised in the least about this development is China. After all, China's own policies are driving Japan to rearm. Sam is correct. It is a giant humanoid robot disguised as a destroyer that's cleverly disguised as an aircraft carrier. Look for Japan to purchase the aircraft pictured below as soon as possible, when production is ramped up and the kinks are ironed out of the F-35B, which we are busy doing. And we will sell it to them. That is something I don't doubt for a second. The short takeoff, vertical landing 5th generation fighter designed to operate from the decks of ships with a large flat deck. Japan is busy finishing construction on just that kind of... giant humanoid robot! Probably not the last giant humanoid robot Japan will build, I'm guessing.
If Japan's building a nice "defense force", what's the point of our bases there again? It becomes utterly pointless. We're obviously not trying to prevent Japan from rebuilding a regular army as per WW2 reasons. Nor are we defending Japan from possible Chinese attacks, since Japan seems quite on its way to do so by itself.
Japan has a very long way to go to become a regional power that doesn't need or want the United States as an ally. In fact, my guess is that most of the countries in the region enjoy the status quo, and would just as soon have Japan weak, and the bases the United States has on Japanese territory remaining right where they are, and occupied by the US military. I find it interesting that with China's aggressive "push" in the region, countries like Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia have now expressed a desire to "ramp up" military ties with the US. Cause and effect.
So why are the US allowing for Japan to make aircraft carriers then? The only way this makes sense is if US military is trying to build up the Japanese army so we can withdraw from the region. But that of course makes no sense because it would only cause other Asian countries to become jittery. So if the US wants to maintain military control in the region, wouldn't it be better to keep offensive military potential of all relevant countries as low as possible? As for China's "aggression", I find the likelihood that China performs military action on any of the SE Asian countries to be as much as US trying to invade any Latin American countries. Globalization and free trade has pretty much rendered the idea of countries invading countries nearly pointless IMO.
US should never leave until Japan fully recognize past war crimes... i don't know why people worry about PRC when Japan is the one who has repeatedly try to expand militarily.
It isn't an aircraft carrier. It is half the size of this ship, which also isn't an aircraft carrier. Spoiler New improved version Spoiler
1. The only Japanese people that want the US to stay in Japan are government officials because it saves them defense spending. Public opinion of the US presence, particularly in Okinawa, is generally not very positive what with the rapes, general misbehavior of soldiers, and colonial overtones. 2. What Chinese "push?" Beyond doing some chest beating, what exactly has China done? Interesting how India and Japan have about as many territorial disputes with other countries as China, but we never hear about those.
