1. THINKING ABOUT THE UNTHINKABLE.
- Author
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Yoshihara, Toshi and Holmes, James R.
- Subjects
- *
FORECASTING , *NUCLEAR weapons , *BALANCE of power , *PUBLIC opinion ,JAPANESE foreign relations ,JAPANESE politics & government ,ASIAN politics & government, 1945- - Abstract
The article considers the political and security implications should Japan become a nuclear power. The authors report that scientific and political commentators have remarked that, if Japan should choose to pursue such a course, it could acquire nuclear weapons in a matter of days or weeks since they have available supplies and scientific knowledge. The article also discusses the likelihood of Japan developing a nuclear arsenal, how such weapons would affect their foreign relations with countries including the U.S. China, and North Korea, and an analysis of the balance of power in Asia.
- Published
- 2009