Philippines Supports A Strong Japan Military to Balance China’s Mischief in the South China Sea

Should Japan Rearm Over China? 

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The Financial Times via CNN is reporting Philippines support for Japan rearming.  http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/09/business/philippines-backs-rearming-japan/ 

This is an interesting development and quite possibly could be the story of the decade, should Nihon heed this encouragement from The Philippines.

Fifteen thoughts about a Rearmed Japan about this come to mind:

1. Speaking of wars, the US and the UK fought two and Britain interfered with the American Civil War.  All of that has long been forgiven by the US.  Why should Japan be treated any differently, now?
2. Japan has been honest in business with other countries.  They don’t steal the intellectual property of others. 
3. Nihon’s companies don’t lie about their financial reports on the New York Exchange. 
4. Japan is a true democracy and not ruled by anything remotely similar to China’s Standing Committee of Elites.  (Princelings)   
5. Japan has never hacked into the US Government or American Companies, to steal or cause malicious damage.
6. Japan has a fair monetary system.
7. Nihon has a Free Press.
8. Japan and the US have a strong defense treaty.
9. They are very involved with the International Space Station.  China was blackballed for the club, right from the beginning and remains so.
10. Japan and the US have strong military and commercial ties, spanning nearly 70 years.
11. Japan is responsible and honest with US technology and intellectual property.  They improve on US designs and don’t steal them.
12. Japan is economically fair to its Southeast Asia Neighbors.
13. A strong Japan could easily balance out Chinese aggression.  I know some people think that could lead to a war.  I believe it would prevent the one in the making.
14. Should Japan rearm, then China can only blame itself.

China's only target hasn’t been just been Southeast Asia.  They have targeted Japan’s economy and have tried to cripple it.  The only thing they haven’t done yet, is add the disputed Japanese Senkaku Island to their Passport maps, as they have with the Spratlys and parts of India.  They have used their rare earth minerals exports to Japan like a weapon, for nearly three years.

The good news is Japan and the rest of world have new venues for obtaining rare earth minerals.  The bad news is thousands of lost jobs in China, due to Japan being forced to wind down factory production.

China has created an enormous amount of anxiety and uncertain stability in Southeast Asia, for really no good reason.  Maybe a muscled up Japan is the solution. 

I am aware that many will see Filipino support for a strong Nihon Military as provocative.  Few thoughts about that:

1. Why is the Philippines the only ASEAN Member providing public leadership in the Region about containing China’s aggressive and menacing behavior? 
2. The silence from many other ASEAN members is deafening.
3. I am sure if some one has a better idea about what to do about China, The Philippines would welcome it.