Japan does make extensive use of nuclear energy in nuclear reactors, generating a significant percentage of the electricity in Japan. Japan has the third largest nuclear energy production after the U.S. and France, and plans to produce over 40% of its electricity using nuclear power by 2010. Significant amounts of Plutonium are created as a by-product of the energy production, and Japan had 4.7 tons of plutonium in December 1995. Japan also possesses an indigenous uranium enrichment plant - the same plant, or a secretly constructed plant using similar technology, could be used to make highly enriched uranium suitable for
. Japan has also developed the M-5 three-stage solid fuel rocket, similar in design to the U.S. LG-118A Peacekeeper ICBM. While there are currently no known plans in Japan to produce nuclear weapons, it has been argued Japan has the technology, raw materials, and the capital to produce nuclear weapons within one year if necessary, and some analysts consider it a de facto nuclear state for this reason. ..The JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force) is arguably the second-best navy in the Pacific, trailing only the United States Navy. The JMSDF has a large number of modern surface warships and the third-largest submarine force in the Pacific, and it
could be a potential player in any fight in the Formosa Strait, due to the fact that Japan’s ties with Taiwan have become much closer. ..Japan’s other major asset is its large force of advanced diesel-electric submarines (eighteen subs). The Yuushio, Harushio, and Oyashiro classes displace anywhere from 2,450 tons to 3,000 tons. Each carry six 21-inch torpedo tubes, with a total of 20 weapons (either Harpoon anti-ship missiles or Type 89 torpedoes). These subs would be a potent force against the Chinese Navy. ..
Taiwan may further pursue its existing domestic capabilities. CSBC has constructed a "generic" submarine segment, illustrating its capacity. Taiwan also possesses a crude submarine design that is partially based on the Norwegian Ula-class and Argentine Santa Cruz-class (TR 1700). Both were designed by Thyssen-Nordseewerke (TNSW) in Germany.[41] The latter designs may have been obtained via a Dutch intermediary, which bought the material kits that were supplied to Argentina as scrap metal in 1996.[42] It is unclear how the Ula-class designs were obtained or re-created.[43] Taiwan also acquired 80 percent of the blueprints of its Hai Lung-class (Improved Zwaardvis-design) submarines, which it purchased from the Netherlands. ..Taipei's ruling party decided back in 2001 to buy eight diesel-electric subs for $12 billion. The problem is they are only made in Europe and no European country will sell them to Taiwan for fear of offending China. The Euros will license their technology to the United States, however, which can ask defense contractors in Connecticut or Mississippi to make them for Taiwan. Problem solved, right?
Actually, no. The Executive branch and the Defense Department may like the deal because they get 15 percent of the $12 billion. But the U.S. Navy hates it. Why? Because the diesel subs in question aren't like the ones your grandpa likes to watch on the Memorial Day movie marathon. They are fast, quiet, relatively cheap, and extremely efficient when patrolling a continental shelf or shallow waters like the Taiwan Strait. It took decades for the Navy to get its all-nuclear sub fleet. The last thing admirals want is for congressmen to have a cheaper alternative that provides jobs in an American shipyard.
(certainly no one has second thoughts here alright!