I'm assuming that Japan's latest quest is due to NKorea's newfound nuclear delivery capability.
Somehow I feel the Japanese will likely find themselves out in the cold, without any takers for their great disarmament plan, since nobody's in the mood to disarm. Oh, I'm sure they'll be granted an audience in various important capitols, but beyond that I don't see much happening.
Which major international partners could the Japanese hope to rope in for their campaign? Certainly not the US, or China. Even Russia is doubtful, given the age of its conventional forces.
The EU possibly? But even NATO has long depended upon nuclear deterrence to protect its members from a Soviet/Russian attack.
Would Japan then just simply buy off a lot of 3rd world votes?
Sounds like they'll be picking up our traditional role at the NAM then.
India should be wary about a newly frenzied Japan now taking every opportunity to hector us about nuclear disarmament, including using its financial clout to apply pressure on us. Well, we Indians did not create the NKorean problem, nor should we or our security interests become scapegoats for it.
If Japan hurriedly tries to arm-twist us on aid, then let's hit at them by strategically partnering with the SKoreans at Japan's expense. Given the steep decline in their economy, they're in no position to be bargaining hard with others, especially over our vital interests. Like I've said, the Japanese need to learn to appreciate us more, and to appreciate our unique challenges, without trying to run roughshod over us.
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Which country would Japan partner with?
It would be the limeys as they are finding it increasingly expensive to maintain their sea-based SSBN deterrence. So if United Queendom can't afford nuclear weapons, how can they allow their former colony India to have it?
And yet the Brits know they won't amount to a hill of beans in this world, if they discard their own stategic weapons and leave their defense to the mercy of others. Just as they won't surrender the pound, just as they won't surrender a host of domestic sovereign powers to the EU, likewise they'll never surrender something as crucial as nuclear weaponry. Same for France, the EU founder which likes to have its cake and eat it too. I'm sure the Germans would love to partner with the Japanese, though, considering how their geography positions them smack in the middle of any nuclear pie-throwing fest. The Australians might like this too, except that it would damage ties with Rudd's precious Chinese friends. The Arabs would like it, and actually probably the SKoreans would too (but of course Seoul is too dependent upon Washington for its survival to pit itself against US interests)
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