May 13,
2008: Japan is passing a law to allow
the Japan to manufacture and put into orbit military-grade reconnaissance
satellites. The current law in Japan forbids the nation from any military use
of space. That includes putting military grade spy satellites in orbit. The
"spy satellites" Japan now has up there are actually civilian type survey (weather,
crops, ecology, etc) satellites that are
being used for military purposes. This means that Japan has second rate
military satellites. The new law will change that. After World War II, Japan
disarmed, and passed laws forbidding many military practices and options, like
military space satellites.
That
pacifistic attitude became much less popular as North Korea developed long
range ballistic missiles, and test fired some of them in the direction of
Japan. Then the Chinese developed similar missiles, and sporadic bursts of
extreme hostility towards Japan. On top of that, the Chinese began building a
fleet capable of interfering with Japans seaborne trade. Being an island
nation, this was seen as a threat to national survival. So, no more mister nice
guy. And better eyes in the sky, if you don't mind, as well.
