Japan Joining US in Missile Shield

[kskiska]

TOKYO, April 2 — As the United States races to erect a ballistic missile defense system by the end of the year, it is quietly enlisting Japan and other allies in Asia to take part in the network, which could reshape the balance of power in the region.

Last week, a few days after the United States Navy announced that it would deploy a destroyer in September in the Sea of Japan as a first step in forming a system capable of intercepting missiles, Japan's Parliament approved spending $1 billion this year to start work on a shield that would be in place by 2007.

On Wednesday, the Pentagon said it would sell Taiwan $1.78 billion in radar equipment to increase the nation's ability to detect ballistic missiles. Australia decided in December to join the United States-sponsored system, and American officials are holding talks with India.

But the network will eventually require the sharing of critical information and coordination among its members, which could split Asian nations into two camps: those inside and those outside the system. Those inside the system say the shield will be a defense against the missile buildup by nations like China and North Korea; those outside say it will destabilize the region and start an arms race.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/03/international/asia/03MISS.html?position=&hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

[realdeal22k]

1. start an arms race???

Did we ever stop the last one?

[democracyindanger]

2. They have

all those missile tanks from Godzilla that they've been itchin' to deploy.

[Eye and Monkey]

3. Perhaps there's new missile technology that targets lone suicide bombers.

Peculiar that such a technological breakthrough hasn't been announced.

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. As a satisfied Toyota owner...

...and an American taxpayer, I ask only "Why can't the US join the Japanese missle shield?"

I sorta want the sucker to actually work.

[lastknowngood]

5. kinda funny actually. we couldn't deploy any weapons system

in our inventory without the Japanese technology and parts. Are you feeling like a strong independent superpower now.