Article

2006-12-25 China-Japan-Koreas

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2006-12-25 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1761 views since 2007-05-07] Top

1 Go for it, guys. I want to see a nice 1.0 kilogram, .01Kt device next Christmas.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2006-12-25 08:33|| 2006-12-25 08:33|| Front Page Top

2 Everything that I have read on the subject says that Japan can have a functional testing nuke in 6 weeks; and can start serial production of warheads within 6 months. Also, they have all sorts of plutonium and miniaturization is a Japanese specialty, so small high-yield warheads that will easily fit on cruise missiles will be in the first batch. If they choose to go nuke, that is.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2006-12-25 08:43|| 2006-12-25 08:43|| Front Page Top

3 They probably will because a)that damned idiot Kimmie won't stop screwing around with nukes, b) the Chinese seem to think threatening their neighbors is legitimate diplomacy, and c)anyone depending on us for protection after looking at how we're treating Israel can't be feeling too safe. If I'm Japan, I go nuke immediately upon the first signs of waffling from the U.S.

Posted by mac 2006-12-25 09:27|| 2006-12-25 09:27|| Front Page Top

4 .mac, if that's the case, Japan has already gone nuclear, and just hasn't admitted it.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2006-12-25 16:25|| 2006-12-25 16:25|| Front Page Top

5 It is the waffling that is key. When even our most supposedly hawkish leaders cannot be counted on to defend American and British lives - let alone interests - there is no reason to believe we would risk our cities for Japan. Or, for that matter, those of, say, Taiwan. I expect Taiwan and Singapore could produce a nuclear umbrella in short order should things carry on the way they have been doing.

Posted by Excalibur 2006-12-25 16:44|| 2006-12-25 16:44|| Front Page Top

6 Normally, I'd oppose further nuclear proliferation. With the flaccid global response given to Iran's blatant atomic weapons program, that position is now reversed. For their complicity in the continuing atrocity known as North Korea, China richly deserves a host of nuclear armed countries on its doorstep.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2006-12-25 21:35|| 2006-12-25 21:35|| Front Page Top

7 I'd bet cash money that Japan has everything already made and on the shelf, just lacking the plutonium or uranium, or whatever else they may choose to use. Milling plutonium for nuclear weapons is an exacting process, and takes time. I don't think it would take more than six weeks, though, for the first mate-able warhead to be rolled off the assembly line. After that, it's possible that first one could be joined by others in days, rather than weeks. Japan is also the only "non-nuclear" nation that I'd assess has the capability to produce thermonuclear (hydrogen) devices. It probably wouldn't take a whole lot longer than fission weapons, either.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2006-12-25 21:51|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2006-12-25 21:51|| Front Page Top

23:54 Zenster
23:54 Jan
23:49 Jan
23:45 Eric Jablow
23:42 Eric Jablow
23:40 Jan
23:16 OldSpook
23:08 Glugum Omavigum3974
22:54 tipper
22:44 Zenster
22:28 C-Low
22:21 Excalibur
22:20 JosephMendiola
22:20 twobyfour
22:11 JosephMendiola
22:10 mhw
21:55 Zenster
21:51 Old Patriot
21:49 macofromoc
21:44 jds
21:39 Zenster
21:37 jds
21:35 Zenster
21:32 Chuck Simmins
Merry-Go-Blog