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RE Allies: To be honest, I have not really thought about trying to make much friends outside any puppet states that Japan could release after some conquests. I guess the big question would be this: what countries in the world, especially in Asia, would be willing to be friends with a militaristic, expansionist, New Empire of Japan? I really liked the suggestion of Thailand, especially since they have a monarchy and could probably be won over through promises of land like Cambodia and Malaysia. But outside of the Thai's, essentially everybody in East Asia has some memory of being invaded and occupied by Japan during the 2nd World War. Where could my Japan turn for like minded allies in the modern world?
@Nathan Madien: Don't blame me, I didn't choose it.
@Asalto: Not sure how much Africa could factor in Japan's future plans. Madagascar could serve as the outer portion of Japan's imperial perimeter, but I think the huge naval and air bases on Diego Garcia island would serve that purpose far better.....
@everyone else: thanks for the comments! I am glad to see that this AAR has garnered such interest this early on. I hope that I will not disappoint.
Iraq, March 30th, 2003. With Iraq's army crumbling away, US forces take the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. Saddam Hussein disappears along with many of his ministers as American troops secure key locations in the city. It will not be much longer now until the country surrenders.
With the eyes of the world still fixated on Iraq, The Generals decide that now is the time to make a very important change in Japanese defense and foreign policy. In front of a massive, cheering crowd, the military head of government of Japan, General Hayafuchi, announces that the government has passed amendments to the Japanese constitution removing Article 9 and declaring Japan's right to use force as a means of state action in the international system. The government, through this action, also formally disbands the Japanese Self Defense Forces, replacing the SDF with a traditional military, complete with a Japanese Army, Japanese Navy, and Japanese Air Force. Japan also declares that it is no longer bound to restrict the capabilities of its armed forces. Finally, and probably most controversially, Japan announces that if it so chooses, it shall develop a nuclear weapons capability, to defend the country from any North Korean or Chinese nuclear attack.
Japan's announcement causes uproar throughout East Asia. Beijing, Pyongyang, and Seoul all condemn Japan for repealing article 9, bringing threats of a possible regional arms race. Russia also condemns the measures, but with much less stringent language than China or the Korean's. The United States meanwhile, although saying it regrets this development, sends a much more moderate response, realizing that a strong Japan would be an excellent way to balance out the growing military power of both China and North Korea. Also note however that Japan is now plunged into debt by the huge government expenditures needed for the retooling of the Japanese military and economy to create a true Military-Industrial complex, something that will need to be dealt with before Japan's military expansion can begin.
April 11th, 2003. Iraq's government finally surrenders to the United States. The Iraq war is now over. (or is it?) US president George W Bush stages a victory speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln to commemorate the swift victory of the United States and its allies.
With article 9 now repealed, Japan's military government passes huge increases in the country's military spending, citing the need to defend Japan from threats to its existence.
Meanwhile, the government signs a critical trade agreement with the Russian Federation, trading Japanese consumer products for huge shipments of Russian metals to help fuel Japan's industrial production. Japan is now facing no shortfalls in resource stockpiles.
Back in Iraq, it appears that the United States has called victory far too early. US and Coalition troops in the country start being attacked more and more often by groups of heavily armed insurgents, turning the country into a battlefield between the Coalition and a shadowy guerrilla army of Iraqi nationalists, Islamic extremists, and old Saddam Hussein loyalists that refuse to lay down their weapons. The Iraq war is far from over now, and will definitely require extensive occupation by the US for years to come.
Japan's government increases its role within the Japanese economy. State intervention now allows Japan's military regime to better guide economic policies and direct things such as industrial production, instead of leaving such economic issues to the invisible hand of the free market capitalist system.
Iran makes an offer to the United States, possibly hoping to buy itself time to prepare for a possible US invasion after the defeat of Saddam Hussein. Tehran offers a multitude of concessions to Washington, including recognition of Israel and normalized ties with the US. However, the Republican government of George W Bush rejects the offer outright, claiming that it will not deal with states that "are supporters of Islamic terrorism". The offer therefore falls apart.
Japan makes the last of its changes to defense policy in the wake of the repeal of Article 9 from the constitution, introducing military conscription throughout the country. Japan's armed forces now swell with very large numbers of new conscripts, which will enable Japan to greatly expand its armed forces. (daily MP gain is now up from about 0.19 to 0.58 per day) Of course, Beijing, Pyongyang, Seoul, and even Taipei denounce the introduction of Conscription to Japan, but Tokyo simply answers these complaints by pointing out that all of them practice conscription to accumulate military manpower, something that all states have a right to do.
@Nathan Madien: Don't blame me, I didn't choose it.
@Asalto: Not sure how much Africa could factor in Japan's future plans. Madagascar could serve as the outer portion of Japan's imperial perimeter, but I think the huge naval and air bases on Diego Garcia island would serve that purpose far better.....
@everyone else: thanks for the comments! I am glad to see that this AAR has garnered such interest this early on. I hope that I will not disappoint.
Iraq, March 30th, 2003. With Iraq's army crumbling away, US forces take the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. Saddam Hussein disappears along with many of his ministers as American troops secure key locations in the city. It will not be much longer now until the country surrenders.
With the eyes of the world still fixated on Iraq, The Generals decide that now is the time to make a very important change in Japanese defense and foreign policy. In front of a massive, cheering crowd, the military head of government of Japan, General Hayafuchi, announces that the government has passed amendments to the Japanese constitution removing Article 9 and declaring Japan's right to use force as a means of state action in the international system. The government, through this action, also formally disbands the Japanese Self Defense Forces, replacing the SDF with a traditional military, complete with a Japanese Army, Japanese Navy, and Japanese Air Force. Japan also declares that it is no longer bound to restrict the capabilities of its armed forces. Finally, and probably most controversially, Japan announces that if it so chooses, it shall develop a nuclear weapons capability, to defend the country from any North Korean or Chinese nuclear attack.
Japan's announcement causes uproar throughout East Asia. Beijing, Pyongyang, and Seoul all condemn Japan for repealing article 9, bringing threats of a possible regional arms race. Russia also condemns the measures, but with much less stringent language than China or the Korean's. The United States meanwhile, although saying it regrets this development, sends a much more moderate response, realizing that a strong Japan would be an excellent way to balance out the growing military power of both China and North Korea. Also note however that Japan is now plunged into debt by the huge government expenditures needed for the retooling of the Japanese military and economy to create a true Military-Industrial complex, something that will need to be dealt with before Japan's military expansion can begin.
April 11th, 2003. Iraq's government finally surrenders to the United States. The Iraq war is now over. (or is it?) US president George W Bush stages a victory speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln to commemorate the swift victory of the United States and its allies.
With article 9 now repealed, Japan's military government passes huge increases in the country's military spending, citing the need to defend Japan from threats to its existence.
Meanwhile, the government signs a critical trade agreement with the Russian Federation, trading Japanese consumer products for huge shipments of Russian metals to help fuel Japan's industrial production. Japan is now facing no shortfalls in resource stockpiles.
Back in Iraq, it appears that the United States has called victory far too early. US and Coalition troops in the country start being attacked more and more often by groups of heavily armed insurgents, turning the country into a battlefield between the Coalition and a shadowy guerrilla army of Iraqi nationalists, Islamic extremists, and old Saddam Hussein loyalists that refuse to lay down their weapons. The Iraq war is far from over now, and will definitely require extensive occupation by the US for years to come.
Japan's government increases its role within the Japanese economy. State intervention now allows Japan's military regime to better guide economic policies and direct things such as industrial production, instead of leaving such economic issues to the invisible hand of the free market capitalist system.
Iran makes an offer to the United States, possibly hoping to buy itself time to prepare for a possible US invasion after the defeat of Saddam Hussein. Tehran offers a multitude of concessions to Washington, including recognition of Israel and normalized ties with the US. However, the Republican government of George W Bush rejects the offer outright, claiming that it will not deal with states that "are supporters of Islamic terrorism". The offer therefore falls apart.
Japan makes the last of its changes to defense policy in the wake of the repeal of Article 9 from the constitution, introducing military conscription throughout the country. Japan's armed forces now swell with very large numbers of new conscripts, which will enable Japan to greatly expand its armed forces. (daily MP gain is now up from about 0.19 to 0.58 per day) Of course, Beijing, Pyongyang, Seoul, and even Taipei denounce the introduction of Conscription to Japan, but Tokyo simply answers these complaints by pointing out that all of them practice conscription to accumulate military manpower, something that all states have a right to do.
Interesting developments. Did you add those events yourself or are they actually in the game files?
Article 9 is gone, I feel like celebrating now...
Though the issue of debt leaves much to be desired.
Though the issue of debt leaves much to be desired.
I wonder who your first enemy will be. Practically all countries in your neighborhood have strong military forces, except maybe Philippines.
Taiwan and... you know, China.
Who are definitely a good first target. After that, maybe Indochina? Those little states don't look nearly as strong as the Koreas. Of course, at that point it would probably be all-out war, with all the Chinese, Americans and other Asians in open war against Japan.
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Nice events! Btw, since there was a discusion about potential allies, what about using the OTL 2006 Thai coup d'etat for purpose of getting Thailand into your sphere of influence? Thai situation was very similar to your Japanese scenario (goverment removed by military, monarch supports new military goverment). Both Japan and Thailand would be monarchies lead by military juntas then. Thai generals would remove the civil goverment, king would give support to army to prevent social unrest and Japan would recognize new goverment.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the Thai coup d'tat. That would make a perfect excuse to bring Thailand into your alliance.
Also, I'm not saying to actually have the ROC as an ally, I say create a Chinese Puppet State.
Also, I'm not saying to actually have the ROC as an ally, I say create a Chinese Puppet State.
@TemplarComander: The article 9 events are already in the files. I just made the militarization one fire early for story purposes.
@Hax: True, but my troops are already very well equipped and have orgs of about 190% at the moment (and will go up to about 230% once my logistics techs are done researching), so I still trust the ability of my army to fight and win whatever battles they get involved in.
@hoi2geek: No. The Philippines will become a major colony and military outpost of the new empire of Japan.
@Battle bunny: I do not gain much from invading Indochina yet. Militarily, only Vietnam has a very strong army, but the region does not possess that much important resources. Indonesia however.....
@Asalto: I really like that idea. I will have to remember it when 2006 rolls around. But outside of thailand, what other allies could I find? Perhaps some countries further away in South America or Africa? Should Japan even bother finding already existing allies and just make some puppet states out of some of the countries that will be conquered? There are a few states that I want to establish as allies once I take the necessary territories.
@ everyone else: thanks for the comments!
By June 2003, Japan's government has gotten its debt issues under control. Government expenditures are now in the green and the country can now invest its resources into other matters.
Those other matters are first and foremost the Japanese Armed Forces. Japan immediately gets to work putting its resources into massive expansion of the military. First on the list: heavy transport ships for the Japanese navy, mechanized infantry divisions for the army, special forces commando brigades along with units of transport helicopters, and most importantly, the laying down of the future flagship of the Japanese navy, the Ryujo, the first Japanese built aircraft carrier since the Second World War.
To keep the intentions of Japan's leaders and high officials secret from the rest of the world, Japanese intelligence services begin the process of rapid expansion, with new specialists and agents being trained in counter-espionage tactics to help protect the country from foreign intelligence services.
Japan's economy continues to grow, not only through national GDP growth, but also through things such as new industrial materials, which help to further improve production.
By October of 2003, Japan's intelligence services are ready to begin counter-espionage operations, to purge the country of foreign intelligence operatives. The first success comes with the death of an American CIA operative in a shootout in a Kyoto apartment, something that is explained away to the media and the Japanese public as a counter narcotics operation resulting in the death of a Yakuza gang member.
In international news, China launches a rocket into space, as the US announces the stabilization of global oil prices.
Meanwhile, counter espionage operations continue. Agents from the United States and China are hunted down and systematically executed, one by one. The Chinese and Americans are quickly losing their only sources of critical intelligence information regarding Japan, something that will be of great value to the Japanese government.
Car bombs go off in Turkey. The PKK or Islamic extremists are the prime suspects.
By December, new mechanized infantry divisions are ready for service in the Japanese army. New transport ships are also finished production and are ready for service. Meanwhile, the Americans capture Saddam Hussein, and prepare to put the former President of Iraq on trial.
Back in the neighborhood, North Korea makes some form of offer to the United States regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program. President Bush is not prepare to hear any of it however, and quickly turns down North Korea's offer, declaring it as nothing more than political tricks.
Meanwhile, the North African state of Libya declares that it will continue its nuclear weapons program. Japanese leaders highly doubt that the country has the capability of actually building nuclear weapons, even with extensive investment by Libya's government.
@Hax: True, but my troops are already very well equipped and have orgs of about 190% at the moment (and will go up to about 230% once my logistics techs are done researching), so I still trust the ability of my army to fight and win whatever battles they get involved in.
@hoi2geek: No. The Philippines will become a major colony and military outpost of the new empire of Japan.
@Battle bunny: I do not gain much from invading Indochina yet. Militarily, only Vietnam has a very strong army, but the region does not possess that much important resources. Indonesia however.....
@Asalto: I really like that idea. I will have to remember it when 2006 rolls around. But outside of thailand, what other allies could I find? Perhaps some countries further away in South America or Africa? Should Japan even bother finding already existing allies and just make some puppet states out of some of the countries that will be conquered? There are a few states that I want to establish as allies once I take the necessary territories.
@ everyone else: thanks for the comments!
By June 2003, Japan's government has gotten its debt issues under control. Government expenditures are now in the green and the country can now invest its resources into other matters.
Those other matters are first and foremost the Japanese Armed Forces. Japan immediately gets to work putting its resources into massive expansion of the military. First on the list: heavy transport ships for the Japanese navy, mechanized infantry divisions for the army, special forces commando brigades along with units of transport helicopters, and most importantly, the laying down of the future flagship of the Japanese navy, the Ryujo, the first Japanese built aircraft carrier since the Second World War.
To keep the intentions of Japan's leaders and high officials secret from the rest of the world, Japanese intelligence services begin the process of rapid expansion, with new specialists and agents being trained in counter-espionage tactics to help protect the country from foreign intelligence services.
Japan's economy continues to grow, not only through national GDP growth, but also through things such as new industrial materials, which help to further improve production.
By October of 2003, Japan's intelligence services are ready to begin counter-espionage operations, to purge the country of foreign intelligence operatives. The first success comes with the death of an American CIA operative in a shootout in a Kyoto apartment, something that is explained away to the media and the Japanese public as a counter narcotics operation resulting in the death of a Yakuza gang member.
In international news, China launches a rocket into space, as the US announces the stabilization of global oil prices.
Meanwhile, counter espionage operations continue. Agents from the United States and China are hunted down and systematically executed, one by one. The Chinese and Americans are quickly losing their only sources of critical intelligence information regarding Japan, something that will be of great value to the Japanese government.
Car bombs go off in Turkey. The PKK or Islamic extremists are the prime suspects.
By December, new mechanized infantry divisions are ready for service in the Japanese army. New transport ships are also finished production and are ready for service. Meanwhile, the Americans capture Saddam Hussein, and prepare to put the former President of Iraq on trial.
Back in the neighborhood, North Korea makes some form of offer to the United States regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program. President Bush is not prepare to hear any of it however, and quickly turns down North Korea's offer, declaring it as nothing more than political tricks.
Meanwhile, the North African state of Libya declares that it will continue its nuclear weapons program. Japanese leaders highly doubt that the country has the capability of actually building nuclear weapons, even with extensive investment by Libya's government.
It's good to see Japan strengthening itself but how are you explaining your executions of CIA agents to the US government? For now at least you have to make sure you're seen as more of an asset than a threat, sickening as it is to have to bow to them.
He did say something about excusing them for narcotics operatives...
Meh, that would be tough to explain.
Meh, that would be tough to explain.
Well I guess I should have to explain it this way: raising protests with the Japanese government over the loss of agents would be a glaring admission by the United States that they are actively spying on one of their closest allies, a country that hosts thousands of American troops within its borders and who has (so far) continued to act officially as one of the USA's biggest allies in the region. Would the American's really want to risk damaging diplomatic relations over something that at least publically was nothing more than a counter-narcotics operation? Also remember, that the CIA agent was not "executed" as in captured and shot in the back of the head. The agent was killed after engaging in a firefight with Japanese internal security forces, rather than surrendering.
Espionage is a funny thing, it is sort off a taboo subject in international relations. Everybody does it to everyone else, something that we have seen in things like the recent Wikileaks diplomatic cable releases and in the arrests and deportation of that really hot Russian red-headed lady and her companions in the US that were spying for the Russians. Note how with that incident, it was buried by BOTH the Russian and US governments very quickly. I would figure that something similar would happen in the situation I have described in that last update.
I hope that is a good explanation. I guess if the American's do not want their agents getting killed, they shouldn't be spying on Japan in the first place.
Espionage is a funny thing, it is sort off a taboo subject in international relations. Everybody does it to everyone else, something that we have seen in things like the recent Wikileaks diplomatic cable releases and in the arrests and deportation of that really hot Russian red-headed lady and her companions in the US that were spying for the Russians. Note how with that incident, it was buried by BOTH the Russian and US governments very quickly. I would figure that something similar would happen in the situation I have described in that last update.
I hope that is a good explanation. I guess if the American's do not want their agents getting killed, they shouldn't be spying on Japan in the first place.
