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if it quacks like a duck

The Japanese Government says that this is a Destroyer. the 13,500-ton JSDF(Japanese Self Defense Force) Hyuga appears to my eyes to be the first version of something that could appear to be a Japanese Aircraft Carrier to take to the seas since 1945.

Which would normally be somewhat trivial, but since the Japanese consider "Aircraft Carriers" to be offensive weapons instead of self defense weapons, that would be a problem, because that would be against their Constitution,and thats why it can't possibly be an "Aircraft Carrier".

When you see this sort of doubletalk going on (because its clearly not a Destroyer) You get the feeling that the Minister of Defense got one look at this ship and said "We bought WHAT? How am I going to explain that to the Prime Minister!"

It's also interesting that it may be a Naval issue that brought Prime Minister Abe to resign. Apparently the Japanese government is ok supporting the Afghan mission, but not the effort in Iraq.

More details here.

(Note: She's a sharp looking ship, and if it gives pause to the Chinese and the North Koreans, then keep making them. And yes, I'm sure my long dead grandfather is looking down saying "mmmmm, japanese carrier" and wringing his hands in glee...)

Posted @ September 12, 2007 05:47 PM | Aviation