ABSTRACT
Pressure is growing from within the Japanese defense establishment to develop military technology in order to enhance career opportunities. Defense officials have traditionally had second-class status within the political and bureaucratic structures; development of defense industries would give them a measure of respectability and expand postretirement job opportunities in the private sector, something enjoyed by other government officials. The post-Cold War environment, with strategic challenges posed by China and North Korea, produces conditions favorable to the institutional interests of the Japanese military. Japan's march toward domination of Asia appeared to have ended with its defeat in the Second World War. The importance of Japan in Asian security issues increased as a result of the Korean War. In August 1988 North Korea launched a missile that traveled through Japanese air space. The Japanese considered this event a serious security issue and retaliated. There is a persistent demand from the US and other countries for direct Japanese participation in international peacekeeping operations.
