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The FSX: Source of Friction and Cooperation
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15982 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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7 / 1989 |
1,919 Words |
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Osamu Namatame
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The decision by the United States and Japan to build a new fighter airplane, known as the FSX, was initially purely a defense issue. But the proposal for joint development has led to friction between the two allies over U.S. charges that the deal will give the Japanese vital U.S. technology.
Japan has become an economic giant and is currently regarded as one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. On the other hand, the national power of the United States has relatively declined as Japan's has increased. Therefore it is natural in a sense that the United States has come to fear Japan's economic and technological capabilities.
Japan recognizes that it owes a great deal to the United States. Its Self-Defense Forces, which started from scratch, could only have made the progress seen so far with assistance from the United States. Putting it succinctly, it would be impossible for Japan to develop a completely new fighter plane by itself. Although Japan leads the world in some technological fields, it would have to import engines. Besides, the FSX incorporates a highly sophisticated weapons system that can only be developed through the cooperation of about 70 to 80 companies. It was quite apparent from the start that Japan needed the cooperation of the United States.
Japan's aviation industry resumed activity in 1957 after stopping at the end of World War II. Such aircraft as YS-11 planes, C-1 transport planes, and T-2 and F-1 fighters have been developed. However, these planes are not entirely domestically made. The limited capabilities of Japan's aviation industry can be easily seen at the Farnborough, England, and Paris air shows. It is clear that Japan lags far behind other countries.
Japan's defense industry, including aviation, now accounts for only 0.5 percent of all Japan's industries in terms of production. Japan's aviation industry will clearly benefit from the multi-billion-dollar FSX project and pose a future competitive threat to its U.S. counterpart. It must be recognized, however, that Japan's defense policy is based exclusively on self-defense and not on exporting weapons to other countries.
As a matter of fact, Japan dispatched survey teams three times to the United States and Europe to determine if it could develop the FSX fighter alone, except for the engine. A number of European countries campaigned strongly to sell their planes to Japan. In the end, though, Japan decided to develop the FSX fighter through joint cooperation with the United States.
Proliferation problem
The development and proliferation of high technologies are causing a serious problem of security because various types of missiles and fighters have been developed and currently are being developed in many countries. Like the proliferation of nuclear weapons, this problem cannot be disregarded. While the U.S. aviation industry is the top exporter, accounting for more than a quarter of the total, the European Community is mounting a serious challenge.
After World War II, the United States successfully carried out various kinds of air and space projects, like the Apollo project, by investing large sums. As a consequence of the
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