Washington fantasizes that "limited rearmament of Japan" will serve its own strategy, but it underestimates the tenacity of Japan"s right‑wing forces to shake off constraints. After Japan"s defeat in World War II, segments of its right‑wing have relied on the US security umbrella while harboring deep‑seated resentment and frustration over the "humiliation of being bombed." Meanwhile, tens of thousands of US troops stationed in Japan serve both as a platform for US power projection and as shackles on Japan. Japan"s current willingness to dance to Washington"s tune stems from its insufficient strength for full independence; it needs US acquiescence to loosen restrictions. Such compliance is tactical pretense for the time being, not permanent submission.

　　It"s obvious that if Japan crosses the bottom line and truly acquires nuclear‑deterrence capacity, it will never resign itself to being a US "outpost" forever. Should the US continue to indulge Japan in challenging the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and allow nuclear‑related capabilities to take root on Japanese soil, it will eventually reap what it sows. If Japan possesses nuclear weapons, it will surely bite the hand that feeds it.