In the Shadow of the Bomb, Japan-Israel, Nagasaki, Q3 2012

[Japan (X)]

Prime Minister Noda eagerly awaited his Israeli counterpart.

[Israel (Skyenet)]

The Israeli Prime Minister was rarely in what was generally considered proper Asia, nor did he particularly like it. Unfortunately, as Prime Minister one could rarely choose an area of the world one did not like.

Therefore it was wish a smile Netanyahu had extended a hand to his Japanese counterpart for the obligatory press photos before being whisked away to whatever meeting place had been arranged for the day.

[Japan (X)]

Noda glanced across at his Israeli counterpart, and began:

"The first -- and most key concern we in Japan sought to address by setting up this meeting was Japan's security. This is part of the reason Nagasaki was chosen as a site for our meeting today. Japan today is a country at the crossroads, just as we were at the end of the Second World War. Then, it was about making choices, tough choices, to rebuild, repair, heal old wounds. Today, it is about making choices to avoid stagnation, the fruits of complacency and corruption.

Israel has had many pivotal moments in its own history as a nation, as I'm sure you're well aware of. The bond between Israel and Japan is over a half century old. We sit together here, but at opposite ends of Asia. From the pragmatic perspective of realpolitik, an ever-deepening level of cooperation between Japan and Israel is simply logical. Both our countries most visceral, vital concerns lay within our own regions, regions disparate in their geopolitical space. As such, those concerns which cause men and nations to quarrel do not obstruct our relations. The fact that both our nations have strong partnerships with the Americans does not harm this state, either.

Japan has had a long-standing policy of both pacifism and an abstention from the business of arms-exports. My government desires to fundamentally alter neither. Nevertheless, recent relaxations in Japanese policy on business are necessary. Japan has long practiced careful state controls over aspects of the private sector, and in the arena of armaments trade this was at its most pervasive. While this has served our aims well in the past, pragmatically, we must alter our course, here in Japan. Our current policy does not forbid joint development of technologies.

Israel is a natural partner in this regard. Both our armed forces are primarily defensive, in nature. This does not make either of us passive, in our own ways. The life of an island nature demands vigilance and motion on the high seas. A nation which has numerous foes in dearest proximity must act, when it is prudent before the enemy can strike. This is natural, and we understand that. The military crux of the matter, though, is that neither of our countries gallop along intercontinental missions or other actions of the sort.

Our countries share interest in technologies like ballistic missile defence, interceptor fighters, armoured vehicle protection, and so on. Japan has great technological and industrial might, but limited markets for its weapons. While Japan is one of the world's largest spenders on defence, it can no longer maintain present force in many areas, and lacks markets for its armaments industry. To us, you are an attractive partner because Israel itself has significant technological capabilities, demand for military products, and there is an element of political trust which is utter necessity for all Japanese trade involving the machines of conflict.

Our proposal, in short, is to invite Israeli membership in a new Japanese government agency overseeing defence development partnerships. We imagine this to be a two-way endeavor, Japan would join foreign development programs, and vice-versa. Means of production would be program contingent, we envision some programs allowing production by all members, and others focusing on national production of specific components, not unlike the Eurofighter.

Specific programs that I feel prudent to highlight here on the Japanese side of things are the Type 16 155mm howitzer, a truck-mounted piece designed to replace our stocks of the FH-70, a new short-range air defence system to replace our existing and increasingly aged self-propelled guns and missile systems, submarines with emphasis on missile-launching, and of course the ATD-X/F-3. This last program endeavors to bring to service a 5th generation fighter before any nation outside of the United States, Russia, and possibly China. This aircraft would be a natural replacement of the F-15 and fill the air-superiority niche above our F-35s and the indigenous F-2.

[Israel (Skyenet)]

Netanyahu listened intensely to what the Japanese Prime Minister said, and nodded occasionally in agreement.

"Well, Prime Minister, everything you say is true. Israel and Japan are bound together by the great distance that separates us, yet the similarities in our situation.

"We would welcome further cooperation with the Japanese Defense Industry, an industry as technologically advanced as our own, and one with greater manufacturing capability, cooperating could only push us further.

"While the details of such a cooperation would of course rest on the Ministry of Defense, as I do not pretend to understand much about the intricacies of military procurement and research, I am inherently positive to any cooperation which will benefit Israel, and I truly believe this will."

(OOC: Sorry it took so long)

[Japan (X)]

"Excellent. My next order of business is based fundamentally on the principles of discourse and market. Israel and Japan both represent highly advanced economies. Israel in particular has an IT sector which has many great achievements which we admire greatly in Tokyo. We too, are a high tech nation. In our country, there is significant industry, but our agricultural sector is resistant to the idea of free trade, sadly. Nevertheless, we see Israel as an excellent step in free trade relations for Japan, something necessary to bring us out of our economic barren spell.

Israel's high tech dominance and Japan's world-famous industry could complement each other excellently with the mechanisms of the market unleashed for mutual benefit. Thus, we are proposing a free trade agreement.

In addition, we propose greater exchange between our peoples best and brightest. Japan and Israel already have academic links, but we would like to further these. At the moment there are just under a thousand Israelis in Japan, and a similar number in Israel from Japan. We suggest that each nation send 250 new students per year on exchange to the other, as a sign of friendship, for the practical purpose of the exchange of ideas, and in order to foster cultural and intellectual vibrancy in Israel and Japan alike."

[Israel (Skyenet)]

"Such a free trade agreement would indeed benefit both our countries greatly, as I am sure you are aware, one of the issues with living in such a small country, size wise, as Israel makes manufacturing hard at best, and access to Japan's manufacturing capability would surely help. And while other countries might compete with your domestic agricultural industry, I very much doubt Israel could, being a desert.

"On academic exchange, I see this as an excellent extension on the recently established Israeli Association of Japanese Studies, and I am sure they will provide more than enough students for such an exchange program."

[Japan (X)]

"Excellent. While I'm sure you're as excited as I am to formally sign the documents pertaining to the free trade agreement, as well as the other matters we've discussed, and of course the incessant photo ops" Prime Minister Noda paused for a second, and chuckled. He continued:

"While this is the extent of the Japanese side of the itinerary for the day, in the spirit both of authentic interest, as well as the necessary graces of our profession, invite you to broach any topics of interest you wish to discuss today."

[Japan (X)]

The Israeli politely declined any further comment. Noda was pleased with himself, he had invited the Israelis to Nagasaki and extracted everything Japan wanted: some wiggle room for future relations, a nice showing of flags over some eager university students, and a way to put pressure on Japan's least effective domestic political edifies.

Meeting Summary:

1. Israel joins the United Kingdom and (of course) the USA as partners for the Japanese defence industry.

2. Israel and Japan agree to each exchange 250 additional students per year on scholarships.

3. Israel and Japan agree to Free Trade Agreement (presumably coming into effect in 2013).