Hi stevenlmeyer

From the mid 60s to the mid 70s Taiwan was fairly secretly half way through a nuclear weapons program. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) the US found out about this and told Taiwan to stop or the US would not militarily back Taiwan. The US was concerned the PRC would invade Taiwan before Taiwan actually completed some nukes.

Meanwhile Japan and Taiwan distrust each other (due to Japan previously occupying Taiwan-Formosa) making it unlikely Japan would lend a nuclear hand. Both also have a healthy fear of an already H-Bomb armed China.

Cheers

Pete

Thanks for that Pete.

What's your opinion on Australia's nuclear options?

Hi Steven

A nuclear weapons' capability for Australia is a distant possibility dependent on the threat environment against Australia becoming significantly worse.

In the case of Indonesia that country's military is largely focussed on internal security. Australia's conventional forces could handle Indonesia for the foreseeable future. Indonesia, like Australia, rates good relations with the US (the regional pacifier) highly.

If military threats from China, India, Russia, a militarised Japan, or threatening nuclear North Korea, increased Australia would need to consider nuclear counter-measures. Any Australia nuclear capability would need to be placed on the ideal second strike platform (four nuclear propelled submarines) first. We would need to buy or build such submarines first.

Buying or building nuclear propelled submarines by 2040 should be a serious option.

Pete

Hi Pete

Yep I agree with one quibble. For now Indonesia is a non-threat. By 2030 ..? I'm not so sure.

I think Australia should be thinking in terms of a few nuclear submarines as possible second strike platforms by 2025, 2030 at the latest.

I also think we should dump the F35.

This guy explains it better than I could.

THE F-35 IS A LEMON PIERRE SPREY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxDSiwqM2nw

Hi Steven

The Pierre Sprey youtube looks on the money. The F-35, in trying to do most missions, can do none of them well and has a high unit cost.

Sprey is right about "money to Lockheed Martin". For Australia it is our money to the US as a premium on US protection insurance.

If we bought 4 Virginia Class SSNs the US would get its money and Australia would feel less compelled to buy the F-35.

I wrote an OLO article about the F-35 "Don't Buy in Haste" at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=7401 . Though it was written in May 2008 I think its predictions are still accurate.

Regards

Pete