Crossfire War: Japan - Plutonium Stockpile 43 Tons, 20 Times More Than 2003

By Willard Payne

Night Watch: TOKYO - The Japanese government has just stated its stockpile of plutonium has increased to 43.1 tons as of the end of 2004.

This surprise announcement is more of a shock to China’s military establishment. Just last year the amount was only 2.4 tons. Of the 43 tons 29.3 tons are believed to be fissionable, available to become nuclear weapons and experts say it requires only several kilograms of fissionable plutonium to make one bomb. One kilogram is 2.2 lbs.

Beijing knows that with Japan’s technological capablility they have the capacity to become a major nuclear power overnight. And with Tokyo’s extremely close ties to the Pentagon they may also be aware that there are conventional bombs more powerful than nuclear ones. With the news today of 5 Chinese warships seen in the disputed Chunxiao gas field Tokyo has probably instructed its defense industry to act accordingly.