Watch All Shows Victor Davis Hanson Tony Kinnett Daily Signal Signal Sitdown

Watch All Shows Victor Davis Hanson Tony Kinnett Daily Signal Signal Sitdown

Home – Japan News – Japan’s Shifting National Security Strategy—and America’s Role in It

Japan’s Shifting National Security Strategy—and America’s Role in It

Wilson Beaver | Erik Cotter

For decades after World War II, Japan maintained a defense policy shaped by pacifism and strict restrictions on the use of military force. That era is coming to an end, and the United States should embrace that change as Japan faces an increasingly dangerous security environment.

China has dramatically expanded its military capabilities while becoming more aggressive around Japan’s airspace and territorial waters, as well as the disputed Senkaku Islands. Beijing’s growing military power also poses a direct threat to the stability of the Taiwan Strait and the idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Tokyo has responded by beginning to revamp its defense posture.

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan is accelerating defense spending, modernizing the Japanese Self-Defense Force, strengthening its southwestern islands, and expanding cooperation with the U.S. and other regional partners. Japan will exceed its 2% defense spending benchmark as a percentage of gross domestic product in fiscal year 2027, well ahead of schedule. This is great news for both Japan and the U.S.

A stronger Japan means a stronger U.S.-Japan alliance. Japan hosts roughly 55,000 American military personnel and provides the U.S. with critical bases from which it can project power throughout the Indo-Pacific. This presence allows the U.S. to project power in the Taiwan........

© The Daily Signal