Amid the increasing threat of despotic regimes, the new Kishida Cabinet must prioritize constitutional reform to establish defense as a core state function.
How about penalizing Chinese and Russian entities still engaging in trade with North Korea? Or preventing Pyongyang from stealing assets through cyberattacks?
Anti-Japanese sentiment is easily aroused in South Korea. It would work against the Camp David summit agreement to bring security cooperation to "new heights."
It's great to see the Self-Defense Force joining a major multilateral exercise but this training is needed where the trouble is coming, in and around Japan.
Flight recorder data from the doomed helicopter, along with information from similar incidents, is helpful when assessing what could have caused the crash.
After the June 14 incident, GSDF has suspended shooting and bombing drills. But excessive withdrawal and restraint in training could lead to new accidents.
If France turns a blind eye to the growing Chinese threat, it will throw into disarray the unified position of the G7 and NATO to keep...
Whether the helicopter crash was accidental or brought about by malice, the Self-Defense Force needs to determine the cause to prevent a future occurrence.
Changing the export rules to make the engines available to like-minded countries with F-15 and F-16 fighter jets benefits Japan in ways well beyond the money.
Despite the growing nuclear threat and waning US influence, Japan stays committed to its three non-nuclear principles while South Korea's stance is proactive.