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.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's meeting is a show of democratic solidarity and repudiation China's attempts at intimidation.
The PLA's navy drill with aircraft carrier Shandong is another sign that China aims to deter or defeat any third-party intervention in the Indo-Pacific.