Courting Trump and Fearing China, Japan Rethinks 80 Years of Pacifism - wsj.com
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Japan is reconsidering its 80-year pacifist military policy due to concerns about China and efforts to strengthen ties with the Trump administration.
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Japan is reconsidering its post-World War II pacifist stance, driven by efforts to strengthen ties with the Trump administration and concerns about China's military expansion in the region. The shift reflects Tokyo's calculation that a more assertive defense posture is necessary to maintain security partnerships and deter Beijing's increasingly aggressive behavior. Japan's move marks a historic departure from the constitutional and political constraints that have governed its military policy since 1945. The recalibration could reshape regional geopolitics and alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, particularly as the Trump administration emphasizes allied burden-sharing in defense spending. How aggressively Japan proceeds will depend partly on Trump's commitment to the alliance and on developments in China's military activities.
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