Commentary
It seems like there is a sea change in Tokyo’s lackadaisical, “overly reliant on the Americans” approach to national defense.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will double defense spending (maybe within five years) and “fundamentally” strengthen Japan’s overall defense. Other Japanese politicians and officials have echoed this, and the public appears to be on board.
However, Kishida has yet to provide specifics about how the extra defense money will be spent and how Japan’s defense will be “fundamentally” strengthened.
Still, “missing in action” is a well-considered plan based on a proper threat assessment that lays out what Japan needs and needs to do to defend itself. And as importantly, it should include a road map and timetable for bringing it to fruition quickly—and not a decade or two from now….