Can Japan Continue To Grow Into The Military Ally The U.S. Needs? (From The National Interest)

The security environment in the Western Pacific is becoming more challenging for the U.S., its friends and allies. China seeks to dominate the region and project power globally. North Korea is expanding its arsenal of ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads. The U.S. is improving its defense posture in the region both qualitatively and quantitatively. U.S. allies in the region, chief among them Japan, are doing the same. need to do the same. But will Japan make the appropriate investments in sufficient quantities to make a difference t the regional balance of military power? I have written more about what Japan still needs to do here.