How Dangerous Is Japan’s Remilitarization?
New tensions have expedited Tokyo’s long-term plans.
January 11, 2025
Japan’s military had a busy 2024, and all indicators point to an even busier 2025. The year was punctuated by an announcement from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that Tokyo would increase military spending, engage in more multilateral military exercises and sign additional defense agreements with regional allies – all in an effort to deter aggression from China, Russia and North Korea.
Geography largely explains why Japan is often at odds with its neighbors. The Japanese archipelago blocks the Korean Peninsula and the southernmost point of Russia from direct access to the Pacific. It does likewise for the northeastern Chinese regions around Shanghai. More, Japan itself has few natural resources – it has to import them from elsewhere – making it disproportionately reliant on the same sea lanes. Historically, this reliance on others for resources has compelled Japan to seek territory by force in mainland Asia, creating historical grievances that exist even today. Add to th…
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