Nikkei Asian Review:
TOKYO — Japan looks to update its defense policies this year to reflect the growing threat of North Korea’s weapons development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told lawmakers Monday.
Abe outlined his policy goals in a speech at the start of the Diet’s 2018 regular session. Defense is a priority for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party this year, along with revising the pacifist constitution.
Plans are to update national defense program guidelines by the end of the year, Abe said. The prime minister pledged to strengthen military ties between the U.S. and Japan, calling the alliance one of “mutual assistance.” Defense legislation approved in 2015 lets Japan provide protection for U.S. military aircraft even during peacetime, and Japanese fighter jets escorted American B-1 strategic bombers several times in 2017, according to a government source. This was done at the request of the U.S. during joint exercises, the source said.
