Japan’s Foreign Policy: From “Trading Firm” To International Security Actor

08/15/2012
2012-08-20 by Richard Weitz Historically, the Japanese nation has proven to be highly adaptive to international pressures. Not long after Admiral Matthew Perry forced Japan to open to foreign trade in 1853, the Japanese government initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the country’s political and economic systems. Termed the Meiji Restoration,…

Allies and the F-35: Getting on With It

06/24/2012
6/24/12: by Ed Timperlake A recent Heritage Foundation seminar focused on the F-35 and allies. The presentations were by Colonel Kevin J. Killea, 
United States Marine Corps, Dr. Robbin F. Laird, 
Co-Founder and Senior Analyst, Second Line of Defense and Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski 
Military Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK). The…

Japan to Purchase First 4 F-35As, June 2012

06/15/2012
Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense, Shu Watanabe, revealed at the House of Representatives Security Council that Japan and the U.S. would seal a contract to purchase first four F-35s before June 30. Both Governments have almost agreed on the unit price 10.2 billion JPY, 300 million JPY higher than the…

The Territorial and Maritime Dispute between Japan and China in the East China Sea

05/20/2012
In late 2010 a collision between a Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) vessel and a Chinese fishing trawler in a disputed maritime area in the East China Sea saw Sino-Japanese relations enter into a deep freeze from which they are still recovering. The dispute itself, over not only a large maritime…

Another North Korean Missile Launch: How to Prepare for Realistic Strategic Deterrence?

04/11/2012
by Ed Timperlake Current realities show the pressure of global dynamics, not wishful thinking, upon defense policies.  As the North Koreans prepare to launch yet another missile, the U.S. and the Japanese are deploying forces to monitor and to defend if necessary. For what is the difference between a test…

Re-Crafting Asian Defense: The Chinese and Vietnamese Weigh In

01/16/2012
01/16/2012 by Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We have been working on the re-crafting of the U.S. approach to partnership and security and defense capabilities.  This culminated in our recent Pacific Strategy report. https://www.sldinfo.com/special-report-on-crafting-a-new-pacific-strategy/ Now the Chinese have weighed in and are looking at our approach. http://www.china.com.cn/military/txt/2012-01/16/content_24419407.htm The article discusses…

The Japanese F-35 Decision: A Building Block in A New Pacific Strategy

01/08/2012
01/08/2012 - by Robbin Laird The F-35 will be a cornerstone of Japanese defense.  The Japanese know something about technology.  As a leader in technology worldwide, the Japanese decision validates the cutting edge role of the F-35. The F-35 is the first aircraft in history which can see 360 degrees…

Pacific Strategy XIII: Re-Working South Korean Defense

10/27/2011
10/27/2011 - In our discussions at USMC Yuma Air Station with MAWTS, one issue analyzed was the impact of the first 4-6 F-35Bs on the first operations of the Amphibious Ready Group.  This has naturally led us to look at the same sort of question for the CVN and for…