Thread by @profLind

In a more dangerous Asia, Japan’s new nat’l security strategy outlines stunning changes. The doubling of defense spending breaks a long-standing norm (the 1% of GDP ceiling) that held for decades. Japan will leap from world’s ninth-largest defense spender…to third. 1/x

Jse leaders have debated the legality of counterstrike (striking enemy territory if J absorbs missive attacks) since the 1950’s. It was considered power projection and therefore against J’s doctrine of “defensive defense.” Over the years the norm held…until now. 2/x

Cue the inevitable clickbait (and Chinese statements) about Japan’s “remilitarization.” Nope. These changes are a surprisingly delayed effort to bolster J’s security in responses to its much more dangerous region. 3/x

Tokyo and Seoul, which in response to shared threats have recently shown the promise of cooperation, manage to avoid even a momentary sense of unity and purpose m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?u… 4/x

For great context and perspective on these historic changes in Japan’s security #FF @tetsuo_kotani @takakohikotani @observingjapan @ZackCooper @dicksamuelsMIT @alessionaval @kenj0126 @SheilaSmithCFR @motokorich 5/x

Stay tuned for my forthcoming essay on all this…