Japan Steps Up New Security Assistance to Countries Caught Between US and China

Japan Steps Up New Security Assistance to Countries Caught Between US and China

Japan’s Official Security Assistance continues to grow in its third year, reflecting Tokyo’s aim to give Indo-Pacific countries a third option for partnership.

To quieten drumbeats of war in US and China, cool heads must prevail

While the Ukraine war drags on and new conflicts rage in the Middle East, we cannot overlook the drumbeats of great power tension across the Pacific at levels unmatched since the Cold War. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a known China hawk, frames diplomacy through strategic confrontation. He has said the United States aims to “re-establish deterrence” against “China’s aggression” in the Indo-Pacific. This includes upgrading the US-Japan comm…