Pacifist No More?

The article reports on the strategic planning office to be established by the U.S. and Japan. The office will be in charge of drawing up medium- and long-range defense policies. Japan has upgraded its Defense Agency to a full-fledged government ministry. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe now promotes his nation's candidacy for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He was being backed by former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.