Japan’s hands have been tied militarily since it embraced a pacifist constitution in 1947, and the national debate to reassess its defense capabilities is intensifying amid the sweeping shifts in the global security landscape. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took further steps toward unshackling Japan’s defense capabilities when she did not shy away from asserting Japan’s national interest in case of a Taiwan contingency. The question is whether her March 19 summit with President Donald Trump fit into Japan’s longstanding quest for normalcy. The answer depended not only on Takaichi but also on Trump’s handling of their meeting.
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