> it is clearly in response to territorial aggressiveness from China Abe's been trying to re-militarize JP since his first term in mid 2000s, long before PRC m

> it is clearly in response to territorial aggressiveness from China Abe's been trying to re-militarize JP since his first term in mid 2000s, long before PRC military modernization began. You suggest he's precient, but history + his associations/controversies suggest a revisionist national hawk who loves his war criminals that understands Japan has territorial issues with everyone of her maritime neighbours and needs a proper non-pacifist military for "self-defense". No one in the west seems like to discuss that Japan, a loser of WW2 who should have her territories prescribed via treaty, has shown zero ability to address any of her linger disputes, including SCS tier EEZ drama (Okinotorishima). At end of day, it's within JP self interest to re-militarize, but let's not pretend Abe/LDP's questionable attachment to revisionsm aren't responsible for causing much of the maritime drama in the region.