Japan's Rearmament Fits Broader Strategic Picture

Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-15s began their first-ever midair refueling exercises with U.S. KC-135 tankers over western Kyushu and Shikoku on April 21. As Tokyo debates the limits of its pacifist constitution, the United States is encouraging Japan's evolution away from its constitutional restrictions on military activities. Despite the potential political impact, Japan's official rearmament fits into a broader strategic plan for East Asia.