Publication

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) and intensified defence measures at large, will contribute to a perpetuation of rivalry between Japan and its East Asian neighbors, restricting Japan’s diplomatic maneuverability and reducing its future policy options towards consolidating a regional security architecture. BMD should not be seen as a test case in the validity and future integrity of the US-Japanese defence alliance. Disparate political and cultural traditions aside, shared economic interests and values suffice to ensure the continuity of the alliance, which is not as fragile as recent media reports have suggested.