Our Man in the Orient: Japan

At a time when America's economic interests and security vulnerabilities seem to involve the enhanced commercial force of China and North Korea's forays into increased militancy, it is ironic that we turn to our former military and commercial rival Japan. But that is the point of the Japan's new military focus and outlook. Japan will re-focus its miltary attention to China and Korea, and not surprisingly this will involve American cooperation and involvement. japan and China have ancient enmity, of course. And Korea's aggression is a threat to the entire Pacific rim. But without American prodding there is grave doubt that Japan would have selected this moment to reassign its priorities.