Changing faces of Japanese defense policy: Past and future

During the Cold War, Japan played a strategic role by contributing to the global containment against the Soviet Union. After the Cold War, Japan became more active operationally and better prepared legally. However, it did not play significant strategic roles in shaping the post-Cold War international order. The question now is whether Japan will play strategic roles in the future. Given the changes in the domestic political outlook, political capital necessary for redefining Japanese defense policy seems to be forthcoming. Japan could play strategic roles particularly in ballistic missile defense and U.S.-Japan defense cooperation.Japan, defense, security, Cold War, missile defense, Korea, United States,