Japan turning hawkish on defense policy

Former high-ranking military officers in Japan are calling on Japan to drop its defensive military posture and adopt a more “offensive defense” capabilities, including long-range cruise missiles and other precision weapons.

The main advocate is retired Vice Admiral Hideaki Kaneda who has raised the idea in the Diet over the past two years and has renewed his advocacy of it in recent months, according to Japanese press reports.

A North Korean missile test which overflew Japan in 1998 shocked the nation and led to a review of strictly neutral defense policies imposed under pressure by the U.S. occupation following Japan's disastrous defeat in World War II."

-- WorldTribune.com