US allies in Asia are looking to build middle-power coalitions

“In an increasingly severe security environment, no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone,” declared Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last month, signalling a major shift in Tokyo’s defence posture.“Under the new system, we will strategically promote equipment transfers while making even more rigorous and cautious judgments on whether transfers are permissible,” she added, confirming long-running speculation that Tokyo would relax decades-old restrictions on exports of high-end military equipment.Thanks to its post-war pacifist constitution, Japan previously limited military equipment exports to non-lethal categories, namely for transport, rescue, surveillance, minesweeping and early warning systems purposes. Though Tokyo will still refrain from sending armaments to nations engaged in conflict, as many as 17 major defence partners can now benefit from Japan’s cutting-edge military technology.