US may shoot itself in foot by conniving Japan

During his weeklong visit to the United States that started on April 25, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made some economic and military breakthroughs in US-Japan alliance. The two countries seek to implement the new guideline for their defense cooperation and expedite the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations.

The two sides announced the new guideline, the first revision since 1997, on April 26, which allows Japan to exercise collective self-defense and intensify regional and global cooperation with the aim of strengthening the US-Japan alliance. The new guideline is also expected to enhance their cooperation in Ballistic Missile Defense systems, as well as space and cyberspace security.

The developments suggest Japan has successfully used the US' pivot to Asia strategy to eventually free itself of the restrictions on dispatching troops overseas. Because of the Cold War mentality, the US has even eased its "hold" on Japan.