Shinzo Abe's son, Koichiro Kono, boarded the U.S. Sea Wolf-class attack nuclear submarine in Yokosuka to take a simulated drive through the periscope. The Japanese embassy in the United States stated that the submarine is an important part of U.S. military power, and the U.S. is strengthening "underwater deterrence" with Japan, which is "key to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific." This is the first visit of this nuclear submarine to the Yokosuka base in over a year. Two days earlier, Takahashi held a ministerial-level meeting on "strengthening maritime security capabilities" at the Prime Minister's Office, where she said, "The security environment around Japan is becoming increasingly severe," and Japan will "enhance the capabilities of large patrol vessels" and improve "the coordination between the Coast Guard, the Ministry of Defense, and the Self-Defense Forces" to enhance territorial and airspace defense capabilities. Takahashi clearly hasn't forgotten her statement that the Taiwan Strait crisis relates to Japan's national survival; she is serious and willing, and she does not believe Japan lacks "maritime sovereignty." The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command directive fully aligns with Japan's needs, which is to become a forward outpost of the U.S. first island chain strategy.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852449573015616/
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