Following their defeat in World War II, the people of Japan pursued a largely pacifist foreign policy. Today, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and with near-daily news regarding China’s threatening activities throughout the greater Pacific, the Japanese are reinvesting in military defense and reaffirming their alliances with Pacific partners like Australia and the United States.

Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan looks at recent developments in Japanese naval capabilities and concludes that the Japanese navy is rapidly gearing up. Crucially, Zeihan observes, the Japanese people themselves are beginning to awaken from their post-war pacifism and are becoming more supportive of a higher defense budget and a wider military reach.

The following is an excerpt from Peter’s April 29 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:

The Japanese navy is getting a face lift with the conversion of the Izumo-class destroyers into small supercarriers capable of holding F-35s (compliments of the U.S.).

This marks Japan’s return to full-scale naval aviation and is a reflection of the overall strategic shift in Japan’s military posture. With regional affairs growing more dicey by the day (ahem, China), Japan is straightening out its military posture and looking to play a more assertive role.