New Collaboration in Defence and Security in East Asia

by Simon Chelton On 10th April this year UK Prime Minster David Cameron visited Tokyo. On the agenda, amongst a whole range of proposals on bilateral cooperation, was a series of new defence initiatives, including agreement to work together in development of new defence equipment.  Details were set out in a joint statement issued by both Prime Ministers. Japan has been cautious in making defence agreements since the Second World War, outside of its treaty relationship with the United States.  The roles of its Self Defence Forces have been restricted primarily to territorial