Japan Beefs Up Security Role

With closer defense ties with the US, says the Christian Science Monitor:

An agreement to realign US forces in Japan, to be finalized Monday in Washington, marks another step forward for Tokyo's ambitions to play an integral part in maintaining stability in a potentially volatile Asia-Pacific region...

The agreement is expected to lead to closer cooperation between the two militaries, as well as a more equal security partnership. The accord provides for the relocation of both a US division headquarters from the state of Washington and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces Command to Camp Zama in Kanagawa, making intelligence sharing more comprehensive. It also establishes joint US-Japan use of the air base at Yokota, near Tokyo.

This is good. Unlike many people, I'm not worried about a return of Japanese militarism in Asia. I would also like to see more US troops taken out of Japan and S Korea, improving our own security situation.