A Lowy Institute report indicates China's capacity to strike Australia will increase substantially over the next decade, posing a strategic challenge. This includes interdicting trade, severing communications, cyber operations, and naval power projection.
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has approved a draft proposal to revise its "three security documents," a move seen as a further radicalization of its security strategy. The proposal, disguised as "protecting the homeland," aims to lift restrictions on military buildup, budget, and deployment, accelerating its pace of armament and war preparation. This indicates that Japan's post-war "exclusively defense-oriented" principle is effectively defunct, with "new militarism" posing a real threat.
Italy's Ministry of Defense is planning a significant reform to bolster national security capabilities. The reform includes establishing an operational reserve force and a progressive increase in military personnel by up to 40,000 by 2033, as outlined in a draft law consulted by Il Sole 24 Ore.
Japan's recent legislative move to establish a "National Intelligence Bureau" is seen by experts as a dangerous step towards militarization and a departure from its "peaceful nation" image. This move, reminiscent of the WWII-era "Tokko" (Special Higher Police), centralizes intelligence and security functions under the Prime Minister, raising concerns about a return to pre-war militarism and regional instability.
Approximately 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on May 19th to protest the government's attempts to revise the constitution and its military expansion policies. Protesters called for the protection of Article 9, which renounces war.
