Japan is fundamentally a maritime power, and not just because it is an archipelago. Ninety-nine percent of Japan’s international trade is conducted by ship. This poses a major challenge in terms of security of supply. Moreover, the growing belligerence of countries such as China and Japan has made Tokyo start to take its military commitment more seriously. In fact, the Japanese government has already confirmed a military spending plan of more than $300 billion dollars over the next five years. This will m
