This may be Japan saying, 'We can do the technology, so consider us for international consortium projects' such as the one that developed the F-35 stealth fighter.

Or, it could be Japan saying it can make more than electronics. Japan has to be prepared to have a self-sufficient defense.

security and foreign affairs program at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Peace bastardised by the person who once boasted to be the "world's richest fascist."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryoichi_Sasakawa

@SenseNotSoCommon

It's easy to find fault with Sasakawa, but it's hard to deny he was one unusual and interesting character. Famous for fascism, gambling and peace. There's not many that could put that on their gravestones.

Thank your lucky stars that you were not involved with the F-35. It is a failure in more than one aspect of it's design.

@albaleo "Famous for...peace." Ah yes...as the blood ran like rivers through Suharto's Indonesian streets, the cries of "peace" were heard all 'round. Right: "Not many that could put that on their gravestones." It's true. Although, thousands of nameless monsters were released. And, some survived and still have nightmares.

@shallots

I wasn't thinking of the Indonesia connection as coming under the "peace" part. But perhaps I should have added "CIA Agent" to the epithets.

@albaleo he was a supported of all that stuff...along with Moon and Kissinger.