Ishiba doubles down on weapons cooperation, says no country can go it alone

Ishiba doubles down on weapons cooperation, says no country can go it alone

Japan has sealed a spate of defense equipment and technology transfer deals in recent years while also looking to build up its homegrown defense industry.

Speaking on a TV Asahi program, Prime Minister Ishiba said regarding the framework of a coalition government, "A coalition cannot be formed on one theme. We must agree on things like diplomacy, security, education policy, and agricultural policy."

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was doubling down on defense cooperation with allies and like-minded partners, saying Thursday that “no country can defend itself alone,” while emphasizing the need to guard against threats from an increasingly assertive China and a growing Russia-North Korea alliance. Speaking in the city of Chiba on Thursday, Ishiba called the regional security environment the most difficult and complex since the …