In contrast to neighboring countries, former U.S. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair welcomes the efforts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to reinterpret the pacifist Constitution and bolster the nation¡¯s defense capabilities, saying Japan needs to adapt itself to the changing security landscape of the Asia-Pacific region.
Blair, who also served as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command between 1999 and 2002, said expansion of the Self-Defense Forces¡¯ capabilities as well as Abe¡¯s push to reinterpret the Constitution to exercise the right of collective self-defense are both prudent moves.
¡°I applaud his direction. . . . It¡¯s a new era. I think the new era calls for a new interpretation of old documents,¡± Blair told The Japan Times during a recent interview in Tokyo.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.