Prime Minister Abe Calls for Stronger US-Japan Ties

Japan will pursue assertive foreign policies and strengthen its ties with the US and Europe in response to new security threats in the region, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a January speech.

"The security situation surrounding Japan has changed drastically with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles as well as a series of regional conflicts," Prime Minister Abe said. "To protect Japan's peace, independence and democracy and the lives of the Japanese, we need to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance."

(from AFP)