By Martin Banks
BRUSSELS — Japan's ambassador to the EU says Tokyo plans to take a much bigger role in "shouldering the burden of global defense and security."
Speaking in Brussels, Keiichi Katakami said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seeking to allow the country's military forces to play a more active role in self-defense, peacekeeping and conflict prevention.
"The world faces growing security international threats and Japan wants to play a leading role in combating this." Katakami said.
Katakami, Japan's top diplomat in Brussels, cited closer cooperation with the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy as one example of where Japan might flex its military power in the future. He was speaking on Tuesday at a high-level conference, organized by the EU-Asia Centre, on "Japan's changing international role."
"Japan and the rest of the world are facing fresh challenges by those who choose to use force and intimidation and Japan," said Shingo Yamagami, director general of the Japan Institute of International Affairs.
The event heard that Japan, which had once been regarded as a passive international actor, was now taking a more prominent role on regional and global security.
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