U.S. and Japanese officials unveiled new guidelines for defense cooperation Monday, expanding Japan’s global responsibility amid growing concern with North Korea as well as territorial claims with China in the South China Sea. As a part of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the U.S., the new guidelines outline defense against ballistic missiles, cyber- and space attacks, maritime security, as well as Japan’s right to “collective self-defense,” which allows the nation to act if the U.S. or countries American forces are defending are threatened.
