BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera have completed diplomatic tours after reinterpreting the country’s pacifist constitution to allow for so called 'collective defense'. This means Japan could come to the aid of an ally without being attacked itself.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. In Australia, Abe declared the launch of a "special relationship" between the two countries. Abe and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbot signed an agreement on military equipment and technology transfers, and an economic partnership pact. Meanwhile, Japan’s Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera visited the US. There he met with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who reiterated the importance and reinforcement of the US-Japan partnership and alliance. The US and Japan are working on revising their defense relationship. Hagel said the US is hoping Japan will be able to take a greater role in regional defense initiatives in Asia.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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