The government took the unusual step of publicizing a summary of expert opinion that shows overwhelming support for Japan to possess first strike capability against enemy bases despite growing public misgivings over moves to significantly raise defense spending without any debate to date.
A survey conducted by Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun and South Korea’s Hankook Ilbo showed that 73 percent of respondents believe China might take military action against Taiwan.
The survey, which was released on Thursday, also asked about the relationship between Japan and South Korea, with 31 percent of respondents in Japan saying the relationship would improve, up from 14 percent last year, while 53 percent of respondents in South Korea thought the same, up from 29 percent last year.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s People Power Party has said it wants to mend the South Korea-Japan relationship.
Although the percentage of respondents who expect