Japan to have stronger military ties with the United States; Drone strikes in Libya
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    • Japan's Defense Minister said his country needs stronger military ties with the U.S. and South Korea to balance China's growing might, reports noted on April 23. He was particularly concerned about China's increasing naval capabilities. His comments seem to be a departure from the previous premier, Yukio Hatoyama of the ruling party who had vowed a less subservient relationship with Washington. Japan's relations with China plunged to their lowest point in years last September over a territorial dispute involving islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.1

    Meanwhile, the United States carried out its first drone strike in Libya on April 23, the Pentagon said, two days after approving the use of pilotless aircraft to aid rebels fighting Moammar Gadhafi's forces. U.S. President Barack Obama authorized the use of missile-carrying drones in Libya for what his administration called "humanitarian" reasons on April 21. The rebels fighting Moammar Gadhafi's forces welcomed the decision to send in the drones, which have been widely used in Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite controversy over the deaths of civilians caught in the cross-fire. The NATO military alliance has also welcomed the strikes.2

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