South China Morning Post reports that Japan’s abrupt cancellation of scheduled security talks with the United States reflects a calculated effort to deflect mounting American pressure and prevent Washington from intertwining trade disputes with defence obligations.

USSC Research Fellow Tom Corben was quoted in the article on Japan's decision, saying, “Japan needs to assess where its defence budget and strategy are appropriately aligned to meet the country’s national security objectives. Cooperation with the US is part, but not the sum, of those aims.”