This is a CVS I in the world. I'm John Bachelor with Gordon Chang at

Gordon G Chang and we're very pleased to welcome our colleague Grant

Newsom author of,

when China attacks a warning to America.

Critical for the defense of East Asia and the American

allies and all of Oceania is Japan.

Japan's new leader is named Shiguru Isiba.

He's a very well-known politician for many decades in Japan. He's been defense minister. What does this mean for the

alliances, for the relationships, for the mutual defense backs, for the intention of

Japan to come to the defense of Taiwan when it's attacked.

Grant, a very good evening to you.

Is there an interpretation of Ishi-ba that they're smiling about or frowning about in Beijing.

Good evening to you.

Well, good evening.

It's glad to be here, John.

I think in Beijing, they're not, they're probably not all that disappointed that Isheba has become a Prime Minister.

Why I say that is that even though he has a strong reputation for being tough on defense, even a defense expert, that at the same

time he's got a lot of what I would call resentments when it comes to the US-Japan relationship.

He is on record constantly as complaining that Japan doesn't get enough respect, that Japan

is not treated as an equal.

He complains about the so-called the status of forces agreement that governs the presence of

US forces in Japan.

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