Panelists at a symposium on Japan-U.S. relations held in Tokyo this week agreed that Japan should lift its ban on engaging in collective defense as both nations seek to strengthen security ties.
Both sides maintained, however, that more discussion is needed before Japan can cooperate with the new U.S. missile defense strategy, with opinions on missile defense still apparently mixed even within the U.S.
The Monday symposium, titled "U.S.-Japan Security Relations under the New U.S. Administration," involved discussions by 12 panelists from the two countries and some 80 other participants.