While the relative power of U.S. armed forces is declining, the security environment in the East Asian region has become increasingly challenging, namely, the situation in North Korea has become unstable and China is aiming to expand its maritime interests. In addition to its provocative actions around the Senkaku Islands, China is causing conflicts over territorial rights in the South China Sea. We must face up to the fact that we must protect our country ourselves and, instead of averting our eyes away from national defense issues, need to make serious efforts to develop national security policies for this new era.