China has been ramping up its provocative behavior.
In recent weeks, it has intruded into Japanese waters and airspace, engaged in high-profile exercises with Russia and this week test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean, the first such launch in more than four decades.
Most of those moves require considerable planning. That means that the signals they sent were anticipated and approved by political decision-makers. Beijing is testing Japan’s leaders. That assumes even greater importance at a time of political transition in Tokyo. They must be ready for more such provocations.
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