Russia‘s “Crimean Precedent” — the brazen military invasion and imperial political annexation of sovereign territory — has shredded several key post-Cold War diplomatic agreements and treaties.

To the chagrin of China, this 21st-century object lesson in authoritarian depredation and brute military force now provides Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with the decisive political opportunity to rip a vexing clause or two from Japan’s post-World War II “peace” constitution.

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