Some may say that the word “independence” runs counter to our transatlantic bond.

The opposite is true, and we have just heard it from Secretary of State Rubio.

An independent Europe is a strong Europe and a strong Europe makes for a stronger transatlantic alliance.

We have all agreed to spend more. Now we need to get the money out the door and turn it into real defense capabilities.

Some ask whether we can afford this. I say we cannot afford not to.

The Japanese Prime Minister publicly stated that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a survival-threatening situation that might trigger the use of collective self-defense.

This is the first time in 80 years that a Japanese Prime Minister has made such remarks. It directly violates China’s territorial sovereignty and directly challenges the fact that Taiwan has been returned to China.

It completely violates Japan’s commitments to China.

Could China possibly accept such a provocation? No—no Chinese person could accept it.

After WW2, Germany conducted a thorough reckoning with Nazi crimes and passed laws banning speech and actions that promote Nazi ideology.

But Japan still pays homage to Class A war criminals, and they are enshrined as so-called "heroic spirits."

So this means that Japan has lingering ambitions for invasion and colonialism of Taiwan, and the ghosts of militarism are still haunting the country.

The lessons of history are not far behind us.

Every country that values peace should shout this loud and clear at Japan right now:

If you go back down that old road, it will be a dead end.

But if you try gambling again, the loss will be faster and more devastating.