Asia’s Aging Soldiers Force US Allies to Widen Recruitment Drive
Japan and South Korea seek to secure enough troops
A Japan Self-Defense Forces member speaks to participants during an information session at Camp Nerima in Tokyo in August.
Photographer: Soichiro Koriyama/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Older, shorter, female or even foreign — US allies in Asia are looking beyond their traditional military recruitment profile to secure enough troops and handle the growing security challenges posed by China and North Korea.
Japan and the Philippines each have simmering territorial disputes with China, while a wider swath of countries including Australia and South Korea shares concerns about the economic devastation that could be wrought if they lose access to key sea lanes.