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Peter Martin
For Peter Martin's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on Sunday.
WORLD
Apr 14, 2024
Multiphase Iran attack tests U.S.-backed Israeli air defenses
Early indications suggest Israel's air defenses effectively handled Iran's missile and drone attack, aimed at overwhelming systems with its complexity.
A soldier resting after returning from a front-line position in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region in November 2023.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 12, 2024
Russian attacks on Ukraine stoke fears army near breaking point
Low on ammunition and manpower, Ukraine may soon run out of options in Russia's invasion.
World Central Kitchen’s damaged vehicle hit by an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Tuesday
WORLD / Politics
Apr 4, 2024
Strikes in Gaza and Iran show limits of Biden’s leverage on Israel
They draw scrutiny to the question of how much leverage the U.S. president has over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and whether he’s willing to exert it.
A soldier participates in a multinational training exercise in the municipality of Hohenfels in Germany.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 15, 2024
Europe's race against time to rebuild militaries in uncertain world
The continent is a decade away from being able to defend itself unaided, officials say, while Russia could target a NATO member in three to five years.
The drone strike that killed three American soldiers in Jordan presents U.S. President Joe Biden with a decision that will be one of the most consequential of his presidency.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 29, 2024
Biden faces pressure to confront Iran after U.S. troops killed
One possibility is covert action that would see the U.S. strike Iran without claiming credit for it but sending a clear message regardless.
An arm of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence is tapping companies and colleges to help harness rapidly developing AI technology that could provide an edge against global competitors like China. The challenge is ensuring it doesn’t open a backdoor into the nation’s top secrets or generate fake data.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 27, 2024
U.S. spies want AI as tool against China if tech can be trusted
The challenge is ensuring the rapidly developing tech doesn’t open a backdoor into the nation’s top secrets or generate fake data.
Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft have conducted precision strike operations against Houthi military targets in response to further attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 23, 2024
U.S., U.K. airstrikes hit more Houthi targets in fresh escalation
The airstrikes were the most significant in a series of attacks since the first wave of missile and Tomahawk launches by the U.S. and the U.K. in the early hours of Jan. 12.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting near Moscow on Dec. 12.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 20, 2023
U.S. allies brace for high cost of defeat as Ukraine aid stalls
Russian victory in Ukraine would be felt around the world as U.S. partners and allies questioned Washington’s promises of defense.
Buildings in Xiamen on mainland China across the Taiwan Strait from anti-landing barriers on a beach in Kinmen, Taiwan.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 20, 2023
Taiwan’s ability to defend against Chinese invasion questioned
For all the support given by Washington, the reality is that when it comes to both civil and military defense, Taiwan still has a lot to do.
Newly recruited Houthi fighters march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen, on Dec. 2.   REUTERS
WORLD
Dec 14, 2023
U.S. working with allies to stop Houthi Red Sea attacks
The Houthis — based in Yemen and backed by Iran — vowed to target Israel’s assets until it abandons its campaign to destroy Hamas.
Smoke rises from destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 2, 2023
U.S. and Israel weigh peacekeepers for Gaza after Hamas
The conversations have been impelled by a sense of urgency to come up with a plan for the future of Gaza now that a ground invasion has begun.
An aerial view shows destroyed buildings in al-Zahra city, south of Gaza City, on Friday following Israeli bombardment overnight amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 21, 2023
U.S. and Israel weigh a future for the Gaza Strip without Hamas
The options include installing a U.N.-backed interim government with the involvement of Arab nations, people familiar with U.S. deliberations said.
U.S. President Joe Biden (left), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia (center left), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan (center right) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India (right) participate in a Quad Leaders' meeting on May 20 in Hiroshima.
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 5, 2023
U.S. deepening intelligence links across Asia to counter China
Washington has developed a set of separate but overlapping partnerships including with the "Quad” grouping of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia.
Two U.S. Navy sailors have been arrested on charges of providing sensitive U.S. military information to China. Both men are Chinese-born naturalized U.S. citizens.
WORLD
Aug 4, 2023
U.S. sailors charged with selling military secrets to China
Two sailors have been arrested on charges of providing sensitive U.S. military information to China. Both men are Chinese-born naturalized U.S. citizens.
From left: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hold a news conference in Brisbane on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 29, 2023
U.S. to expand military footprint in Australia
Changes include frequent visits of U.S. submarines to Australia, rotation of U.S. Army watercraft and collaborating on guided missile production.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 27, 2023
U.S. denies any role in Russia uprising as allies watch and wait
In his first public comments about the matter, U.S. President Joe Biden said it was still too soon to make any conclusions about the revolt by Wagner Group mercenaries.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 22, 2023
Biden’s ‘dictator’ comment undercuts painstaking China diplomacy
The remark was the sort of jibe that may sound like nothing more than a schoolyard taunt but suggests Chinese President Xi Jinping doesn’t have legitimacy or the support of his own people.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 12, 2023
In bid to ease tensions, top Biden aide and Chinese diplomat meet
The meeting appears to signal that the sides are working to ease strains which led to a breakdown in even the most routine communication.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 26, 2023
Pentagon draws lessons from Ukraine war as it eyes possible conflict with China
'There are many advantages we’ve gained for a potential Pacific challenge from the Ukraine conflict,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 14, 2023
U.S. left red-faced over 21-year-old’s alleged tie to intelligence leak
Washington is going to have a hard time explaining how the biggest U.S. intelligence leak in a decade may have been committed by an airman in a junior role.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores