defense

Commentary / Japan Apr 1, 2020

NSC change prepares Japan for new global realities

by Brad Glosserman

Japan is moving toward a wiser decision-making process when it comes to key security questions.

Commentary / Japan Dec 19, 2019

Looking back on Japan's security in 2019

by Michael Macarthur Bosack

2019 had its share of good, bad and ugly moments, but overall it was a net positive for Japanese security.

National / Politics | Commentary Dec 1, 2019

Aligning interests deepen Japanese-Aussie defense ties

by Grant Wyeth

Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds made her first official visit to Tokyo in November, holding talks with her counterpart, Taro Kono, reiterating their commitment to the security relationship between the two countries, and consolidated a series of new measures designed to deepen their defense ...

National Nov 28, 2019

Japan arranging for defense chief Taro Kono to visit China in mid-December

The government is making arrangements for a mid-December visit to China by Defense Minister Taro Kono to meet with his Chinese counterpart Gen. Wei Fenghe, Japanese government sources said Thursday. If realized, it will be the first visit for a Japanese defense chief to China ...

National / Politics Nov 23, 2019

Japan, South Korea ministers agree on leaders' China summit after key intelligence pact thaw

The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korean agreed Saturday to arrange a summit between their leaders next month, seeking to build on a lowering of tensions after Seoul remained a party to a key military pact. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon Jae-in ...

National Nov 4, 2019

South Korean defense chief wants to maintain info-sharing pact with Japan

South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo called Monday for the country's military information-sharing pact with Japan to be kept alive. At a meeting of the National Assembly, Jeong said his ministry's position is that the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with ...

National Sep 25, 2019

Japan's first air combat drills with Australia contribute to peace, says Defense Minister Taro Kono

Defense Minister Taro Kono said Wednesday that boosting security cooperation with Australia will lead to regional stability, hailing the first-ever joint air combat drills between the two countries. "Strengthening cooperation between Japan and Australia through exercises will lead to peace in the region," Kono said ...

National / Politics Sep 10, 2019

Abe's plan for U.S. Aegis Ashore missile shield rattles Akita residents

by Isabel Reynolds and Emi Nobuhiro

The sleepy neighborhood of Araya in the city of Akita seemed like the perfect place for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to put a U.S. anti-missile system. The area has reliably backed the ruling party and has firsthand experience of a North Korean rocket flying ...

National Aug 28, 2019

Japan's Defense Ministry to redo surveys for Aegis Ashore deployment after flawed data revealed

The Defense Ministry presented a detailed plan on Wednesday for new surveys at candidate sites for the deployment of the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system. The new surveys are being conducted because the ministry used flawed data when giving explanations to a local government ...

National Aug 21, 2019

Japan considers moving up development of next-generation fighter jet to 2020

Japan is considering beginning development of next-generation fighter jet in fiscal 2020 — one year earlier than planned — to succeed the Air Self-Defense Force's F-2s, which are expected to be retired in the 2030s, governmental sources said Wednesday. The Defense Ministry had intended to ...

Asia Pacific Aug 15, 2019

Taiwan sharply boosts defense budget amid tension with China

Taiwan unveiled its largest defense spending increase in more than a decade on Thursday amid rising military tensions with its neighbor China, which considers the self-ruled island its own and has not renounced the use of force against it. President Tsai Ing-wen's Cabinet signed off ...