Tag - minoru-kihara

 
 

MINORU KIHARA

From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 3, 2024
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
Although “China” was not uttered by the officials during their news conference in Hawaii, Beijing’s growing assertiveness was clearly on their minds.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara takes part in an arrival ceremony with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon in Washington last October.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 30, 2024
‘Collective capacity’ to top agenda at four-way defense talks in Hawaii
One thing will be on Defense Minister Minoru Kihara's mind: how to deepen military and security cooperation with allies to counter China.
A crew member walks past an SH-60K helicopter on the deck of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Hyuga-class Ise helicopter carrier during a joint exercise between the U.S. and Japan in the Philippine Sea on Jan. 31.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2024
U.S. military and MSDF ocean observation ship to join hunt for crashed helicopters
The search effort is ramping up as officials work to narrow down the cause of the deadly crash.
Saturday's crash involved two Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-60K helicopters that were conducting nighttime anti-submarine training about 270 kilometers east of Torishima in the Izu Islands.
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2024
No sign of aircraft issues in MSDF chopper crash, defense officials say
As the search for survivors continues, officials acknowledge the difficulty of salvaging the helicopters due to the depth of waters at the crash site.
Contact was lost with the two SH-60K helicopters, each carrying four crew, in an area east of Torishima in the Izu Island chain during anti-submarine warfare training Saturday night.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2024
At least one dead, seven missing after two MSDF helicopters crash off Izu Islands
The two aircraft were believed to have collided during a nighttime training anti-submarine drill, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara is considering visiting Hawaii for talks with his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin.
JAPAN
Apr 18, 2024
Japan and U.S. mull holding defense ministers meeting in Hawaii
Kihara and Austin are expected to agree to accelerate efforts to realize more effective command and control systems for the Japan-U.S. alliance.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (center) makes a keynote speech during a two-day meeting of defense ministers of Japan and Pacific island countries in Tokyo
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 21, 2024
Japan defense academy to accept students from Pacific states
The academy will accept students from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, all of which have their own militaries.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters that the U.S. formally made the request on Thursday evening.
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2024
U.S. asks Japan to lift ban on Osprey flights
The tilt-rotor aircraft was grounded after one of them crashed into the sea off Yakushima, Kagoshima, in November, killing all eight U.S. airmen on board.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara says Washington has promised to consult with Tokyo before it resumes Osprey flights in Japan.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 23, 2024
U.S. promises to consult with Japan before resuming Osprey flights
Washington and Tokyo suspended flights after an Osprey crashed into the sea near Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture in late November, killing all eight on board.
Defense ministers from Japan, the U.K. and Italy hold a meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 14, 2023
Japan’s next-gen fighter project with U.K. and Italy hits milestone
The three countries agreed to establish an intergovernmental organization, divide up work share and set out the roles of each partner.
A Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Osprey aircraft takes part in a live-fire exercise at the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in May.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 13, 2023
U.S. and Japan defense chiefs call Osprey safety 'top priority'
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara asked that the U.S. military not resume Osprey flights until the aircraft's safety could be ensured.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 24, 2023
Japan says North Korean ‘object’ orbiting Earth after launch
"We need to continue to carefully analyze the details, including whether the satellite is orbiting the Earth as intended," the defense minister said.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara speaks with reporters at the Defense Ministry on Monday evening after holding a teleconference with his British and Italian counterparts.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2023
Japan joint fighter development group planned for fiscal '24
The 'control tower' will oversee the countries’ requirements for the joint development of the fighter by 2035.
Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Ryo Sakai speaks during a news conference Tuesday at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 31, 2023
Defense chief condemns ‘outrageous’ response in SDF harassment case
A male perpetrator of sexual assault was forced to apologize directly to the female victim despite her wishes not to see him.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara visits Ground Self-Defense Force troops at Camp Asaka, which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, on Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 18, 2023
Defense minister’s miscue is an opening for the opposition
Can a single statement by the defense minister really disrupt the Japanese political landscape? For better or worse, it can.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara speaks during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon in Washington on Oct. 4.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 16, 2023
Defense chief retracts comments implying LDP vote would be good for SDF
Article 61 of the Self-Defense Forces Law explicitly forbids SDF personnel from engaging in political activity, with the exception of voting.
Japan will start procuring Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States in fiscal 2025, a year earlier than initially planned.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 16, 2023
North Korea slams Japan's plan to move missile deployment forward
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said last week that his ministry has been studying the deployment of the missiles sooner than fiscal 2026.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Defense Minister Minoru Kihara to the Pentagon in Washington on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 5, 2023
Japan expedites purchase of Tomahawks as security concerns grow
In light of the increasingly challenging Asian security environment, Japan will acquire the cruise missiles a year earlier than initially planned.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara is scheduled to visit Washington early next month.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 27, 2023
Japan's new defense chief to visit Washington in early October
Among the topics expected to be discussed during the visit is what role the U.S. will play in Japan's newly authorized "counterstrike capabilities."
Minoru Kihara
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 17, 2023
New Japan defense chief 'very concerned' about Chinese military moves
Minoru Kihara called trilateral cooperation with South Korea and the U.S. “the cornerstone” of Tokyo’s response to the regional security concerns.

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