National Jun 21, 2020
Japan detects apparent Chinese submarine traveling near Amami-Oshima Island
Defense Ministry refuses to formally disclose vessel's nationality or type because that could provide clues about the MSDF’s detection abilities.
Commentary Jun 3, 2020
Troubling trends demand that Japan take action at sea
by Brad Glosserman
The Maritime Self-Defense Force will likely be relegated to second place permanently within this decade if China’s naval construction program maintains its current pace.
National May 29, 2020
Japan defense data may have leaked after cyberattacks on NTT unit
The Defense Ministry suspects the possible leaks could affect operations of the SDF's core system.
National Apr 1, 2020
Beijing seeks Tokyo's cooperation over Chinese fishing boat and Japanese destroyer collision
China confirmed Tuesday that a Chinese fishing boat and a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer collided on the high seas off the coast just south of Shanghai on Monday evening, adding that it hopes Japan will cooperate over the investigation and prevent similar incidents ...
National / Politics Mar 22, 2020
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday again expressed his eagerness to add a clause on the existence of the Self-Defense Forces to the Constitution. "We must create an environment in which SDF personnel can perform their duties with high morale and a sense of mission," ...
National Mar 19, 2020
Japan gets seventh Aegis destroyer, with improved SM-3 interceptor
The Maritime Self-Defense Force on Thursday put into commission its newest Aegis-equipped destroyer, the first of its vessels to be equipped with an improved antiballistic missile jointly developed by the United States and Japan. The Maya, capable of countering short- to intermediate-range threats with the ...
National Feb 4, 2020
MSDF to not take part in any exercise of force by the U.S. in Middle East: Abe
A Maritime Self-Defense Force unit currently deployed in the Middle East will not take part in any exercise of force by the U.S. military there, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday. While the MSDF unit will provide information to the U.S. military around once in ...
National Feb 2, 2020
Japanese destroyer leaves for Middle East intel-gathering mission
The decision to deploy the MSDF assets has been met with criticism by opposition parties amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
Business / Corporate Jan 31, 2020
Japan defense data likely stolen in years of cyberattacks on NEC
Hot on the heels of the Mitsubishi Electric hack, NEC reveals that cyberattacks from 2016 to 2018 exposed 27,445 files that include work related to the Defense Ministry.
National / Politics Jan 22, 2020
Opposition parties lay into Abe over scandals and Mideast dispatch
by Satoshi Sugiyama
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Edano used parliamentary debates to go after Prime Minister Abe on allegations of cronyism over an annual taxpayer-funded cherry blossom viewing party.
National / Politics Jan 17, 2020
Opposition grills LDP on risks facing Japan's SDF mission to Mideast
by Reiji Yoshida
Any overseas SDF mission is politically sensitive, but U.S.-Iran tensions are so high that debate on the constitutional hazards has ensued even before the Diet has opened.
National / Politics Jan 12, 2020
Poll finds 58% of voters oppose dispatch of MSDF personnel to Middle East
A national opinion poll conducted over the weekend showed 58.4 percent of voters are opposed to the dispatch of a Maritime Self-Defense Force unit to the Middle East.