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SDF

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.
Rina Gonoi, who made the rare move of coming forward over alleged sexual offenses she suffered while serving as a Ground Self-Defense Forces member, speaks to reporters outside the Fukushima District Court on Monday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 30, 2023
Two years sought for three ex-SDF members in major sex crime case
The case has gained wide public attention as the victim, Rina Gonoi, made the rare move of coming forward over the alleged sexual offenses.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bomber is escorted by South Korean F-35s during a joint military exercise over the Korean Peninsula that also involved Japan's Air-Self Defense Force.
EDITORIALS
Oct 27, 2023
Japan, U.S. and South Korea patrol the skies together
The three countries have historically engaged in bilateral exercises with the United States, but this trilateral exercise in the air is a notable first.
Two Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter jets (bottom) fly in formation with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber as part of a joint exercise with the United States and South Korea in airspace near Kyushu on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 25, 2023
U.S., Japan and South Korea cooperation reaches new heights with aerial drill
While some view the move as signaling a "new era" in security ties, questions remain as to how long the current political momentum will hold
Rina Gonoi, clad in a judo outfit, attends an event in New York on Tuesday to mark her selection by Time magazine as one of this year's 100 emerging world leaders.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 25, 2023
At event, abused former-GSDF member says speaking out is crucial
The complaint by Rina Gonoi led the Defense Ministry to dismiss five male GSDF members and increase its efforts to address harassment.
Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force disembark from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a live fire exercise in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in May 2022.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 23, 2023
Kishida's proposed tax cuts put higher defense spending on hold
The plan to raise defense spending partly through tax hikes has been put on ice. In fact, it was never likely to deliver fast results.
A U.S. B-52 strategic bomber prepares to land at a base in Cheongju, South Korea, on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 23, 2023
Japan, U.S. and South Korea hold first joint air drills
The military exercise, which involved a B-52 bomber, comes as South Korea, Japan and the U.S. beef up their defense cooperation.
Japanese evacuees from Israel arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport via an Air Self-Defense Force aircraft early Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 21, 2023
SDF plane carrying Japanese and South Koreans from Israel arrives in Tokyo
The airlift of Japanese nationals using an SDF plane was the first such evacuation from Israel or the Palestinian territories since fighting broke out.
A deal between Mitsubishi Electric and Australia’s Department of Defence taps the company’s know-how in electronic and optical systems.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 20, 2023
In industry first, Mitsubishi Electric secures defense deal with Australia
The deal taps the company’s know-how in electronic and optical systems.
A counter is set up for people boarding an Air Self-Defense Force airplane at an airport near Tel Aviv on Thursday.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2023
SDF plane evacuates Japanese and South Koreans from Israel
Two further airplanes that Japan sent will continue to stand by for possible evacuations.
An Osprey tilt-rotor plane from the Ground Self-Defense Force in Okinawa Prefecture's Ishigaki Island on Thursday
JAPAN
Oct 19, 2023
GSDF Osprey arrives in Okinawa for first time
The arrival of the aircraft came despite an Okinawa Prefectural Government request to the Defense Ministry not to use the airport on Ishigaki Island.
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.
South Korea's Aegis-equipped destroyer Yulgok Yi I (right), the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (top), the Aegis-equipped USS Shoup destroyer (bottom center), the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Hyuga destroyer (left) and the South Korean Navy's Cheonji (center) sail in formation during a joint maritime drill in international waters southeast of South Korea's Jeju Island on Oct. 10.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 17, 2023
Military deterrence alone will not dissuade China, experts warn
Governments must be proactive in pressing for diplomatic solutions, as a focus on military power won't make the world safer, analysts say.
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.
Ground Self-Defense Force members take part in a military review in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture, in October 2018.
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2023
'Not proud at all': Japan struggles to recruit for Self-Defense Forces
Experts have said that the country's armed forces could be weakened because of a lack of personnel.
Self-Defense Force personnel board an SDF KC-767 aerial refueling and transport aircraft bound for Djibouti in preparation for the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Israel, at Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 14, 2023
SDF plane heads for Djibouti to prep for Israel evacuation
The KC-767 refueling and transport airplane departed from Komaki Air Base in central Japan to stand by at an SDF base in Djibouti.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno speaks to reporters at a news conference on Friday in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2023
Japan may dispatch SDF plane to evacuate citizens in Israel
In the meantime, Japan plans to evacuate its citizens on a charter flight Saturday amid the intensifying violence.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has opened an office in Tokyo's Toranomon area to accelerate collaboration with the private sector on space technologies.
JAPAN
Oct 8, 2023
New Japan air force space office to promote private-sector collaboration
The government said the ASDF will be rebranded as the Air and Space Self-Defense Force as it aims to reinforce its abilities to operate in space.
Photo shows the Air Self-Defense Force's Nyutabaru base in Miyazaki Prefecture, where six F-35B fighters are expected to be deployed next fiscal year, with a temporary squadron to be established.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 8, 2023
Japan boosting SDF presence in southwestern area of Kyushu
The region will see new SDF units from next April, including an F-35B stealth fighter squadron and a surface-to-ship missile unit.
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.

Longform

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