Friends. @CrimethInc has a spectacular series of guides on protest protection. Because, you know, protesting means cops try to kill you. Even though it’s legal and constitutionally-protected.

Body armor:
https://crimethinc.com/2020/12/15/a-demonstrators-guide-to-body-armor-protecting-yourself-against-blows-batons-bullets-and-more

Masks and goggles:
https://crimethinc.com/2020/09/02/a-demonstrators-guide-to-gas-masks-and-goggles-everything-you-need-to-know-to-protect-your-eyes-and-lungs-from-gas-and-projectiles

Helmets:
https://crimethinc.com/2020/09/01/a-demonstrators-guide-to-helmets-everything-you-need-to-know

Police batons:
https://crimethinc.com/2020/12/15/a-demonstrators-guide-to-understanding-police-batons-and-how-to-protect-against-them

Munitions:
https://crimethinc.com/2021/01/04/a-demonstrators-guide-to-understanding-riot-munitions-and-how-to-defend-against-them

Reinforced banners:
https://crimethinc.com/2025/06/16/a-demonstrators-guide-to-reinforced-banners-now-stronger-and-lighter

#Protest#Safety#Defense#Resist#WhoseStreetsOurStreets

A little-known U.N. Command team operating from Yokota Air Base plays a critical role in maintaining peace and stability in Asia. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/17/japan/unc-rear-commander-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #un #defense #northkorea #southkorea #history #koreanpeninsula

France and the U.K. have agreed to coordinate their nuclear forces more closely in response to growing security concerns, signaling both deeper European defense cooperation and unease about the future U.S. role. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/16/world/france-uk-nuclear-deal/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #emmanuelmacron #keirstarmer #uk #france #us #russia #defense #nuclearweapons #nato

The Pentagon's No. 3 official has lauded Japan’s latest defense white paper — but that praise was couched in language suggesting the Trump administration will continue to push Tokyo to hike defense spending even further. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/japan/politics/us-china-japan-defense-white-paper/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #chinajapanrelations #china #pla #defense #defenseministry #sdf #defenseministry #usjapanrelations #us #elbridgecolby #donaldtrump #budgets

North Korea is now supplying as much as 40% of Russia’s ammunition for the war in Ukraine as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/13/world/40-of-russian-ammunition-is-north-korean/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #kimjongun #northkorea #russia #ukraine #russiaukrainewar #defense

Several European countries said on Tuesday they were willing to buy U.S. arms for Ukraine under a plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, although arrangements still needed to be worked out. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/world/politics/europe-us-arms-ukraine-trump-plan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #europe #eu #defense #us #ukraine #russia #russiaukrainewar

In an interview, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty sounded an optimistic note about the course of the ongoing tariff negotiations between the two countries. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/politics/hagerty-interview-tariffs/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #williamhagerty #us #tariffs #usjapanrelations #trade #donaldtrump #defense

The government has appointed Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura as the next chief of staff of the Defense Ministry's Joint Staff — a key post that will work closely with the Self-Defense Force’s new Joint Operations Command. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/society/japan-sdf-chief-of-staff/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #defense #defenseministry #china #sdf

The international community has entered “a new era of crisis” amid China’s growing military assertiveness and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Indo-Pacific policies, Japan’s new annual defense report says. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/politics/japan-defense-white-paper-2025/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #defense #defenseministry #sdf #china #taiwan #pla #us #usmilitary #budgets #donaldtrump #usjapanrelations

Trump’s unexpected strike on Iran shows how Israel’s influence overcame his reluctance for foreign wars — a lesson with mixed implications for U.S. allies like Taiwan and Japan who count on American military support. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/14/world/lessons-from-iran-bombing/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #donaldtrump #benjaminnetanyahu #indopacific #israel #iran #israeliranconflict #defense

Obliterating Tehran’s threat would require an operation on the scale of the 2003 Iraq invasion. And we all know how that ended. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/14/world/ending-irans-nuclear-program/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #iran #us #israel #israeliranwar #nuclearweapons #iraq #defense

A U.S. minesweeper has made a port call in the city of Niigata as part of moves to enhance bilateral cooperation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/13/japan/us-minesweeper-niigata/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #niigata #us #defense

The Pentagon is urging Japan to make clear the role it would play in the event of a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan, a report has said, with the U.S. Defense Department’s No. 3 official appearing to confirm the push. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/13/japan/us-japan-taiwan-contingency/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #taiwanjapanrelations #usjapanrelations #china #pla #taiwan #sdf #defense #donaldtrump #elbridgecolby #defenseministry #indopacific

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted Friday that while Washington is asking Japan to boost its defense spending, it's more about capabilities than money. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/11/japan/politics/japan-rubio-defense-spending/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #usjapanrelations #marcorubio #defense #budgets #us #donaldtrump #shigeruishiba #sdf

U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating tariffs, erratic trade threats and linkage of economic and defense issues are undermining trust in America and pushing allies like Japan to rethink their dependence on Washington. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/07/11/trump-war-on-global-economic-order/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #donaldtrump #tariffs #trade #globaleconomy #japaneseeconomy #defense

Japan, South Korea and the United States conducted a joint air drill on Friday involving a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber and fighter jets of the two U.S. allies over international waters. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/11/japan/south-korea-us-japan-joint-drill/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #usjapanrelations #ussouthkorearelations #southkoreajapanrelations #southkorea #us #japan #defense

Chinese fighter jets twice risked collisions with Air Self-Defense Force surveillance aircraft, Tokyo said, coming within 30 meters of the planes over the East China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/japan/china-japan-aircraft-encounter/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #chinajapanrelations #china #defense #defenseministry #sdf #asdf #pla #senkakus #disputedislands #eastchinasea

Taiwan's army has displayed the fire power of its first U.S.-sourced M1A2T Abrams tanks on the second day of annual military exercises designed to test the island's resilience in a conflict with China. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/asia-pacific/politics/taiwan-us-tanks-war-games/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #taiwan #us #defense #china