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
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
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
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
Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/06/japan/japan-gives-philippines-used-destroyers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #msdf #philippines #china #defense
The percentage of GDP spent on defense is a politically convenient but flawed metric that oversimplifies the complex realities of alliance management, differing national contributions and varying security needs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/02/japan/spending-on-defense-goals/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #us #donaldtrump #sdf #defense #gdp
British F-35B fighter aircraft could potentially be landing and taking off from one of Japan's de facto aircraft carriers soon, with a U.K. carrier strike group set to reach Japanese waters in August. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/02/japan/uk-f35-japan-carrier/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #ukjapanrelations #uk #indopacific #f35 #sdf #defense #msdf
Germany is looking to quickly ramp up military-industrial cooperation with Japan, Berlin’s envoy to Tokyo says, amid a growing Russian threat and potential U.S. troop cuts in Europe. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/01/japan/politics/germany-japan-ambassador-defense-spending/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #germany #germanyjapanrelations #defense #budgets #sdf #russia #europe #indopacific
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that Japan needs to continue to steadily pursue the fundamental strengthening of its defense capabilities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/30/japan/ishiba-meets-sdf-commanders/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #shigeruishiba #sdf #defense
A top adviser to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has visited Australia for discussions on deepening security ties, as Japan looks to win a government contract to replace the quasi-ally’s aging frigates. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/29/japan/politics/japan-nagashima-australia-mogami/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #australia #australiajapanrelations #shigeruishiba #defense #msdf #akihisanagashima #sdf
The U.S. Army aims to play a pivotal role in deterring China by establishing a firm presence in the Indo-Pacific, according to the service's Asia Pacific deputy commander. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/28/asia-pacific/us-army-pacific-china/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #usmilitary #us #china #pla #taiwan #sdf #usjapanrelations #defense #indopacific
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 aircraft, the first domestic patrol aircraft, is underused mainly due to engine corrosion and problems with electronic devices, a probe has found. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/28/japan/japan-patrol-aircraft-underused/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #defense #defenseministry #sdf #china #msdf #pla
Japan on Wednesday called its first surface-to-ship missile test within its territory necessary training given the current "severe security environment," as it boosts military capacity to counter China. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/25/japan/japan-first-surface-to-ship-missile-test/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #gsdf #missiles #us #china
Japan is boosting its Self-Defense Forces' presence in Okinawa Prefecture amid China's increasing military activities, sparking concerns among locals and across the political spectrum. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/25/japan/sdf-war-okinawa/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #okinawa #sdf #wwii #china #taiwan #defenseministry #defense