From the United States’ reverse-engineering of Iranian drones to Japan’s building of a drone “shield,” the tech is becoming increasingly crucial, especially as China’s military modernization continues unabated. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/20/japan/us-japan-drones-focus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #china #us #usmilitary #defense #sdf #defenseministry #drones #pla
A Chinese reconnaissance drone briefly flew over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top end of the South China Sea on Saturday, in what Taiwan's Defense Ministry called a "provocative and irresponsible" move. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/18/asia-pacific/taiwan-china-drone-pratas/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #pla #taiwan #us #usmilitary #southchinasea
As U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to seize Greenland, tensions over whether his actions would undermine efforts to deter China in the Indo-Pacific were laid bare at a recent major security forum in Hawaii. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/17/asia-pacific/politics/trump-greenland-allies-skepticism-china/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #us #china #donaldtrump #indopacific #usmilitary #taiwan #pla #defense
People in China are calling for a Venezuela-style snatch of Taiwan's leaders in a prelude to taking over the island, but analysts, scholars and security officials say China's modernizing military is still far from ready. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/12/asia-pacific/china-taiwan-venezuela-lai-assassination/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #taiwan #pla #us #usmilitary #defense #indopacific #venezuela #laichingte
China appears to be quietly contemplating an unconventional approach to rapidly boosting its naval power — transforming its vast commercial shipping fleet into an armada of makeshift warships. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/12/asia-pacific/china-merchant-fleet-military/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #pla #taiwan #usmilitary #indopacific
China's Xi Jinping has urged visiting South Korean leader Lee Jae Myung to make the “correct" choices, as Beijing seeks a united front amid its standoff with Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/06/japan/politics/china-south-korea-xi-lee-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #southkorea #southkoreajapanrelations #leejaemyung #xijinping #taiwan #pla #sanaetakaichi #chinajapanrelations #indopacific #northkorea
The U.S. strikes on Venezuela and seizure of the country’s president could push Latin American nations closer to China while simultaneously emboldening Beijing in the Indo-Pacific. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/05/asia-pacific/politics/us-china-venezuela-analysis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #us #venezuela #donaldtrump #china #taiwan #pla #indopacific #usmilitary
Japan has avoided direct mention of U.S. President Donald Trump’s military strikes on Venezuela and capture of the country’s president, saying only that Tokyo has "consistently emphasized respect” for international law. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/04/japan/politics/japan-us-venezuela-international-law/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #usjapanrelations #us #venezuela #donaldtrump #nicolasmaduro #defense #china #taiwan #pla
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held talks over the telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump late Friday, with the two agreeing to arrange for the Japanese leader to visit the United States in the spring. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/japan/politics/takaichi-trump-phone-call/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #china #taiwan #pla #uschinarelations #usjapanrelations #sanaetakaichi #donaldtrump #defense #usmilitary #us
The U.S. has urged China to halt military pressure on Taiwan — days after Japan and Western countries voiced concern over rising tensions — it's first criticism of recent large-scale military exercises around the island. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/politics/us-china-miliary-exercises-taiwan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #taiwan #pla #donaldtrump #laichingte #uschinarelations #usjapanrelations #defense #usmilitary
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Thursday the island is determined to defend its sovereignty and boost its defense in the face of China's increasing expansion, after Beijing held large-scale military drills. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/01/asia-pacific/politics/taiwan-lai-ching-te-china-military-drill/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #pla #taiwan #laichingte #us #xijinping
Japan on Wednesday joined Australia, Britain, France and Germany in conveying concern over escalating tensions following China’s recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/31/japan/china-military-exercises-taiwan-japan-europe/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #china #taiwan #pla #us #uschinarelations #donaldtrump #sanaetakaichi #defense #chinajapanrelations #foreignministry
The latest deterioration of Japan-China ties has highlighted that a dangerous new equilibrium between the two countries is emerging — one that will test each other’s resolve, especially in the year ahead. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/31/japan/politics/japan-china-relations-2026-analysis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #china #chinajapanrelations #usjapanrelations #xijinping #sanaetakaichi #taiwan #taiwanjapanrelations #donaldtrump #defense #sdf #pla
The Chinese military on Tuesday conducted long-range live-fire drills in waters around Taiwan, part of a second day of 'major' exercises focused on blockading the island and deterring aid from Taipei’s partners. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/china-taiwan-military-exercises-missiles/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #pla #taiwan #donaldtrump #sanaetakaichi #xijinping #us #usmilitary #defense #missiles
China said it will hold large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, releasing an image showing five zones surrounding the democratic island that will be under sea and airspace restrictions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/29/asia-pacific/china-military-drills-taiwan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #taiwan #china #pla #chinajapanrelations #sdf #defense #usmilitary #sanaetakaichi
U.S. approval of Nvidia’s advanced AI chip exports to China risks accelerating the PLA’s military AI capabilities and eroding America’s technological edge at a critical moment in the U.S.-China strategic rivalry. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/12/26/world/nvidia-boosts-chinas-ai-military/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #nvidia #donaldtrump #us #china #defense #pla
Chinese leader Xi Jinping installed new military leadership for its central and eastern regions amid an unprecedented purge of the top defense echelons. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/asia-pacific/china-replaces-military-commanders/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #pla #corruption #taiwan #indopacific #xijinping
Tokyo and its partners must show solidarity in response to bad faith Chinese behavior any time it occurs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/12/23/japan/chinas-recklessness-risks-japan-security-crisis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #china #chinajapanrelations #us #defense #sdf #pla #southchinasea #eastchinasea
In 1989, Chinese Gen. Xu Qinxian defied orders to crush the pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Now, leaked video from his court-martial is on YouTube. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/22/asia-pacific/china-tiananmen-square-general/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #pla #history #tiananmensquare
For Japan’s top uniformed military officer, reinforcing the country’s defense capabilities to counter complex and diverse threats most think only exist in Hollywood movies has become one of his top priorities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/18/japan/sdf-joint-staff-uchikura-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #defense #defenseministry #hiroakiuchikura #missiles #china #drones #pla #usmilitary #usjapanrelations