Latest news with #JapanUSAlliance
Wall Street Journal
11-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Trump's Big Opportunity in Japan
On the first international trip of his second term, President Trump visited the Middle East and went big, sparking trillions in new artificial-intelligence-centered investments. The result was a win for the administration and a shift away from the narrative that tariffs have upset allies and roiled markets. Now the president has an opportunity to go even bigger, this time with Japan. Japan undergirds U.S. power in the Pacific. It has one of the world's largest economies—$4 trillion a year in output, some 27% of which is manufacturing. It spends $70 billion on defense, a figure that has nearly doubled since 2022 as Tokyo grapples with Beijing's growing capabilities and ambitions. Japanese companies lead the world in critical industries from robotics to material sciences and semiconductor equipment. And Japan hosts more U.S. servicemembers than any other nation. America, in turn, hosts a Japanese national treasure—Dodgers slugger and three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. The partnership is thriving. Take it from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba: 'The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy and security.' When visiting Iwo Jima in March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed: 'Our alliance has been, and remains the cornerstone of freedom, prosperity, security and peace in the Indo-Pacific.' The alliance, moreover, has robust popular support: a 2024 poll found that 83% of Americans view Japan favorably. During Mr. Trump's first 100 days, the administration upgraded the status of U.S. forces in Japan, approved equipment sales for a Japanese hypersonic-missile program and explored joint production of dual-use ships. The president suggested collaboration on the Golden Dome missile defense system.
Japan Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan to decide plans for shelters from armed attacks within fiscal 2025
The government says it will work out plans to establish shelters from potential armed attacks from abroad by the end of fiscal 2025, sources said Wednesday. The security-related section of the government's upcoming economic and fiscal policy guidelines, to be finalized this month, will refer to such a plan, according to an early draft of the guidelines. The draft also says the government will compile in fiscal 2026 basic guidelines for evacuating residents in Okinawa Prefecture's Sakishima Islands, apparently with the possibility of a Taiwan contingency in mind. The government will secure more underground facilities to establish shelters, so that it can "strengthen its system to protect citizens," the draft states, adding that the government will examine how to conduct wide-area evacuations of residents in the Nansei region. "We will strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance and enhance cooperation with like-minded countries," the draft read. Meanwhile, the draft only states that further consideration would be given regarding when to raise the income tax to procure funds to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. In the area of economic security, the draft points to the need to secure think tank-like functions to make policy proposals to the government that incorporate the perspectives of diplomacy and defense. Also included is a plan to draw up a cybersecurity strategy within this year. Amid an increase in foreign nationals visiting and staying in Japan, the draft states that the government will find and repatriate foreign nationals illegally staying in Japan to reduce their number to zero. It also calls for making the system that allows foreign nationals to convert their driver's licenses into Japanese licenses stricter, following frequent traffic violations.
NHK
31-05-2025
- General
- NHK
Japan, US defense chiefs agree to strengthen cooperation in cyberspace
The defense chiefs of Japan and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation in cyberspace. The agreement was made in a meeting between Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Singapore on Saturday. It comes as the United States is drawing up a national defense strategy, which will serve as a guideline for its national security policy. Nakatani and Hegseth agreed to closely work together so that the priorities in the two countries' strategies can be aligned. Nakatani explained to Hegseth that Japan has enacted legislation to implement what is called "active cyber defense" that is designed to preempt possible cyberattacks. The two officials pledged to work together to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance. They also agreed to coordinate on plans to hold a "two-plus-two" meeting of the foreign and defense chiefs of both countries. Nakatani was asked by reporters after the talks whether the US secretary referred to a possible increase in Japan's defense spending. The minister declined to comment on what exactly his US counterpart talked about. Nakatani said that he told Hegseth it is important for Japan to fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities based on its own decisions and responsibilities.
Japan Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
SDF activities expand 10 years after key security legislation
The Self-Defense Forces have expanded their operations in the world amid a worsening security environment, under the security legislation allowing the country's limited exercise of its collective self-defense rights, which the government adopted 10 years ago. Japan has enhanced cooperation with its ally, the United States, and other friendly nations in the face of challenges such as China's maritime expansion. At the same time, it is increasingly important to strengthen civilian control over the SDF as their role grows. "The steady implementation of security and defense cooperation, whose expansion has been made possible by the peace and security legislation, will contribute more actively to regional and international peace and security," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a news conference Wednesday, exactly 10 years after the Cabinet approved the legislation on May 14, 2015. "Conveying to the world that the Japan-U.S. alliance is fully functioning will further increase deterrence," then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized at a news conference that day. The legislation was enacted that September and took effect in March 2016, marking a major shift in Japan's post-World War II security policy. In addition to enabling the partial exercise of the collective self-defense rights, the legislation granted new duties to the SDF, such as protecting other countries' military vessels and aircraft, and coming to the aid of those under attack during U.N.-sponsored peacekeeping operations. The legislation "increased things we can do and brought us closer to the global standard," a senior SDF official said. "We are more confident in our relationships with other countries." The SDF have provided protection to U.S. forces every year since 2017 and did this to the Australian military for the first time in 2021. Tokyo is preparing to offer this kind of support to the British military as well. Joint exercises with foreign militaries have "increased significantly compared with 10 years ago," a Ground SDF official said. The legislation lifted geographical constraints on SDF activities in situations deemed to have a grave impact on Japan's peace and security, enabling the SDF to provide logistical support to U.S. and other forces not only near Japan, but around the world, therefore expanding the scope of SDF operations on a global scale. In its three key national security-related documents compiled in 2022, the government clarified the country's intention to possess counterstrike capability, or the ability to strike enemy bases. It is also seeking to drastically boost Japan's defense capabilities, including by raising its defense spending to the equivalent of 2% of its gross domestic product by fiscal 2027. Launching the Joint Operations Command in March this year, the SDF are working to improve command and control cooperation with U.S. forces. But Japanese opposition parties worry this move may effectively bring the SDF under the command of the U.S. military. Also, deeper cooperation with foreign militaries expands the duties of SDF members, possibly putting their lives at greater risks. "Laws merely decide the framework," a senior SDF official said. "We may choose not to do things that are allowed, and civilian control will become more important."
