Latest news with #NakataniGen
NHK
21-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
SDF planes head for Djibouti for possible Israel, Iran evacuations
Two Air Self-Defense Force aircraft have left for Djibouti to prepare for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals in Israel and Iran. The C-2 transport planes left the Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on Saturday. Defense Minister Nakatani Gen on Thursday ordered the dispatch of the aircraft to the African country to be on standby amid the conflict between Israel and Iran. The Defense Ministry says it will work closely with the foreign and other relevant ministries with a strong sense of urgency to do everything it can to secure the safety of Japanese citizens abroad. The Japanese government has been helping its citizens and their families in Israel and Iran leave by land. The government had assisted about 90 people as of Friday.
NHK
18-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Japanese government prepares for possible Israel, Iran evacuations
The Japanese government is making arrangements for Self-Defense Forces aircraft to be kept on standby at an SDF hub in Djibouti, northeast Africa, to evacuate Japanese citizens and their families who are currently in Iran or Israel. The foreign ministry says roughly 1,000 Japanese nationals are in Israel and 280 in Iran. As airports in the two countries have been shut down, the government will conduct evacuation operations for those who wish to leave the countries by land. Under the plan, those wishing to leave Israel or Iran will respectively board buses in those countries as early as Thursday to head for a neighboring country. The government aims to carry out the evacuations swiftly while keeping an eye on developments in the countries. In addition, the government has begun preparing to send SDF aircraft to possibly evacuate people who are unable to do so by land if airports in Israel or Iran reopen. Specifically, C-2 transport aircraft will be dispatched to Djibouti to be on standby. Defense Minister Nakatani Gen will make the order as early as Thursday following a request by Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi.
NHK
10-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Defense minister apologizes for dud bomb explosion in Okinawa
Japan's Defense Minister Nakatani Gen has apologized for a dud bomb explosion in the southern prefecture of Okinawa that injured four Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel. The minor explosion occurred on Monday at a depot on the premises of the US military's Kadena Ammunitions Storage Area in Yomitan Village. Four Self-Defense Force personnel suffered burns and other injuries. The depot is controlled by the prefecture. Nakatani apologized for the accident on Tuesday, adding that no damage has been confirmed so far around the depot. He said he has set up an investigative panel in the Ground Self-Defense Force to look into the cause of the blast and measures to prevent a recurrence. Nakatani said his ministry will continue work to recover unexploded bombs, while ensuring safety. He said if the work is stopped, duds found by local residents will have to be left where they are, disrupting people's daily lives.
NHK
10-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Japan's defense minister: Govt. contacts China over aircraft carriers' activity
Japan's Defense Minister Nakatani Gen says the government has asked China for consideration following the dispatch of both of its aircraft carriers to the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese Defense Ministry announced on Monday that the Liaoning and the Shandong, which are China's only two active aircraft carriers, were spotted near Japan between Saturday and Monday. The ministry said it was the first time the two carriers have simultaneously entered the Pacific. Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Nakatani said the ministry suspects that China's navy is trying to improve the operational capabilities of the warships, including their long-range functions. He added that the government has used a diplomatic channel to convey to China a request not to make its naval activities a threat to Japan's security. The defense minister also said the government will continue its caution and surveillance of the situation and will disclose relevant information appropriately. He added that the government also continues to demonstrate its will and capacity to prevent any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally and by force. Nakatani indicated that the government is planning to deploy a mobile surveillance radar system on remote islands in the Pacific.
NHK
31-05-2025
- General
- NHK
Japan, US, Australia to help Philippines increase defense capabilities
Defense ministers from Japan, the United States and Australia have agreed to help the Philippines increase its defense capabilities as part of their efforts to create a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The agreement was reached at a quadrilateral defense meeting held on Saturday in Singapore. Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro attended. Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Nakatani said China has been increasing its activities in the East and South China Seas. He expressed his hope to have a full debate among the four nations on defense cooperation. The four officials expressed serious concerns over China's activities causing regional instability and its attempts to change the status quo unilaterally by force or coercion. They acknowledged the need to protect the freedom of navigation and overflight. The defense ministers agreed to export equipment to the Philippines to help increase its defense capabilities. They also plan to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance activities and jointly collect information. The officials announced a joint statement confirming these issues. Ahead of this meeting, the defense ministers from Japan, the US and Australia also held trilateral talks. They agreed to carry out military exercises to test fire US Tomahawk cruise missiles and build an information-sharing mechanism for their missile defense systems.
