Politics | Page 2

US vows to defend space with Japan if attacked
manilatimes.net - Jan 13
The United States said Thursday that attacks in space would invoke its defense treaty with Japan and announced the deployment of a more agile Marine unit on its ally's soil as alarm grows over China.

Tokyo police search offices linked to YouTuber lawmaker accused of defamation
NHK - Jan 13
Investigative sources say Tokyo police have searched several locations linked to a Diet member over allegations that he defamed and intimidated prominent figures on his YouTube channel.

Britain and Japan sign pact to allow two-way military deployments
business-standard.com - Jan 13
The UK and Japan will allow military forces to be deployed to one another’s territory, as Tokyo expands bilateral cooperation with other US allies amid concerns about China’s rise.

Destroyer runs aground, leaks oil in waters off west Japan
mangalorean.com - Jan 11
A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer ran aground in waters off the western prefecture of Yamaguchi on Tuesday, local media cited the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defence as saying.

U.S. poised to extend Japan security umbrella into space
Nikkei - Jan 09
The U.S. is finalizing plans to extend its security umbrella for Japan into space, seeking to protect satellites crucial in military surveillance and operations, Nikkei has learned.

Tokyo to offer monthly stipend to help defray schooling costs
Nikkei - Jan 06
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said on Wednesday that her government will provide benefits of approximately 5,000 yen ($38) per person per month to residents of Tokyo aged 18 or younger to help cover the cost of their education.

Japan says it scrambled jets to monitor Chinese aircraft carrier operations
Japan Today - Jan 04
Japan said on Monday it scrambled jet fighters and dispatched aircraft and warships over the past two weeks to keep tabs on China's Liaoning aircraft carrier and five warships that conducted naval maneuvers and flight operations in the Pacific.

Japan eyes spring downgrade of COVID-19 to same level as flu
Nikkei - Dec 30
Japan is discussing a possible change next spring that would place COVID-19 in the same category of infectious disease as the seasonal flu, a move that could ease the strain on health care providers.

Fourth Japan minister exits PM Kishida’s four-month-old cabinet
rappler.com - Dec 27
Japanese reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, December 27, becoming the fourth minister to leave the cabinet created by Kishida in August.

Japanese MSDF captain suspected of leaking state secret
Japan Times - Dec 24
A Maritime Self-Defense Force captain is suspected of leaking information designated as a state secret, government sources said Saturday, the first time such a breach has come to light.

Aoki's ex-chairman admits paying bribes for Tokyo Games sponsorship rights
NHK - Dec 23
The founder and former chairman of a business suit retailer has admitted that he paid bribes to win sponsorship rights for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Japan reverts to wider nuclear power use in net-zero emissions push
Nikkei - Dec 23
Japan on Thursday set out a new decarbonization policy with a lasting role for nuclear power, allowing the rebuilding of aging reactors in a reversal of the phase-out plan adopted after the Fukushima disaster more than a decade ago.

Japan says North Korea fires what appears to be 2 ballistic missiles
NHK - Dec 18
Japan's Defense Ministry says North Korea has fired what appears to be two ballistic missiles. Government officials say both missiles have apparently landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Japan divided by PM Kishida’s drastic security overhaul
straitstimes.com - Dec 17
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida justified the drastic overhaul of Japan’s security policy on Friday as necessary, given that tabletop exercises have shown current defences to be woefully inadequate to stave off an attack.

Japan's Cabinet passes 3 key defense documents
NHK - Dec 17
Japan's Cabinet has reached a major milestone in efforts to revamp its defense strategy. It approved three key documents which reimagine how the nation should be able to defend itself and provide a plan to pay for some big changes.

Pacifist Japan unveils unprecedented $320bn military build-up
Al Jazeera - Dec 17
Japan has said it would begin a once-unthinkable $320bn military build-up that would arm it with missiles capable of striking China and ready it for a sustained conflict as regional tensions and Russia’s Ukraine invasion stoke war fears.