Chinese And Japanese Coast Guard Vessels Face-Off (Again) Near The Disputed Senkaku Islands In The East China Sea

Map showing the location of the Senkaku Islands  

SCMP: China, Japan coastguard ships in another face-off near disputed Diaoyu Islands 

 •Chinese coastguard says Japanese vessels ‘illegally’ entered its territorial waters 

•It comes two weeks after a similar confrontation over the uninhabited island chain 

Chinese and Japanese coastguard vessels have had another confrontation near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, the latest flare-up in a long-running dispute over the uninhabited islands. 

The island chain is claimed by China and Japan, where it is known as the Senkaku Islands. 

According to the Chinese coastguard, three Japanese ships and several patrol ships “illegally” entered the territorial waters of the Diaoyus on Monday.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: China, Japan coast guards face off again near disputed islands (Japan Today/Reuters)  

Update #2: China, Japan Coast Guard Vessels Face-Off Near Disputed Senkaku Islands (Antiwar.com)  

WNU Editor: Here is an interesting article on the growing divide (and tensions) between China and Japan .... The Looming China-Japan Face-Off (Chris Patten, Project Syndicate).

Diplomats From Beijing, Seoul, And Tokyo Meet To Plan For A Major Summit In December

Foreign Minister Park Jin (second from right) and three senior diplomas each from South Korea, Japan and China pose for a photo ahead of talks at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Monday. PHOTO: YONHAP/THE KOREA HERALD 

DW: South Korea, China and Japan make plans for rare summit 

Diplomats from Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo have met to explore restarting regular three-way summits to foster regional cooperation. 

The initiative has been on hold for the past few years. South Korean, Chinese and Japanese senior diplomats agreed on Tuesday that their national leaders should meet at the "earliest convenient time," Seoul's Foreign Ministry said after a rare meeting. 

The sides are seeking to reboot trilateral exchanges after regular annual meetings were put on hold because of strained relations and the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Read more .... 

Diplomats From Beijing, Seoul, And Tokyo Meet To Plan For A Major Summit In December  

South Korea Hosts Rare Talks With Japan, China Diplomats -- AFP  

South Korea proposes summit with Japan, China in December: sources -- Kyodo 

China, Japan and South Korea agree talks to calm fears over US ties -- The Guardian 

China, Japan and South Korea to hold trilateral talks over deteriorating ties due to US -- Republic World

Chinese And Russian Warships Conduct Exercises Near Japan

 

Reuters: Japan scrambles jets amid Russian and Chinese naval patrol in Pacific 

TOKYO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Japan said on Friday it scrambled fighter jets after two Russian IL-38 information-gathering aircraft were spotted flying between the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea where Russia is holding a joint naval patrol and exercise with China. 

Russian and Chinese navy ships have been jointly patrolling the Pacific Ocean and holding naval exercises in the East China Sea, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Friday. 

 "In the East China Sea, an exercise was conducted to replenish ships with water and fuel supplies from support vessels," the ministry said. 

"A detachment of ships of the Russian Navy and the PLA Navy is currently operating in the waters of the East China Sea and has covered more than 6,400 nautical miles since the beginning of the patrol."  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The Japanese are also responding to Russia patrol aircraft .... Japan Scrambles Jets After Russian Planes Spotted Off Coasts (AFP). 

Update: China is telling Japan to stop interfering in their joint maritime patrols with Russia .... China urges Japan to stop interfering in China-Russia joint maritime patrol (CGTN). 

Chinese And Russian Warships Conduct Exercises Near Japan

Russian and Chinese warships sail close to Japanese islands on eve of Biden's trilateral summit -- CNN  

Russian, Chinese Warships in East China Sea After Sailing Near Alaska -- USNI News  

Russia, China hold joint naval war games -- AFP  

China, Russia send naval flotilla through Miyako Strait near Okinawa -- Stars and Stripes  

Chinese, Russian navy ships jointly sail between Okinawa islands -- NHK WORLD 

Japan says China, Russia deployed 11 ships near its southern islands -- Anadolu Agency  

Chinese and Russian Warships Step up Activity in Straits Around Japan -- The Diplomat

Japan Refuses To Confirm If China Was Successful In Hacking Its Defence Networks

The Pentagon on Tuesday looked to soften the blow of an explosive report that Chinese hackers had infiltrated Japan's most sensitive defense networks, saying that it was "confident” about sharing intelligence with Tokyo. | REUTERS

The Independent: Japan refuses to confirm if China hacked its defence networks 

Japan on Tuesday refused to confirm if any security information was leaked through a cyberattack after a report claimed China hacked into the country's defence networks. 

Chinese military hackers allegedly gained access to a sensitive and classified defence network in Japan in 2020, which provided Beijing access to Tokyo's military capabilities, plans and assessments of shortcomings, the Washington Post reported on Monday. 

The hack was discovered by the US National Security Agency (NSA), prompting heads of the agency to fly to Tokyo to brief the Japanese defence minister, who asked the US officials to alert the prime minister themselves, the newspaper report said. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The U.S. appears to be unconcerned .... Pentagon Confident on Sharing Intelligence With Japan Despite China Hacking Report (Reuters). More here .... U.S. ‘confident’ in Japan intel sharing, but Taiwan concerns linger (Japan Times). 

 Japan Refuses To Confirm If China Was Successful In Hacking Its Defence Networks

Japan Declines to Confirm Major China Cyberattack on Defense Network -- Bloomberg  

Tokyo downplays US report of Chinese military hack on Japan -- RFA 

China reportedly had ‘deep, persistent access’ to Japanese networks for months -- Endgadget

Japan's Annual Defense White Paper Raises Concerns On China - Russia Military Cooperation

 

Irish Times/Financial Times: Japan 'gravely concerned' by China and Russia's military co-operation  

Tokyo’s annual defence white paper sets out plans to increase spending  

Japan has warned that deepening military co-operation between China and Russia is of “grave concern” for its security, in the country’s first defence white paper since it set out plans to expand defence spending last year. 

 Beijing and Moscow kicked off their largest joint naval and air exercise in the Sea of Japan earlier this month, underscoring how their collaboration has gained pace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The white paper, which was approved by prime minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet on Friday, also noted that the overall military balance between China and Taiwan was “rapidly tilting” in Beijing’s favour.  

Read more ....  

WNU editor: This new Japan defense paper is laying the groundwork for a massive defense budget increase .... Japan forecasts large boost to defense spending over next five years (Defense News).  

Update: Beijing has responded to Japan's defense white paper (see video below). 

 

Japan's Annual Defense White Paper Raises Concerns On China - Russia Military Cooperation  

Japan raises alarm over China’s military, Russia ties and Taiwan tensions in new defense paper -- AP  

Japan Defense White Paper Affirms Stronger Military Strategy -- New York Times 

Japan Airs Concerns on China-Russia Drills in Defense Report -- Bloomberg  

Japan raises concern over China military, says North Korea threat more serious than ever -- CNA  

Japan says North Korea threat more serious than 'ever before' -- France 24  

China eyes accelerated plan for 'world-class military,' Japan says -- Japan Times

China, Japan Defence Ministers Make First Call On New Military Hotline

ABP: Japan, China Make First Call On New Military Hotline, Ahead Of G7, Quad Summits 

Japan and China on Tuesday made their first call on a new military hotline after years of negotiations to set up the communication channel. As per a report by AFP, the development was confirmed by the defence ministries of both countries. Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada, in a statement, said that he held a conversation for 20 minutes with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, the news agency reported. 

"Hamada mentioned the existence of security concerns between Japan and China, such as the situation in the East China Sea," it said. 

He "stated that it is necessary to have candid communication especially when there are concerns about Japan-China relations". 

The call was confirmed by Beijing, too, saying the air and maritime hotline would "contribute to further maintaining regional peace and stability". 

The hotline was launched on March 31 this year and had been mooted by both sides for over a decade as a way to avert unexpected clashes in the East China Sea.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: China has a history of not answering the hotline .... 'It just rang': In crises, US-China hotline goes unanswered (AP). 

 China, Japan Defence Ministers Make First Call On New Military Hotline  

Defense ministers from Japan, China inaugurate hotline -- AP  

China, Japan defence ministers hold first talks over new military hotline -- ACMP 

Japan, China Ministers Make First Call on Defense Hotline -- Defense Post

Japan, China ministers make first call on defence hotline -- Space War  

Defense ministers' line helps manage China-Japan ties -- China Daily

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi Warns China And Russia Are Increasing Their Military Collaboration

Japanese FM, Yoshimasa Hayashi, center, Swedish FM, Tobias Billstrom, left, and EU High Rep. for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell near Stockholm, May 13, 2023.  

FOX News: Russia, China cozy up as military powers threaten 'the existing order,' official warns 

Japan says situation in Ukraine, China's actions in Asia are 'not separable' Japan is warning that China and Russia have increased military cooperation in a bid to disrupt the current world order in Asia and beyond. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi warned over the weekend that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has "shaken the very foundation of the international order" and that the world should unite in support of Ukraine. 

But he also argued that China's cooperation with Russia opens the door to "similar challenges" in other regions and threatens "the existing order, which has underpinned our peace and prosperity, could be fundamentally overturned," according to a report from Military.com. 

Read more .... 

Update: China and Russia are increasing their military collaboration, Japan's foreign minister warns (AP)    

WNU Editor: China has responded .... Hayashi's hype of China, Russia military alliance 'an excuse for Japan's own military expansion' (Global Times).

Japan And China's Foreign Ministers Meet To Discuss Disputes

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, left, meets Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing [Kyodo/via Reuters]  

DW: Japan and China's foreign ministers discuss disputes 

Japan's foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart in Beijing and openly talked about disputes between their countries. The two Asian powers are seeking common ground amid rising tensions in the region. 

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi had a frank meeting with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing on Sunday. 

It is the first visit by a Japanese foreign minister to China in more than three years, and comes just days after Tokyo announced plans to restrict some computer chip-making exports. 

"The United States used bullying tactics to brutally suppress the Japanese semiconductor industry, and now it is repeating its old tricks against China," Qin told his counterpart, according to a readout of the meeting. 

He also accused Japan of being Washington's "minion."  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: These talks are not going well .... Little progress in China-Japan ties despite 2 days of high-level talks (SCMP). Japan wants action on these issues .... Japan protests China’s detention of citizen, maritime action (AP). China is criticizing Japan's relationship with the US .... Japan urged to strengthen talks, not to follow US' wrong strategy (Global Times). 

At least there was progress on this .... Japan Sets Up Hotline With China to Manage Confrontations at Sea (Maritime Executive). More here .... Japan, China launch defense hotline to prevent accidental clashes (NHK).

Chinese Coast Guard Now Entering Disputed Waters In East China

Reuters: China coast guard enters disputed waters in East China Sea 

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's coast guard entered the waters around disputed East China Sea islets on Wednesday to counter what it called the incursion of Japanese vessels into Chinese territorial waters. 

Disputed East China Sea islets claimed by China and Japan have long been a sticking point in bilateral ties. China calls the islands Diaoyu while Japan calls them Senkaku. 

China Marine Police spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement that coast guard vessels entered the waters of the Diaoyu for a "normal rights protection patrol" calling it a "routine move".  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor:The Chinese Coast Guard is not the only Chinese service entering these waters .... Beijing expanding airborne surveillance capabilities over East China Sea (Janes).

For The First Time In Four Years China And Japan Hold Security Talks

Japanese deputy foreign minister Shigeo Yamada, second from right, speaks to Chinese vice foreign minister Sun Weidong, second left, during the Japan-China security dialogue on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, in Tokyo [Shuji Kajiyama/pool via Reuters 

CNBC/Reuters: China and Japan square off over arms and balloons at first security talks in four years 

China said it was troubled by Japan’s military build up and Tokyo took aim at Beijing’s military ties to Russia and its suspected use of spy balloons during the Asian powers’ first formal security talks in four years on Wednesday. 

The talks, aimed at easing tensions between the world’s second- and third-largest economies, come as Tokyo worries that Beijing will resort to force to take control of Taiwan in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, sparking a conflict that could embroil Japan and disrupt global trade. 

Japan in December said it would double defense spending over the next five years to 2% of gross domestic product — a total of $320 billion — to deter China from resorting to military action. Beijing, which increased defense spending by 7.1% last year, spends more than four times as much as Japan on its forces.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: China and Japan meet for formal security talks to stabilise tensions (The Guardian)  

Update #2: China, Japan hold first security talks in four years (Al Jazeera)  

WNU Editor: I expected these talks to deal with territorial issues. But China's focus was on this .... China spells out concern over Japan’s semiconductor controls, asks for fair and predictable business environment (SCMP).

Japan, China To Hold Security Talks Next Week

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi meets with Chinese foreign policy chief Wang Yi on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich on Sunday. JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY / VIA KYODO  

Reuters: Japan, China to hold security talks next week, Japan foreign minister 

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan and China will hold security talks next week, Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said after meeting his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. 

The agreement to hold the security talks, the first to be held in four years, came after Hayashi and China's top diplomat Wang Yi spoke ahead of the conference. 

 "It is important for us to have frank discussions precisely because there are a number of pressing matters in our relationship", Hayashi said to reporters, highlighting a territorial spat in the East China Sea and increasing Chinese and Russian military presence around Japanese waters as some of the issues that need to be discussed. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Chinese media is saying these talks are long overdue .... China, Japan agree to hold 1st security talks since 2019, 'signaling attempt to stabilize ties' (Global Times). 

As to what do I expect from these talks. Nothing much, but at least it opens up communications. 

 Japan, China To Hold Security Talks Next Week  

Japan conveys spy balloon concerns to China as two sides agree to security talks -- Japan Times 

Japan, China agree to hold talks "at all levels" to improve ties -- Kyodo News  

Japan, China Agree To Hold Senior-level Defence Talks -- AFP

China Has Signaled How It Will Respond To The New Security Initiatives Between Japan And The U.S.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hold a joint press conference with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada as part of the 2023 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting at the State Department in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts  

US News and World Report: China Signals Military Response as U.S., Japan Accelerate Defense Plans  

Dramatic escalations in Japan’s own military investments combined with new security cooperation with the U.S. announced this week prompted new warnings from Beijing. 

China on Thursday signaled plans to retaliate militarily to new security initiatives between Japan and the U.S., warning that the allies’ accelerated cooperation will create new threats for themselves in the region. 

Citing a Chinese military analyst, the English-language Global Times newspaper warned that if Japan continued dramatic increases in military spending and new security postures coordinated with the U.S. – particularly with regard to Taiwan – then the Chinese military “is sure to take countermeasures, including holding more exercises and patrols in international waters and airspace around Japan.”  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: China's response to Japan's increase in defense spending and aligning with the US can be summed up from the two articles below:  

China ‘well prepared’ as US looks to put Japan in actual combat frontlines (Global Times)  

Closer military ties with US after ‘2+2’ talks put Japan in riskier and sacrificial position (Global Times)

China Suspends New Visas For South Koreans And Japan Over Covid-19 Dispute

 

ABC News Australia: China suspends issuing visas in Japan, South Korea to retaliate for COVID-19 tests for travellers putting Australia at risk of similar treatment 

China has suspended issuing short-term visas in South Korea and Japan after announcing it would retaliate against countries that required negative COVID-19 tests from Chinese travellers. 

China ditched mandatory quarantines for arrivals and allowed travel to resume across its border with Hong Kong on Sunday, removing the last major restrictions under the "zero-COVID" regime after Beijing abruptly reversed its "zero COVID" policy last month following historic protests. 

But the virus is spreading unchecked among its 1.4 billion people, and worries over the scale and impact of the outbreak have prompted countries including Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United States to require negative COVID-19 tests from travellers from China. 

Read more ....  

Update #1: China halts visas for Japan, South Korea in COVID-19 spat (AP)  

Update #2: China suspends issuing visas in Japan and South Korea (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: The expectation is that China will continue to retaliate against other countries .... China likely to retaliate against more countries over Covid travel curbs (SCMP).

Japan Says It Scrambled Fighter Jets And Dispatched Warships Over The Past Two Weeks To Monitor China's Liaoning Carrier Strike Group In The Pacific

Reuters: Japan says it scrambled jets to monitor Chinese aircraft carrier operations 

TOKYO (Reuters) -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 manoeuvres and flight operations in the Pacific. 

Japan monitored the operations after the Chinese naval group, which included missile destroyers, sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima island into the Western Pacific from the East China Sea on Dec. 16, Japan's Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

Read more ....  

Update: Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Now in East China Sea, PLA Drones Operating Near Japan (USNI News)  

WNU Editor: China's Liaoning aircraft carrier and five warships have been conducting naval and flight operations in the West Pacific for the past few weeks .... Aircraft carrier Liaoning hosts fighter jet drills in West Pacific (Global Times). Even passing by Guam a few days ago .... In A Warning To The U.S. Over Taiwan, China Sails An Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Near Guam (December 30, 2022).

China Steps-Up Its Naval And Air Drills Around The Nansei/Ryukyu Islands In Response To Japan's Massive Incease In Its Defense Budeget

Asia Times: China, Japan up military ante on the Nansei Islands  

China cranks up attack drills around strategic islands in apparent response to Japan’s intent to double its defense spending

China has stepped up its naval and air drills around the Nansei/Ryukyu Islands, ratcheting tensions alongside a rapidly re-arming Japan. 

Japan News recently reported that a Chinese carrier battlegroup spearheaded by the Liaoning has been conducting naval drills simulating an attack on the Nansei/Ryukyu Islands since December 16, with the exercises set to end on December 26. 

The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times identifies the ships as the Type 055 cruiser Lhasa, the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng, the Type 903A replenishment ship Taihu, and the hull number 796 electronic reconnaissance vessel.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The Chinese are not the only ones who are taking notice of Japan's intent to double its defense spending .... Japan's beefed-up defense stance rattles its neighbors (DW).

The Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo Yomiuri Shimbun file photo  

Asia News/The Yomiuri Shimbun/The Japan News: China to be described as ‘greatest strategic challenge’ in Japan’s latest National Security Strategy  

The current NSS, formulated in 2013, refers to China as “an issue of concern for the international community.” 

TOKYO – China’s hegemonic moves are described as “the greatest strategic challenge” Japan faces in a draft of the National Security Strategy (NSS), which is set to be revised in mid-December. 

The government submitted the draft to a working team of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito on Wednesday. The current NSS, formulated in 2013, refers to China as “an issue of concern for the international community.” 

The description of China as a “challenge” in the draft reflects Japan’s position of seeking “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing while expressing utmost caution.  

Read more ....  

Update: Japan to describe China military moves as 'challenge' to international order (Japan Times)  

WNU Editor: This Japanese National Security Strategy will also label Russia as a 'serious security concern' .... Japan Plans To Label Russia As A Country Of 'serious Security Concern': Report (Republic World).

Senior Japanese Lawmaker In Taiwan Says The Chinese Threat Justifies More Military Spending

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with Koichi Hagiuda, policy chief for Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Taipei  

Reuters: Japan lawmaker in Taiwan says China threat needs more military spending 

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Japan needs to increase its military spending in the face of the "grim reality" of the threat from China and North Korea, a senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said on Sunday during a visit to Taiwan. 

Although Chinese-claimed and democratically-governed Taiwan and Japan do not have formal diplomatic ties, they have close unofficial relations and both share concerns about China, especially its increased military activities near the two. 

Koichi Hagiuda, the LDP's policy chief and a former industry minister, said during a visit to Taipei that since World War Two Japan has "walked the path of peace" and that path will not change in the future.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: China has responded .... China denounces senior Japanese official’s Taiwan visit; ‘irrational move to undermine stability in Straits’ (Global Times).

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida And Chinese President Xi Jinping Meet At Apec

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC leaders' summit in Bangkok © Thomson Reuters 

 Reuters: Xi, Kishida meet as tensions grow over Taiwan, East China Sea 

TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he conveyed concerns over regional security to Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday amid growing tensions in Asia over China's maritime ambitions. 

Xi was quoted by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV as telling Kishida that China and Japan should deepen trust, areas of cooperation and regional integration, and resist "conflict and confrontation". 

The two leaders met in Thailand on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, marking the first leadership-level talks between the two countries in almost three years. 

Regional tensions have been rising over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. 

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and in August staged war games near the island. The democratically-elected government in Taipei rejects Beijing's claims and says only its people can decide its future.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: They met. They talked. But nothing of substance was agreed upon. 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida And Chinese President Xi Jinping Meet At Apec 

 China's Xi, Japan's Kishida meet amid regional tensions -- DW 

Tepid re-engagement: Kishida and Xi signal openness to repairing ties -- Japan Times  

Xi-Kishida Meeting Leaves Tough Issues Unresolved -- VOA

Japan Scrambles Fighters For Chinese Intelligence-Gathering Aircraft Near Okinawa

A Chinese Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft photographed near Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 14, 2022. (Japan Ministry of Defense)  

NHK: Japan Defense Ministry: Chinese military aircraft flew near Okinawa 

Japan's Defense Ministry says three Chinese military aircraft flew between islands of Okinawa Prefecture and out to the Pacific on Monday. 

The ministry says a BZK-005 reconnaissance drone, a Y9 intelligence-gathering aircraft and a Y9 patrol plane were confirmed to have passed between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island from Monday morning through the afternoon. 

The three aircraft continued to fly over the Pacific to the east of Okinawa's main island, and then took the same route back to the East China Sea.  

Read more ....  

Update: Japan scrambles fighters for Chinese aircraft near Okinawa (Stars And Stripes)  

WNU Editor: Okinawa is critical to the security of both Japan and the U.S., and the Chinese know that .... Okinawa Key to Japan’s Defense Against China, North Korea, Says Expert (USNI News).

Japan's Prime Minister Warns The Country To Brace Itself For War With China

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Picture: Yoshikazu Tsuno / POOL / AFP  

News.com.au: Japan is bracing itself for war with China 

One of the world’s most powerful countries has long been sworn to pacifism.China’s increasingly worrying actions are forcing it to reconsider. 

Japan is worried. A close neighbour is talking tough. It wants control over Tokyo’s southernmost islands, shipping lanes and oil reserves. Now that talk is relentlessly marching towards action. 

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last weekend pledged he would prepare to face aggression. “We must prepare ourselves for an era when actors emerge to disobey rules and use force or threats to destroy the peace and safety of other nations,” Kishida said as he addressed an international fleet review in Tokyo Bay. “We will accelerate realistic discussions on what’s needed to defend our people by keeping all options on the table.” 

That’s more complicated than it sounds.  

Read more ....

Update: Why Japan is Gearing Up for Possible War with China (Hal Brands, Bloomberg)  

Update #2: Japan is preparing for war with China, say all telltale signs (First Post)  

WNU Editor: Japan is rushing to build-up its military .... Japan Likely To Re-arm By 2027 to Cease China's Military Actions In East Asia, Says Report (Republic World).

Update #3: In a China - Japan war Okinawa will definitely be in the cross-hairs .... As China threatens Taiwan, Okinawa braces for war (Roll Call).