Category: Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF)

A Few Key Questions About Japan’s Defense

April 25, 2023
JapanJapan Self Defense Force (JSDF)OpinionTaiwanThinking About China
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Commentary What’s motivating Japan and Prime Minister Kishida? The People’s Republic of China (PRC). Xi Jinping has succeeded in getting Japan to take its defense seriously—something the Americans never had much success at. Some Japanese were concerned about the PRC’s military threat in the early 2000s, if not before. Indeed, then-Prime Minister Abe’s efforts in…

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Japan’s Defense Forces Secure New Base for US Military Drills

November 30, 2022
Asia & PacificInternationalJapanJapan Self Defense Force (JSDF)MageshimaNational SecurityU.S. military drillsUSUS NewsWorld
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The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) have been granted approval to build a military base on an uninhabited island in the southwestern Kagoshima prefecture, which will be used to relocate U.S. military aircraft drills. Kagoshima Gov. Koichi Shiota said Tuesday that his prefecture “has no choice” but to grant the JSDF permission to build a military…

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Japan’s Defense Goes ‘Joint’—Kind Of

November 9, 2022
ChinadefenseJapanJapan Self Defense Force (JSDF)OpinionThinking About China
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Commentary When considering Japan’s defense policy, particularly the speed at which it changes, it’s good to keep your wits about you. The following apocryphal exchange between a skeptical U.S. observer and a Japanese government official following some newly announced defense initiative is instructive: U.S. observer: “I suppose you’re going to get it done, ‘mañana’?” Japanese…

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Is Japan’s New Defense Budget Enough to Counter China’s Threats?

September 24, 2021
arms raceChinaJapanJapan Self Defense Force (JSDF)Japanese defense spendingOpinionThinking About ChinaViewpoints
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Commentary An optimist would suggest that at least Japan realizes it needs more money for defense. However, beyond that it’s hard to be too positive. The request was in the 2.6 percent increase range. And this is before Ministry of Finance is done adjusting that amount. Japanese defense budgets have been woefully underfunded for decades….

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