bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Julian Ryall

Japan’s tracking of a foreign submarine as it passed through waters off Kyushu late last week has focused attention on Tokyo’s broader defence plans after it announced the scrapping of the US-developed Aegis Ashore anti-ballistic missile system.
The Ministry of Defence has not confirmed the nationality of the submarine, which was travelling west when it traversed the contiguous zone immediately outside the 12-nautical-mile limit of Japan’s territorial waters around Amami-Oshima island. The vessel did not enter Japanese waters, and a destroyer and patrol aircraft were dispatched to track its movements.
Garren Mulloy, professor of international relations at Daito Bunka University, said the fact that the submarine was detected operating in waters close to Japan was not entirely surprising – but Tokyo’s decision to announce its presence was more noteworthy.
Japan city renames area covering Senkaku Islands, triggering China tension fears
“Japan has not said who was operating the vessel, but the strong suspicion is that it was Chinese,” he said. “It was not doing anything out of the ordinary and was exercising what is known as innocent right of passage.”
Chinese submarines were obliged to traverse the shallow and relatively narrow channels between the chain of islands made up by Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines if they were to operate in the deeper and safer waters of the Pacific, Mulloy said.
“So they are trying to do that without being picked up,” he said. “Although Tokyo announcing that they have been detected is a double-edged sword.”
The Maritime Self-Defence Force “would probably have preferred not to let China know” that their submarine had been tracked, Mulloy said, as this provided Beijing with valuable data. The intent, he added, would have been to clearly signal to the Chinese that they had been monitored at a time when military tensions in the region were worsening.


Akitoshi Miyashita, professor of international relations at Tokyo’s Sophia University, said he believed Beijing’s motivations for keeping up its high-profile geopolitical and military manoeuvrings were twofold.
“I think they are trying to exploit the problems that the coronavirus pandemic has caused for governments in the region, but I also believe that they are on the defensive after being accused of being the source of the illness, so they are also trying to divert attention elsewhere,” he said.
The changing security challenges in the region also appear to have been a consideration behind Tokyo cancelling plans to deploy the Aegis Ashore weapons system, which was developed in the United States. A government source told the Asahi newspaper that Japan’s political leaders will soon meet to draw up a revised National Security Strategy.
The present strategy, approved in December 2013, had at its core the need to protect the nation from the threat of ballistic missiles. The potential sources of a missile attack were never explicitly spelt out, but are widely accepted to be North Korea and China.
Japan files diplomatic protest over Chinese ships near disputed Diaoyu Islands
New factors that Tokyo must now consider in its defence plans include the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, questions surrounding the commitment of the US to its allies in the region, and new spending constraints given the nation’s economic situation.
According to Miyashita, Japan “wants to see what the US is going to do with its own new defence policy” after the American election later this year. A second term for President Donald Trump, for example, would probably require a very different approach to security issues than if a different president was elected in November.

“It is very possible that the US may change its own missile defence projects and Japan may want to see those new plans and then see how we can cooperate or integrate into those plans,” Miyashita said.
Miyashita and Mulloy agree that the planning and handling of the entire Aegis Ashore project was conducted “very poorly” by the ministry, which incorrectly mapped the terrain close to proposed sites for the bases, apparently failed to take into consideration that parts of a missile that had been launched might fall on nearby residential districts, and failed to win local people over to the project.
“The other good reason that they are cancelling it is because of the high price,” said Mulloy from Daito Bunka University, adding that it is very possible that Tokyo initially agreed to buy the system from the US in order to “curry favour” with Trump at a time he was putting pressure on Japan to pay more for its own defence.
A glove affair: the Japanese man who’s obsessed with lost gloves
And while ballistic missiles do potentially pose a threat to Japan, it appears that Tokyo is willing to delegate the task of intercepting inbound missiles to the Aegis-equipped destroyers that it already operates and will focus its attention elsewhere.
Mulloy points out that Japan is increasingly concerned about its ability to resist cyber warfare attacks and is expected to invest heavily in defences against this sort of attack, as well as space warfare that would target its communications and spy satellites in the event of a conflict. The importance of having solid defences against a cyberattack were underlined last week when Australia announced that it had been the target of repeated attacks from an unnamed country, once again understood to be China.
Other issues that will be under discussion for the revised National Defence Programme Guidelines include the strengthening of supply chains for medical equipment and the introduction of measures to deal with future pandemics, steps to prevent advanced technology being leaked or stolen, and the securing of maritime assets.


What’s next for Japan’s defence after scrapping US Aegis Ashore system?

The Japanese Air Self-Defence Force demonstrates US-developed PAC-3 surface-to-air interceptors at the US Yokota Air Base in 2017. Photo: AP

File photo taken in July 2018 shows a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force exercise ground in Akita, northeastern Japan, a candidate site for the deployment of a land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system. Japan announced on June 15, 2020, that it will halt the process of deploying two Aegis missile defense systems in the country to counter the threat of North Koran missiles, citing costs and the timing of deployment. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tokyo’s tracking of a foreign submarine has focused attention on its security plans after it announced the scrapping of a US-developed anti-missile system
Factors the country is weighing up include the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Washington’s commitment to its regional allies



Tokyo’s tracking of a foreign submarine has focused attention on its security plans after it announced the scrapping of a US-developed anti-missile system.


Japan

China-Japan relations

United States

What’s next for Japan’s defence after scrapping US Aegis Ashore system?

Tokyo’s tracking of a foreign submarine has focused attention on its security plans after it announced the scrapping of a US-developed anti-missile system Factors the country is weighing up include the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Washington’s commitment to its regional allies

Tokyo’s tracking of a foreign submarine has focused attention on its security plans after it announced the scrapping of a US-developed anti-missile system

Factors the country is weighing up include the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Washington’s commitment to its regional allies