https://www.scmp.com/rss/522249/feed The latest news and top stories on the Self-Defence Forces. A prominent Japan-based governmental military organisation, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) was established in 1954 with its headquarters in Ichigaya, Tokyo. Its primary mission is to defend Japan against aggression, preserve peace, and maintain national security. Comprising Ground, Maritime, and Air branches, the JSDF also focuses significantly on disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and international peacekeeping operations.... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China issued a “strong protest” after a Japanese destroyer, travelling to military exercises in the Philippines, passed through the Taiwan Strait on the anniversary of an 1895 treaty ceding the island to Japan. Friday’s voyage was a “deliberate provocation”, said Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry. The 14-hour passage by the JS Ikazuchi “once again exposes the dangerous plot of some people in Japan to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait and undermine peace and stability... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350723/japan-warships-taiwan-strait-voyage-reignites-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350723/japan-warships-taiwan-strait-voyage-reignites-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:19:52 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Tensions in East Asia reached a fresh peak with a Japanese warship’s transit of the Taiwan Strait on a historically freighted date for China. According to the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi spent 14 hours navigating the sensitive waterway on Friday, the anniversary of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki or Treaty of Maguan, an unequal treaty that forced the then-ruling Qing dynasty administration to cede Taiwan to Japanese colonial rule. In a commentary on Saturday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350646/japans-treaty-day-taiwan-strait-warship-transit-new-flashpoint-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350646/japans-treaty-day-taiwan-strait-warship-transit-new-flashpoint-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:55:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The Chinese embassy in Japan has received a series of “terrorist threats”, including an intrusion and a bomb threat, in the past month, a diplomat said on Thursday, describing the incidents as “extremely egregious”. Shi Yong, the acting head of the embassy, said that on March 5 the embassy received a threatening letter from an organisation claiming to comprise former Japanese police officers and former Self-Defence Forces members. Shi said the embassy had reported the matter to the local police,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350341/china-says-tokyo-embassy-intrusion-bomb-threat-are-among-grave-violations-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350341/china-says-tokyo-embassy-intrusion-bomb-threat-are-among-grave-violations-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Japan plans to introduce a fleet of kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles to boost deterrence against regional threats including China, according to Japanese media reports. The Yomiuri newspaper and Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday that the strategy was focused on “integrated attacks” from unmanned aerial vehicles and long-range stand-off missiles, citing government and ruling coalition sources. They said the drones and missiles would be used to break down enemy air defences and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348960/eye-china-japan-looks-kamikaze-drones-and-low-cost-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348960/eye-china-japan-looks-kamikaze-drones-and-low-cost-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:23 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen As Tokyo was completing the deployment on Tuesday of its two Type 25 missiles targeting China, a Chinese naval fleet entered the Sea of Japan, while bilateral tensions continued to escalate. China has strongly protested the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force’s addition of the newly designated Type 25 long-range surface-to-ship guided (SSM) missile and hypervelocity gliding projectiles (HGP). The deployments in the waters – also known in South Korea as the East Sea – were an example of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348676/chinese-navy-arrives-sea-japan-just-tokyo-deploys-long-range-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348676/chinese-navy-arrives-sea-japan-just-tokyo-deploys-long-range-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:01:24 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan on Wednesday raised tobacco and corporate taxes to finance a boost in defence spending, with income tax hike set to follow in 2027 as the government projects the tax increases will add some 1.3 trillion yen (US$8 billion) annually in revenue. As the security environment surrounding Japan deteriorates and the government is set to further strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, the public is likely to face further tax burdens to finance the outlays, which have now ballooned to a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348609/japan-begins-tax-increases-bankroll-record-us8-billion-military-build?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348609/japan-begins-tax-increases-bankroll-record-us8-billion-military-build?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:40:03 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s military mouthpiece accused Japan of “dangerously expanding” its defence industry – in capacity, technology and international engagement – and said it had “crossed the red line”. In a rare full-page report on Monday, PLA Daily claimed Japan possessed an “astonishing” stockpile of nuclear materials and that it had the technology to produce nuclear weapons. It said 44.4 tonnes of plutonium had already been separated by the end of 2024 – enough to make about 5,500 nuclear warheads. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348518/japan-has-enough-plutonium-make-5500-nuclear-warheads-pla-daily-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348518/japan-has-enough-plutonium-make-5500-nuclear-warheads-pla-daily-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:08:14 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Japan has upgraded a naval vessel with capabilities to fire long-range Tomahawk missiles, with the first firing test expected this summer – a move experts said would pose a security threat to China. The Aegis destroyer Chokai “completed modifications and crew training” in the US that started in October, “confirming its acquisition of Tomahawk missile launch capabilities”, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Friday. He said a ceremony marking the acquisition of these capabilities... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348299/japan-upgrades-destroyer-tomahawk-missiles-why-it-might-pose-threat-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348299/japan-upgrades-destroyer-tomahawk-missiles-why-it-might-pose-threat-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Japan’s structural reform of its maritime force reflects a shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for a potential conflict with Beijing, according to Chinese analysts. The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) on Monday revamped its organisational structure to accelerate decision-making and improve ship operations, according to Kyodo News. The agency described the move as part of Japan’s efforts to strengthen defence amid China’s growing assertiveness. As part of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347889/should-china-be-worried-about-japans-maritime-force-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347889/should-china-be-worried-about-japans-maritime-force-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army has condemned Japan’s deployment of stand-off weapons, including upgraded Type-12 missiles, accusing it of creating a “kill network” capable of targeting both coastal and inland areas of neighbouring countries. The enhanced Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles are set to be deployed at Camp Kengun in Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by the end of this month. On Tuesday, the PLA Daily reported that the upgraded Type-12 missile featured a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347707/china-slams-japans-kill-network-long-range-missile-deployment-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347707/china-slams-japans-kill-network-long-range-missile-deployment-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Most Japanese people oppose sending warships to the Middle East in response to the war on Iran, according to two polls conducted over the weekend amid continued US pressure on allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. In a Yomiuri newspaper survey, 67 per cent voiced opposition to sending the nation’s Self-Defence Forces to the region, while an ANN poll showed 52 per cent against their deployment. The polls also showed elevated approval ratings for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet, at... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347548/most-japanese-oppose-helping-trump-fight-his-war-iran-polls-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347548/most-japanese-oppose-helping-trump-fight-his-war-iran-polls-show?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:52:43 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Sunday hinted at the possibility of sending the country’s Self-Defence Forces for minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz, provided that a ceasefire is realised in the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel. “Japan’s minesweeping technology is at the top level in the world,” Motegi said during a television programme. “Let’s say [the parties have entered into a] ceasefire, and in the event that mines pose an obstacle, we may... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347458/japan-may-send-minesweepers-hormuz-after-iran-war-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3347458/japan-may-send-minesweepers-hormuz-after-iran-war-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:08:43 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A German defence company has successfully tested an uncrewed cargo glider designed to support frontline military units, a technology that Tokyo is also exploring as it looks to bolster its capabilities in islands to the far southwest of the Japanese archipelago. Munich-based Hensoldt said on February 5 that it had marked a milestone in the development of its High-Altitude Drop Infiltrating System, or HADIS, after releasing a scale version of the uncrewed vehicle from a transport aircraft during... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343528/can-german-stealth-cargo-gliders-boost-japans-remote-island-defence-and-logistics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343528/can-german-stealth-cargo-gliders-boost-japans-remote-island-defence-and-logistics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall North Korea’s claim that Japan has crossed a diplomatic “red line” by deepening its security partnerships is less about Tokyo’s defence policies than Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decisive election victory, analysts say, as a weaker mandate may have pushed her towards negotiations with Pyongyang. With a commanding majority secured in Sunday’s poll, Takaichi now faces fewer domestic constraints as she signals plans to expand defence cooperation with Western partners and potentially push ahead... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343322/why-takaichis-japan-election-victory-has-sparked-north-koreas-childish-fury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343322/why-takaichis-japan-election-victory-has-sparked-north-koreas-childish-fury?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s government plans to revive the military ranks used by its armed forces before and during World War II, in a symbolic gesture to please conservatives that analysts warn could stoke regional tensions. The plan, first floated in November after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had struck a coalition deal with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), appeared to have been pushed by senior JIP members, the Asahi newspaper reported on Saturday. The LDP has reportedly agreed to the change on the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342089/japan-set-revive-wwii-military-titles-controversial-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342089/japan-set-revive-wwii-military-titles-controversial-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:30:16 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu Back decided on Friday to step up personnel exchanges between their forces amid mounting regional security challenges. At the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (MSDF) base in Koizumi’s hometown of Yokosuka, near Tokyo, the two agreed to hold annual reciprocal visits, as ties between the Asian neighbours have continued to improve in recent years. “We opened the door for a new level of defence exchanges between Japan... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341874/japan-and-south-korea-upgrade-defence-pact-counter-china-and-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341874/japan-and-south-korea-upgrade-defence-pact-counter-china-and-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:41:20 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A record share of the Japanese public now supports strengthening the country’s Self-Defence Forces, a new government survey shows, highlighting how sharply attitudes on national security have shifted amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s expanding military activities and rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Analysts said the shift reflects a growing sense that diplomacy and alliances alone may no longer be sufficient to guarantee Japan’s security. According to a Cabinet Office survey... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341606/why-more-japanese-ever-support-strengthening-self-defence-forces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341606/why-more-japanese-ever-support-strengthening-self-defence-forces?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley An obsession with “security” can create increasing insecurity. This paradox is being amply demonstrated as advanced nations, including the United States and Japan, take or contemplate joint action aimed at bolstering economic security but which could erode global economic growth and prosperity – or even result in physical conflict. How might such threats crystallise? Strengthening security, whether economic or military, suggests increased defence spending to, for example, secure sea lanes and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3336952/japans-economic-security-push-heralds-rising-protectionism-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3336952/japans-economic-security-push-heralds-rising-protectionism-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US and Japanese defence chiefs spoke on the phone on Friday about a confrontation between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets over the weekend, with Tokyo saying it did not seek to escalate the tensions. During the call, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth engaged in a “candid exchange” of views on the “rapidly deteriorating” security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a Japanese defence ministry release. “The two sides stated serious... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336143/japan-us-defence-chiefs-cover-radar-row-and-other-china-tensions-phone-call?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336143/japan-us-defence-chiefs-cover-radar-row-and-other-china-tensions-phone-call?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:22:52 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang US bombers and stealth fighters took part in a joint military exercise with Japan on Wednesday while an American aircraft carrier arrived at a Japanese port on Thursday, in a show of force amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) and the US military conducted the exercise “amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan”, Tokyo’s Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. “Through this exercise, we confirmed the strong commitment of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336085/us-military-sends-show-strength-japan-chinas-navy-air-drills-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336085/us-military-sends-show-strength-japan-chinas-navy-air-drills-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:00:12 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi acknowledged that China had notified Japan in advance about drills involving the aircraft carrier Liaoning that led to a stand-off between warplanes from the two countries over the weekend. However, Koizumi told a press conference on Wednesday that the notification lacked detail about the scale and location of the exercise in the Pacific southeast of Okinawa’s main island and Beijing had not provided “notices to air missions”, a warning to ships and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335816/china-reveals-radio-communication-heard-mid-air-standoff-japanese-fighter-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335816/china-reveals-radio-communication-heard-mid-air-standoff-japanese-fighter-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:06:34 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Chinese naval vessels have intensified pass-through operations as tensions between Beijing and Tokyo continue to rise. Japan’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that a PLA Navy Type 054 destroyer had sailed southeastwards between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, heading towards the Pacific Ocean, while another travelled eastwards through the Osumi Strait. The operations on Monday came shortly after the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning charted an unusual course towards Japan’s main islands... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335703/why-chinas-liaoning-carrier-unique-route-amid-beijing-tokyo-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335703/why-chinas-liaoning-carrier-unique-route-amid-beijing-tokyo-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:23:37 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s Liaoning carrier strike group continued military drills in waters near Japan’s Okinawa on Sunday, Tokyo said, a day after a rare stand-off between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets in the area. The PLA Navy aircraft carrier and three guided missile destroyers were sailing northeast between Okinawa and Minami-Daito islands, and in waters around 190km (118 miles) east of Kikai Island, Japan’s defence ministry said on Sunday night. Around 50 take-offs and landings by carrier-based fighter... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen When a full-scale model of the world’s first independent submarine hunter drone was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow last month, it offered a glimpse of the latest in a series of advances in China’s development of a modern integrated anti-submarine system. The Wing Loong-X export variant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has anti-submarine capabilities that are reportedly superior in some respects to the United States Navy’s Boeing P-8 Poseidon and other manned aircraft. The full-scale model drone’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335086/chinas-rapid-progress-anti-submarine-drones-adding-concerns-japan-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335086/chinas-rapid-progress-anti-submarine-drones-adding-concerns-japan-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Haining Gao,Fan Hou Haining Gao,Fan Hou _ https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334990/chinas-volatile-japan-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334990/chinas-volatile-japan-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 03:15:58 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The PLA’s new “drone carrier”, a key asset for potential amphibious operations against Taiwan, appears to have conducted its second sea trial, marking quick progress towards deployment amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over the island. A large vessel departed from the Hudong–Zhonghua shipyard on Friday, according to a navigation warning issued a day earlier by the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration. The notice did not identify the vessel, but it is believed to be the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334778/plas-type-076-drone-carrier-fast-track-deployment-apparent-second-sea-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334778/plas-type-076-drone-carrier-fast-track-deployment-apparent-second-sea-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:00:08 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Japan’s export of lethal weapons sent an “extremely dangerous signal” indicating expanded military capabilities, Chinese observers and media said on Thursday as relations between the two countries continued to nosedive. The assessment followed Japanese media reports on Wednesday that Japan had exported domestically produced Patriot surface-to-air missile interceptors to the United States. The US would use the missiles to replenish its own stockpile as it provided military support to Ukraine in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333583/japans-export-lethal-weapons-us-extremely-dangerous-chinese-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333583/japans-export-lethal-weapons-us-extremely-dangerous-chinese-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall More than 3,500 venomous spiders – including black widows and redbacks – have been exterminated at a US military base in western Japan, alarming residents and officials already struggling with a rise in invasive species across the country. The record number of spiders, found between July and October at the US Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, included three known venomous species and prompted local authorities to demand urgent action to prevent the infestation from spreading beyond the base’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3332363/japan-caught-web-woe-over-3500-venomous-spiders-found-us-base?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3332363/japan-caught-web-woe-over-3500-venomous-spiders-found-us-base?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:11 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines and Japan have activated their new defence pact through a joint mission focused on delivering humanitarian aid following the deadly earthquake in Cebu, in a move that analysts say can lay the groundwork for deeper security cooperation in the region. The deployment marks the start of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a landmark deal that allows troops from both countries to conduct joint exercises on each other’s territory. Signed in July 2024 and in force since September 11,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328229/philippines-and-japan-signal-defence-pacts-depth-aid-quake-hit-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328229/philippines-and-japan-signal-defence-pacts-depth-aid-quake-hit-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese military has warned against Japan’s laser weapon plans, accusing Tokyo of undermining regional security. Japan has made progress in road-mobile laser weapons and will begin a ship-mounted laser weapon programme that can intercept incoming small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a commentary in the PLA Daily on Tuesday noted. “These trends should be watched with high caution,” it said. Laser weapons are an effective measure against the fast-developing drone warfare, with the advantages... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326595/china-criticises-japans-laser-weapon-plans-threat-regional-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326595/china-criticises-japans-laser-weapon-plans-threat-regional-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:51:18 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Protests that disrupted a major Japan–US military exercise in Okinawa have drawn strong condemnation from the Japanese defence minister, conservative media and the public. The uproar reflects wider unease over mainland China’s growing military presence near Japan, with tensions over the disputed Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan fuelling fears of a regional conflict and divisions among the Japanese people over the US military presence in the country. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326392/protests-over-japan-us-military-drills-okinawa-expose-domestic-rifts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326392/protests-over-japan-us-military-drills-okinawa-expose-domestic-rifts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang,Wendy Wu Amber Wang,Wendy Wu China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct scientific research tests and training exercises in the South China Sea, the PLA Navy said on Friday. “The cross-regional tests and training are a routine mission of the carrier’s construction process and do not target any specific objects,” said navy spokesman Senior Colonel Leng Guowei, according to state news agency Xinhua. Photos and videos posted on social media showed the Fujian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325262/pla-aircraft-carrier-fujian-heads-south-china-sea-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325262/pla-aircraft-carrier-fujian-heads-south-china-sea-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:38:42 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Japanese companies are once again sending fresh recruits to boot camps run by the military in a bid to instil teamwork, discipline and basic social skills that many believe were lost during the pandemic-era shift to online learning and remote work. The “enlistment experience” programmes, operated by Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF), simulate aspects of military life – from dawn roll-calls and mess hall etiquette to marching drills and group exercises – and are seeing a revival after plummeting... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319185/japans-corporate-boot-camps-enlist-military-discipline-drill-soft-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319185/japans-corporate-boot-camps-enlist-military-discipline-drill-soft-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:37:30 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The distant thunder of a missile launch from Hokkaido late last month was less a provocation than a statement of intent: marking a turning point, analysts say, in Japan’s approach to its own defence. On June 24, more than 300 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade gathered at a remote firing range for the country’s first-ever live missile test from home soil. It saw a Type-88 surface-to-ship missile being launched towards an unmanned vessel parked 40km (25 miles)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317014/why-japan-just-tested-missile-its-own-turf-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317014/why-japan-just-tested-missile-its-own-turf-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:19 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall China could test Japan’s resolve by flying drones near disputed islands in the East China Sea after Tokyo clarified that its military is authorised to shoot down such unmanned aircraft intruding into its airspace, according to analysts. In response to a written query from a lawmaker, the Japanese government affirmed at a cabinet meeting on June 27 that the Self-Defence Forces could take such an action even if foreign drones were not an immediate threat to the country’s security. Ryo... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316841/japan-facing-higher-risk-drone-warfare-over-diaoyu-islands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3316841/japan-facing-higher-risk-drone-warfare-over-diaoyu-islands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:17 +0000