https://www.scmp.com/rss/524500/feed The latest news and updates on Shinjiro Koizumi, a prominent Japanese politician and Member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party. Currently serving as Minister of Agriculture, he previously held the post of Minister of the Environment from 2019 to 2021, where he championed initiatives for plastic waste reduction and renewable energy transition. Educated at Columbia University, he also served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Reconstruction. Known for his progressive... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appears to have sidestepped a potentially embarrassing political landmine by publicly backing a close aide accused in media reports of running a smear campaign against her rivals, while stopping short of flatly denying his possible role. The allegations, first reported in weekly tabloid news magazine Shukan Bunshun, claim that members of her own camp produced videos critical of rival candidates during last year’s Liberal Democratic Party leadership race,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353289/japans-takaichi-backs-aide-over-smear-claims-against-ldp-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3353289/japans-takaichi-backs-aide-over-smear-claims-against-ldp-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The recently concluded Balikatan joint drills have marked a shift in the Philippines’ defence strategy alongside Japan, with Tokyo offering the transfer of warships to its Southeast Asian ally, while a top Filipino official for the first time voiced “serious concern” over islands claimed by Beijing and Tokyo. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on Wednesday said Manila now considered the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands, a security flashpoint in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352942/philippines-shifts-defence-strategy-japan-eyes-wider-security-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352942/philippines-shifts-defence-strategy-japan-eyes-wider-security-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 12:25:52 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai Three People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships were spotted transiting the Tsushima Strait en route to the East China Sea last week, as Tokyo closely tracks such passages amid heightened regional tensions. The vessels were two Type 055 guided-missile destroyers and a Type 052D destroyer, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defence and Self-Defence Forces on Saturday. The ministry said the Japanese force’s JS Ootaka conducted “alert surveillance and intelligence gathering” on the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3352919/are-china-and-russia-flexing-their-maritime-muscle-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3352919/are-china-and-russia-flexing-their-maritime-muscle-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang Global attention is fixated on Japan’s strategic shift under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. From the strengthened US-Japan alliance to the tense stand-off with China, from advocating for constitutional reinterpretation to allowing weapons exports and deploying counterstrike capabilities – these moves have been dissected in capitals worldwide. But the real, and more decisive, story is unfolding on Japan’s home front. The domestic dynamic driving this change is often a footnote, yet it is the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3352355/domestic-dynamics-driving-japans-remilitarisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3352355/domestic-dynamics-driving-japans-remilitarisation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s defence minister pledged to deepen military cooperation with the Philippines during a visit Tuesday to Manila, aiming for the “early transfer” of Abukuma-class destroyers to the archipelago nation. The two countries’ shared grievances over Chinese territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years, including the signing of a reciprocal access agreement allowing for the deployment of troops on each other’s territory. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit came as... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3352529/japan-philippines-fast-track-transfer-navy-destroyers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3352529/japan-philippines-fast-track-transfer-navy-destroyers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 13:38:30 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan’s defence minister is touring Southeast Asia this week with what analysts describe as a clear, if diplomatically understated, mission: turning Indonesia and the Philippines into harder targets for Chinese maritime ambition. Shinjiro Koizumi landed in Jakarta on Monday to sign a defence cooperation pact with his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, coming hot on the heels of Tokyo’s landmark decision to lift a decades-old ban on the export of lethal weapons last month. He heads next... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352442/japan-offers-indonesia-and-philippines-lethal-muscle-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352442/japan-offers-indonesia-and-philippines-lethal-muscle-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 04:29:00 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo For those who have never visited the Yasukuni Shrine, it is located in central Tokyo and within walking distance of the Imperial Palace. It is easily accessible by subway, bus and taxi. It is beautiful, tranquil and dignified. Admission was free when I first visited it some 20 years ago. The Shinto shrine was established by Emperor Meiji to commemorate those who died in the service of Japan. In the late 1970s, the names of more than a dozen Class A war criminals (to the rest of the world) or... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3352279/why-resurgent-japan-should-absolutely-scare-everyone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3352279/why-resurgent-japan-should-absolutely-scare-everyone?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan and South Korea are closing ranks as they prepare for high-level meetings aimed at steadying ties amid growing regional volatility, with analysts saying the diplomatic push reflects shared concern over China, North Korea and the reliability of US commitments under President Donald Trump. Both countries appear willing to put past differences aside, at least for now, as they confront an assertive China and an unpredictable US administration that has unsettled long-standing allies and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352211/how-trump-inadvertently-bringing-japan-south-korea-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352211/how-trump-inadvertently-bringing-japan-south-korea-together?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 07:55:15 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A landmark warship deal between Australia and Japan is expected to drive further defence technology cooperation between the two Asia-Pacific nations, comparable in scope to Canberra’s security arrangements with Washington. Analysts say the agreement with Tokyo will also help Canberra address navy shortfalls and reduce its overreliance on the US at a time of great volatility. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Saturday that the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351174/australias-us7-billion-japan-warship-deals-signals-shift-us-overreliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351174/australias-us7-billion-japan-warship-deals-signals-shift-us-overreliance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippines has emerged as the clearest example of what observers say is Japan’s shift towards a more active defence role abroad, with both countries deepening their military cooperation in areas ranging from joint drills to technological partnerships. Japanese forces are taking part for the first time in this year’s Balikatan military exercises hosted by the Philippines, while bilateral cooperation is set to expand after Tokyo eased its defence export rules on Tuesday. These activities... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351190/how-philippines-became-japans-closest-security-partner-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351190/how-philippines-became-japans-closest-security-partner-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:55:22 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan and Australia said on Saturday they have finalised contracts to jointly deliver the first three of 11 ships for the Australian navy based on the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate, as the two countries deepen their defence cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness. The deal, announced by Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Melbourne, comes ahead of Japan’s planned easing of its rules on defence equipment exports, which place... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350577/japan-australia-finalise-contracts-deliver-first-3-planned-frigates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350577/japan-australia-finalise-contracts-deliver-first-3-planned-frigates?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:08:57 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan has moved swiftly to contain the diplomatic fallout after a member of its Self-Defence Forces broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo last week. But observers and local media say the incident has given Beijing an opening to reinforce claims of rising militarism and anti-China sentiment in Japan. Yoshinobu Kusunoki, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, on Monday called the break-in on March 24 “extremely unusual and serious”, adding that it “should not have happened”. His... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348549/japan-races-limit-fallout-chinese-embassy-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348549/japan-races-limit-fallout-chinese-embassy-break?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that long-range missiles with counterstrike capabilities have been brought into service at two Ground Self-Defence Force bases in the country. The deployment of the missiles at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture, southwestern Japan, and Camp Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture, central Japan, marks a shift from the country’s exclusively defence-oriented policy under its war-renouncing constitution. Japan has for the first time acquired a counterstrike capability,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348516/japan-deploys-long-range-missiles-2-bases-amid-china-tensions-irking-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348516/japan-deploys-long-range-missiles-2-bases-amid-china-tensions-irking-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:53:07 +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 Maria Siow Maria Siow The redeployment of US military assets from the Asia-Pacific to the Middle East has split security analysts, with some arguing that any strategic damage is largely “psychological” while others warn of a real and measurable gap opening in the region’s defences. More than 2,000 marines and at least one amphibious assault ship have begun moving from Japan towards the Gulf as the US-Israeli war on Iran grinds on. The assault ship USS Tripoli, docked at Sasebo in Nagasaki prefecture, is expected to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346849/us-militarys-iran-war-pivot-forces-asia-pacific-security-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346849/us-militarys-iran-war-pivot-forces-asia-pacific-security-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:01:16 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan has identified nearly 1,500 additional facilities that could serve as shelters in the event of missile or bomb attacks, amid mounting fears over the deteriorating security situation in northeast Asia. The government launched a study in 2024 to expand the existing list of facilities where the public could take cover during an attack and has since confirmed 1,489 sites – including subway stations and underground car parks – as suitable for short-term protection. The aim, the Sankei newspaper... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346776/japan-identifies-1500-new-missile-shelters-fears-grow-over-worsening-east-asia-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346776/japan-identifies-1500-new-missile-shelters-fears-grow-over-worsening-east-asia-security?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan could build a “China-free” supply chain for defence equipment, but doing so would be costly and could take years as Tokyo tries to reduce its reliance on a strategic rival, analysts have said. The debate gained urgency after Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi last week said Tokyo should consider creating a “China-free” supply chain for defence equipment, following Beijing’s ban on exports of dual-use items to Japan. Speaking during a Lower House Budget Committee session, Koizumi said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345578/japan-eyeing-china-free-supply-chain-defence-equipment-it-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345578/japan-eyeing-china-free-supply-chain-defence-equipment-it-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Chinese military activities – and the need to respond to them – were framed as a major driver of cooperation between US allies in the Indo-Pacific and Europe during this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC). It comes as Washington pushes its allies to spend more on their own defence and in the collective defence of the “first island chain” to deter potential war with China. Speaking at the conference on Saturday, Elbridge Colby, US undersecretary of defence for policy, said that while... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343636/munich-us-urges-collective-strength-among-allies-deter-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343636/munich-us-urges-collective-strength-among-allies-deter-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:00:21 +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 Kyodo Kyodo The defence chiefs of Japan and the United States on Thursday agreed that the bilateral alliance is “unshaken” and pledged to reinforce its deterrence capabilities amid concerns in Asia that Washington’s focus is shifting from the region. Following his meeting with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon near Washington, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said he was reassured that the administration of President Donald Trump remains committed to peace and stability in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340096/japan-us-vow-unshaken-defence-alliance-despite-trumps-pivot-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3340096/japan-us-vow-unshaken-defence-alliance-despite-trumps-pivot-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:47:38 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen China’s military build-up “could have a serious impact” on Japan’s security, Tokyo’s defence ministry has warned amid spiralling tensions with Beijing. Japan had closely monitored People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activities stretching across the first island chain, the ministry said in a report released on Thursday. “[China] is broadly and rapidly strengthening its military capabilities, centred on its maritime and air forces as well as its nuclear and missile forces ... Its active military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337079/chinas-military-build-could-seriously-affect-japans-security-tokyo-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337079/chinas-military-build-could-seriously-affect-japans-security-tokyo-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:27:38 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang China’s military mouthpiece aimed its rhetoric at Japan’s space ambitions and its new intelligence unit on Thursday, accusing Tokyo of embarking on a space arms race and undermining regional security. The criticism in two articles in the PLA Daily is the latest salvo in a diplomatic dust-up over the past month that has involved near-daily rebukes from Beijing. In one of the articles, two researchers from the People’s Liberation Army’s Space Engineering University in Beijing accused Japan of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336947/chinas-military-accuses-japan-raising-space-arms-race-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336947/chinas-military-accuses-japan-raising-space-arms-race-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:03:04 +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 Orange Wang,Zhao Ziwen Orange Wang,Zhao Ziwen The Trump administration is possibly facing a “dilemma” as tensions between China and Japan intensify, one Chinese analyst has suggested, while another noted that any breakthrough in the diplomatic dispute still hinged on direct engagement between the two Asian neighbours. This week, the downward spiral in ties between China and Japan showed no signs of easing. Beijing issued another travel warning targeting Japan on Thursday – less than four weeks after its previous advisory – this time citing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336106/china-japan-row-has-left-us-leader-donald-trump-facing-dilemma-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336106/china-japan-row-has-left-us-leader-donald-trump-facing-dilemma-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi A joint patrol by Chinese and Russian nuclear-capable bombers near Japanese airspace is a serious national security concern, the country’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has said. In a social media post on Tuesday, Koizumi wrote that two Russian Tu-95 bombers had rendezvoused with two Chinese H-6 bombers over the East China Sea. These aircraft then conducted a joint flight around Japan from the airspace between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island in the Ryukyu chain to the waters off... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335910/china-russia-bomber-patrol-serious-national-security-concern-says-japanese-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335910/china-russia-bomber-patrol-serious-national-security-concern-says-japanese-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:36:52 +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 Orange Wang Orange Wang Beijing has lodged “counter-protests” against Japanese complaints over a weekend mid-air stand-off northeast of Taiwan near the Miyako Strait, accusing Tokyo of “purely ill-intentioned” rhetoric and “ulterior motives”. “Japan is deliberately spreading and hyping up false information regarding military and security matters, thereby stoking tensions,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday. “Such actions are entirely driven by ulterior motives,” he added. On Sunday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335547/mid-air-military-stand-triggers-duelling-protests-china-japan-row-latest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335547/mid-air-military-stand-triggers-duelling-protests-china-japan-row-latest?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 02:01:16 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang A rare military stand-off unfolded northeast of Taiwan near the Miyako Strait on Saturday, when Japan claimed that Chinese naval fighters had intermittently beamed fire-control radars – a tactical precursor to missile engagement – on its F-15J jets. Responding on Sunday, Beijing said Japanese jets had intruded on a People’s Liberation Army naval drill by flying too close to its aircraft carrier fleet. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defence, J-15 fighters launched from China’s Liaoning aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335493/tokyo-accuses-chinese-fighters-locking-japanese-jets-northeast-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335493/tokyo-accuses-chinese-fighters-locking-japanese-jets-northeast-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 04:16:52 +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 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 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang Beijing has blasted Japan’s missile deployment on an island only 110km (68 miles) away from Taiwan as “extremely dangerous”, saying it stokes regional tensions and military confrontation amid deteriorating ties between the two Asian powers. But Shinjiro Koizumi, Tokyo’s defence minister, believed the deployment on Yonaguni Island would “reduce the likelihood of any armed attack on Japan itself”, a Japanese defence ministry readout stated on Sunday. During an inspection visit to Yonaguni on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333963/beijing-blasts-japans-extremely-dangerous-missile-deployment-near-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333963/beijing-blasts-japans-extremely-dangerous-missile-deployment-near-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:26:07 +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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The leaders of China and Japan agreed last month to pursue “constructive” and “stable” relations. Little more than two weeks later, tensions have escalated sharply in a war of words precipitated by new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. She needs to make amends if the two sides are to mend ties any time soon. Beijing summoned the Japanese ambassador to lodge a formal protest over a provocative remark by Takaichi about the Taiwan issue – an untouchable red line for China – suggesting Japan... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3332802/takaichi-must-soon-make-amends-if-china-ties-are-be-repaired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3332802/takaichi-must-soon-make-amends-if-china-ties-are-be-repaired?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:01:01 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing on Friday expressed deep concern and issued a stern warning to Tokyo against shifting its non-nuclear policy, after comments by the Japanese prime minister about Taiwan sharply escalated tensions. Sanae Takaichi, who took office on October 21, has been considering revising Japan’s long-standing non-nuclear weapons principles, Japanese media reported on Friday citing government sources. This came after Japan’s defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, urged the country to consider acquiring... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3332894/beijing-warns-japan-after-pm-takaichis-taiwan-comments-fuel-concerns-nuclear-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3332894/beijing-warns-japan-after-pm-takaichis-taiwan-comments-fuel-concerns-nuclear-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:02:54 +0000 Richard Heydarian Richard Heydarian The Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur witnessed major geopolitical developments, including a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia presided over by US President Donald Trump. Eager to mend recently strained relations with Washington, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chairman of the regional body this year, also signed a new trade deal with the United States. However, one of the most crucial meetings took place on the sidelines of the summit. Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, met his... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3332345/why-china-need-not-fear-us-led-squad-evolving-asian-nato?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3332345/why-china-need-not-fear-us-led-squad-evolving-asian-nato?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The three-member Aukus defence pact may soon expand beyond its primary aim of boosting Australia’s submarine fleet to also include Japan and South Korea, according to analysts, with both North Asian powers potentially co-developing or acquiring similar nuclear-powered vessels and taking part in hi-tech projects. These developments could transform Aukus – a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United States and Britain – into a more expansive Indo-Pacific defence... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332562/will-japan-and-south-korea-join-aukus-co-develop-nuclear-submarines-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332562/will-japan-and-south-korea-join-aukus-co-develop-nuclear-submarines-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:14:47 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A near-incursion by Russian fighter jets into Japanese airspace last week was a bid by Moscow to intimidate Tokyo amid its strengthening ties with Washington, observers warned. And without a breakthrough in US-Russia relations, few expect Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to make much headway at easing the tension. Tokyo said it scrambled fighter jets last Friday to monitor Russian warplanes, including nuclear-capable strategic bombers, which had flown close to Japanese airspace along... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330880/was-russian-jet-fly-past-bid-intimidate-japan-cooling-ties-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330880/was-russian-jet-fly-past-bid-intimidate-japan-cooling-ties-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Japan’s new resolve to bolster its military a day after President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to deepen US-Japan defence ties. “It’s wonderful,” Hegseth said on Wednesday of Tokyo’s intention to accelerate the timing of a planned increase in defence spending to 2 per cent of gross domestic product, and to come up with additional plans for military investment. Following a meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3330737/japans-military-spending-earns-total-respect-pentagon-chief-hegseth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3330737/japans-military-spending-earns-total-respect-pentagon-chief-hegseth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:21:24 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF) will deploy units to the northern region of the country to help protect locals from bears, amid rising cases of attacks and a growing sense of “crisis”, according to authorities. There have already been a record 10 fatalities across the nation this year. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Monday said he was looking into the possibility of sending troops to Akita prefecture in response to requests from the prefectural government, with officials in Tokyo... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3330697/japan-deploy-troops-help-combat-surge-bear-attacks-amid-growing-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3330697/japan-deploy-troops-help-combat-surge-bear-attacks-amid-growing-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s ruling coalition collapsed on Friday as junior partner Komeito quit the alliance, putting in peril Sanae Takaichi’s bid to become the country’s first woman prime minister. Takaichi became head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) less than a week ago, and had been expected to be approved by parliament as premier this month. But Komeito’s decision to end the alliance that has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for 25 years has plunged Japan into a new political crisis. The yen dropped... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3328510/japans-komeito-exit-ruling-ldp-coalition-blow-new-pm-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3328510/japans-komeito-exit-ruling-ldp-coalition-blow-new-pm-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:27:19 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Conservative Sanae Takaichi hailed a “new era” on Saturday after winning the leadership of Japan’s ruling party, putting her on course to become the country’s first woman prime minister. The 64-year-old, whose hero is Margaret Thatcher, said that a “mountain of work” lay ahead to restore the fortunes of her ailing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades, but it has been haemorrhaging support as backing grows for smaller parties, including the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327862/japans-ruling-ldp-pick-new-leader-amid-trump-summit-and-election-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327862/japans-ruling-ldp-pick-new-leader-amid-trump-summit-and-election-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 02:49:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The race to see who will head Japan’s ruling party – which will also determine the country’s next prime minister – has veered off course, with one contender mired in a scandal over orchestrated online praise and another facing accusations of xenophobia over remarks about foreigners kicking sacred deer. The internal election for leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), scheduled for Saturday, has quickly crystallised into a two-way battle between Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327458/scandals-gaffes-mar-japans-ldp-leadership-race-they-have-no-policies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327458/scandals-gaffes-mar-japans-ldp-leadership-race-they-have-no-policies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 02:00:18 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party begins the process of selecting a new leader – and by extension, the country’s next prime minister – the race is quickly shaping into a duel between a conservative heir to Shinzo Abe’s legacy and a reformist standard-bearer promising broader appeal within the divided party. The party’s internal election on October 4 follows Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after barely a year in office, with the winner expected to assume leadership through a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327041/japans-next-leader-ldp-showdown-pits-abe-protege-against-reformist-scion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327041/japans-next-leader-ldp-showdown-pits-abe-protege-against-reformist-scion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A top contender to lead Japan’s ruling party suggested that a trade renegotiation with the US could be on the table if the deal does not serve Japan’s interests. “We must stand our ground if anything unfair that is not in Japan’s interests comes to light in the process of implementing the deal,” Sanae Takaichi said on Sunday with regard to a US$550 billion Japanese investment fund that was part of an agreement to lower US tariffs. “That includes a potential renegotiation.” The right-leaning... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327136/japan-pm-hopeful-takaichi-signals-review-trade-deal-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327136/japan-pm-hopeful-takaichi-signals-review-trade-deal-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 07:34:34 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow When Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on September 7 that he would step down after his party was trounced at the parliamentary polls earlier this year, the country was already staring at what could be an era of flux, marked by revolving door leaders who are slaves to approval ratings amid relentless electoral cycles. And this trend, according to observers, is likely to persist, pulling Tokyo into a period reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s when prime ministers were replaced... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327047/ishiba-exits-japan-doomed-revolving-door-era-political-instability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327047/ishiba-exits-japan-doomed-revolving-door-era-political-instability?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:23 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japan could soon see its first female prime minister, with Sanae Takaichi emerging among the front runners in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race, a significant achievement in a country where women leaders remain a rarity. Hardline conservative Takaichi has consistently been a public favourite, along with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, ahead of the LDP’s leadership vote on October 4. Last year, Takaichi narrowly lost to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326302/japans-thatcher-inspired-takaichi-aims-pm-despite-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326302/japans-thatcher-inspired-takaichi-aims-pm-despite-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:42:07 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China hawk Sanae Takaichi and the youthful Shinjiro Koizumi are among leading contenders to become Japan’s next prime minister in a race that could shift the nation rightward and lead to tougher policies towards Beijing. Takaichi, 64, who could become Japan’s first female prime minister, and Koizumi, 44, are leading public opinion polls as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) seeks a new leader. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned on Sunday after less than a year in office. The change of... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324878/japan-china-thaw-jeopardy-pm-ishiba-steps-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324878/japan-china-thaw-jeopardy-pm-ishiba-steps-down?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:23 +0000 Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Fan Chen,Vanessa Cai Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after less than a year in the job might not be surprising, but it will add to uncertainty over relations with China. “Now is the time for me to resign as the negotiations on US tariffs have come to an end,” Ishiba said on Sunday, citing a trade deal reached with the United States on Thursday that cuts tariffs on Japanese car imports from 27.5 to 15 per cent. Ishiba’s announcement came a day before his Liberal Democratic Party was to decide... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324828/will-japans-new-leader-bring-more-pressure-relations-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324828/will-japans-new-leader-bring-more-pressure-relations-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:13 +0000