Category: Japan

Japan’s defense build up continues:

Japan will deploy its first F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters in the southern part of the country next month, part of efforts to bolster defenses in the Nansei Islands, according to the Ministry of Defense. Four of the short-takeoff, vertical-landing aircraft will arrive Aug. 7 at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island, according to a schedule released Friday by the ministry.

The Nansei islands, also known as the Ryukyus, stretch from Kyushu to within 70 miles of Taiwan. They form a key link in the so-called first island chain, a strategic barrier for China’s navy in the event of a conflict. The F-35Bs will be flown from the United States by U.S. pilots, a spokesman with Japan’s Air Staff said by phone Monday, without providing additional details.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but the basing of F-35’s in Kyushu along with the Type-12 missiles shows how Japan’s is fortifying its southern islands in preparation for any Chinese aggression in the region.

The arms race in Northeast Asia driven by deterring Chinese expansion continues:

Japan plans to deploy upgraded long-range missiles on its southernmost main island by spring as it continues to bolster defenses in the Nansei Islands, according to local media. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is finalizing arrangements to station an upgraded version of its Type-12 surface-to-ship missile at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu by March 31, Kyodo News reported Monday, citing unnamed government sources.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani confirmed Tuesday that the ministry intends to deploy the missiles this fiscal year but is still evaluating potential locations. “The Ministry of Defense intends to continue working to build standoff defense capabilities more quickly in light of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war,” Nakatani said at a regular press conference in Tokyo.

Japan faces mounting security concerns from China, which contests Japan’s claim to the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, along with North Korea’s advancing ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Nakatani also cited Russia, which has participated in recent joint military training with China near Japan, in the ministry’s 2025 white paper.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

It sounds like this ROK C-130 was in contact with U.S. Air Force air traffic control to land at Kadena, but no one bothered to inform the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) of this landing:

Japanese fighter jets intercepted a South Korean airlifter low on fuel that entered Japanese airspace without approval while diverting to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, officials from both countries said Friday. A South Korean C-130 Hercules entered Japanese airspace without approval on July 13, a spokesman for Japan’s Joint Staff said by phone Friday. It was en route to Andersen Air Force base, Guam, to participate in a multinational exercise, according to text messages sent to reporters by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.

The ministry did not name the exercise, but the U.S. Air Force is conducting the large-scale Resolute Force Pacific through Aug. 8 across the Indo-Pacific, including Guam. The C-130 burned more fuel than anticipated while rerouting around stormy weather and diverted to Kadena to refuel, according to the ministry. However, the diversion was made without prior clearance from Japanese authorities, the Joint Staff spokesman said.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled jets to intercept the C-130, but the spokesman did not provide further details. “We transmitted to South Korea that this scramble is regrettable and asked them to take measures to prevent further instances,” he said. “But as they are our important partner, we will continue to work closely together to address the issue.”

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

A MAGA like movement is growing in Japan which became more evident after their recent upper house election that saw the ruling LDP lose majorities in both houses for the first time since 1955:

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba walks after addressing the media at the vote counting center in the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on Sunday. AFP-Yonhap

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed Monday to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, NHK public television said.

Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito needed to win 50 seats on top of the 75 seats they already have to retain their majority. With just one more seat to be decided, the coalition had 47 seats.

The loss is another blow to Ishiba’s coalition, making it a minority in both houses following its October defeat in the lower house election, and worsening Japan’s political instability. It was the first time the LDP has lost a majority in both houses of parliament since the party’s foundation in 1955.

Korea Herald

It looks like if Prime Minister Ishiba wants to create a new coalition he is going to have to change government policy to address the concerns of the Sanseito party which saw massive gains in this election:

The emerging populist party Sanseito stands out with the toughest anti-foreigner stance, with its “Japanese First” platform that proposes a new agency to handle policies related to foreigners. The party’s populist platform also includes anti-vaccine, anti-globalism and favors traditional gender roles.

Conservative opposition groups, especially the DPP and Sanseito, gained significant ground at the Liberal Democrats’ expense, while the centrist top opposition CDPJ was sluggish. The DPP quadrupled to 17 seats from four, according to interim results reported by Japanese media. Sanseito surged to 14 from just one.

You can read more at the link, but of course the media is claiming that Sanseito is xenophobic for wanting to limit immigration to protect Japanese culture.