Prime Minister Kan: “Japan should be more assertive in foreign policy”; Japan’s Defence Minister: Guam will host some of the military drills involving Okinawa-based F-15 fighters; Successful flight of the China’s J-20 stealth fighter scares Japan;
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • In a recent statement Japan’s Prime Minister Kan has stated, “Japan should be more assertive in foreign policy by focusing on its alliance with the United States and boosting ties with its Asian neighbors, as it seeks to address security challenges such as North Korea's nuclear threats”. He further added that "to maximize the opportunities and contain risks stemming from uncertainties, Japan needs to be more inventive and responsive in its foreign policy."1

    On the other hand, Japan’s Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa has announced that Guam will host some of the military drills involving Okinawa-based F-15 fighters. These are a part of efforts to ease the base-hosting burden on the southwestern prefecture.2

    On the regional front, reports noted that the successful flight of the China’s J-20 stealth fighter has sparked concern among China's neighbours. As a result of this, Japan seems to be the most worried and is working towards importing the American F-35 jet fighter and Russian fifth-generation jets.3 There are some other reports which suggest that Japan has said publicly for the first time what it has contemplated privately for years. Japanese defence planners have announced a new defence posture that uses China’s military rise as justification for a new, more proactive approach.4 Meanwhile, North Korea has expressed its anger over efforts by South Korea and Japan to seek closer military ties, repeating calls for Seoul to resume talks with Pyongyang first to defuse regional tensions.5

    In a very important development, Tokyo and Washington has signed an agreement that keeps Tokyo's annual bill for hosting U.S. military facilities at ¥188.1 billion over the next five years and allows it to relocate unwanted war exercises, that too for a price.6

    In other developments, reports noted that leaked US diplomatic cables reveal that Australian spy agencies have intensified secret operations with the US and Japan, in effort to seek sensitive information from China, North Korea and Iran.7

    Top