The number of islands in Japan is expected to increase by 7,273 after a new government recount. Geographers have said current official statistics of 6,852 islands are off the mark. With the recent geographical study of the archipelago, the figure is expected to rise to 14,125 islands, which is more than double the current figure, a…
US Says North Korea’s Missile Launch Highlights Destabilizing Impact of Kim Regime’s Weapon of Mass Destruction
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said on Monday that it was consulting closely with regional allies following North Korea’s latest “destabilizing” ballistic missile launches, which North Korean state media boasted was suitable for “tactical nuclear attack.” The missile launches came just two days after the North Korean regime claimed it conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile…
Japan’s Ruling Bloc Agrees to Allow Shooting Down Foreign Balloons, Drones
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has approved a proposal to ease limitations on the military use of weapons against unmanned aircraft that violate Japanese airspace. The proposal, which was put forward by the Ministry of Defense on Thursday, would allow Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) to shoot down foreign balloons and drones to protect the lives…
North Korea Fires Missile Into Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone Amid Tensions
North Korea on Saturday fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in waters within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to Japanese and South Korean officials, after Pyongyang warned that upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills would lead to a strong response. Japan government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on Feb. 18 that North Korea “fired one ICBM-class…
Head of Japanese Nonprofit Arrested for Facilitating Unauthorized Organ Transplants Overseas
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on Feb. 7 arrested the head of a nonprofit organization for allegedly violating Japan’s organ transplant law. The organization sent its patients to China for organ transplants between 2017 and 2020, which highlights the Chinese regime’s practice of forced organ harvesting among prisoners of conscience. Hiromichi Kikuchi, 62, is the…
Chinese Balloons Prompt the Need for Japan-Taiwan Intelligence Sharing: Japan’s Ex-defense Minister
A former Japanese defense minister said the recent sightings of suspected Chinese spy balloons around the world had underlined the need for intelligence sharing between Japan and Taiwan on aerial threats. Former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said that while Japan and Taiwan cannot cooperate directly due to the absence of formal diplomatic ties, they can…
Japan Believes Chinese Spy Balloons Violated Its Airspace, Demands Answers
Japan’s defense ministry believes that Chinese spy balloons violated the nation’s airspace at least three times in recent years. Numerous balloon-like objects have been reported throughout the world following the United States’ shooting down a Chinese spy balloon on Feb. 4. Japan is among them, and “strongly suspects” Chinese surveillance balloons entered Japanese territory at…
Japan Mulls Easing Rules for Shooting Down Foreign Balloons After Chinese Incursions
Japan is considering easing the rules for using force against any intrusions by foreign balloons, according to its defense ministry, after reports that Chinese balloons had been seen flying over the country in the past years. The existing regulations allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to only shoot down foreign devices in self-defense or in…
Japan Names Academic Ueda as Next Central Bank Governor
TOKYO—Japan’s government named academic Kazuo Ueda as its pick to become next central bank governor, a surprise choice that could heighten the chance of an end to its unpopular yield control policy. Ueda, a 71-year-old former Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy board member, will succeed incumbent Haruhiko Kuroda, whose second, five-year term ends on April…
Japan, South Korea, US Vow to ‘Push Back’ Against Communist China
Japan, South Korea, and the United States are working to push back on communist China’s aggressive and expansionary activities in the Indo-Pacific, according to officials from the three nations. The three nations agreed to increase their security cooperation and counter malign activity from communist China during a trilateral summit on Feb. 13, according to U.S….
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