Politics News in Japan

Japan to double security aid to 12 Indo-Pacific nations

Japan plans to provide defence equipment and other supplies to the armed forces of at least 12 like-minded countries under its Official Security Assistance programme this financ...

US base dispute hangs over Japan’s Okinawa governor election

Okinawa’s governor election next month is set to be a major test of whether Japan’s ruling party can win over voters from a prefecture that has long opposed its security agenda ...

Pentagon Pete’s Staggering Missile Crisis Infuriates Allies

Eric Lee / Reuters U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region are increasingly worried that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will leave them defenseless against China as the American ...

Trump Keeps Stabbing Japan in the Back

Tokyo doesn’t have a playbook for a supposed ally this unreliable.

Japanese delegation falls short in bid to mend ties during rare China visit

The visit by the lawmakers was the first since relations faltered after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's November remarks that Japan could intervene militarily in a Taiwan crisis.

Takaichi begins meeting with LDP executives ahead of expected Cabinet reshuffle

Personnel changes would come as her administration looks to shore up public support and strengthen its position within the party before the autumn session of parliament.

Japan fast-tracks anti-drone system amid China’s military build-up

Tokyo is experimenting with a radically faster way of buying new weapons – picking a domestically built interceptor drone less than three months after launching the procurement ...

Is Russia Trying to Provoke an Incident with Japan?

Russia’s recent military exercises around the disputed Kuril Islands followed a visit by Russian leader Vladimir Putin—in which the Kremlin seemed to thumb its nose at Japan. Th...

Sanctioned international court president says she asked Japan to help de-escalate tensions with U.S.

The president of the International Criminal Court said Wednesday there is no reason she has to face U.S. sanctions, adding that she is asking Japan's government to work with Was...

Sanctioned international court president says she asked Japan to help de-escalate tensions with US

Sanctioned international court president says she asked Japan to help de-escalate tensions with US

TOKYO (AP) — The president of the International Criminal Court said Wednesday there is no reason she has to face U.S. sanctions, adding that she is asking Japan's government to ...

Sanctioned international court president says she asked Japan to help de-escalate tensions with US

Japan port call by a nuclear-armed ship would help deter China: ex-official

Tokyo should revise the principle of not permitting the entry of nuclear weapons into Japan, ex-Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobukatsu Kanehara has said.

Japan energy plan seeks to back pipelines bypassing Hormuz

The plan is part of a new energy strategy that's aimed at strengthening supply security, according to documents from Japan's Cabinet Office.

Deterrence can be enhanced without nonnuclear rule change, professor says

The issue should not be included in a planned revision of the country's three major national security documents, University of Tsukuba professor Atsuko Higashino said.

Takaichi rejects ‘weak-kneed’ criticism over ICC sanctions response

Criticism mounted after Tokyo's initial response to the U.S. sanctioning International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane was to describe the move as "very unfortunate."

Data believed to be fake diploma seized from former Ito mayor’s computer

Maki Takubo has continued to deny forging the document, the physical version of which is kept in the safe of a law firm in Tokyo and has not been confiscated.

North Korea sharpens anti-Japan rhetoric as Russia ties grow

North Korea has stepped up its verbal attacks on Japan, issuing more than a dozen denunciations through state media since early July and hardening its rhetoric in recent days by...

Takaichi Says Japan Will ‘Protect’ ICC From US Push to Dismantle

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan would defend the International Criminal Court as it comes under increasing pressure from the US, most recently through the sanctioning o...

What is really behind Japan’s planned cabinet shake-up?

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi remains in a strong position despite a poll showing falling support for her administration, ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle to bols...