Latest news with #Japan-U.S.SecurityTreaty
Newsweek
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Confronts Armed Chinese Ships in Disputed Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China's coast guard entered the territorial waters of the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands Wednesday morning in the East China Sea in what the agency called a "rights-protection patrol." Newsweek reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry via email with a request for comment. Why It Matters The uninhabited Senkakus, known in China as the Diaoyu Islands, are at the center of a long-running territorial dispute between the two neighbors. Taiwan also claims the island group. Tokyo nationalized the islands in 2012, drawing strong protest from Beijing, which has since progressively stepped up patrols by its increasingly assertive coast guard—moves Japan sees as attempts to alter the status quo. What To Know Wednesday morning, four Chinese coast guard cutters sailed "one after the other" into territorial waters off the Senkakus, NHK cited Japan's coast guard as saying. This file photos shows a Chinese Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel No. 2302 operating near the Senkaku Islands. This file photos shows a Chinese Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel No. 2302 operating near the Senkaku Islands. Getty Images All four of the vessels were said to have been equipped with deck-mounted guns. They departed from the zone after about two hours, the Japanese agency said, adding that it had broadcast radio warnings and continues to monitor the situation. It was the first China coast guard "intrusion" into the territorial waters, or waters extending 12 nautical miles (13.8) off the coastline, since March 7. Last year, Chinese government ships entered the contiguous zone—an area that extends 12 nautical miles beyond territorial waters—on a record 353 days, according to Tokyo. Monday marked the 175th consecutive day that Chinese government vessels have been observed in the contiguous zone. The day before, Japan's coast guard said it had expelled a Chinese oceanographic survey vessel that was operating inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, roughly 140 miles from the Senkakus' Taisho Island. China operates more than twice as many coast guard vessels over 1,000 tons in displacement as Japan—and many of them are more heavily armed. China's introduction of a coast guard law, empowering crews to use force to assert Beijing's sovereignty claims, intensified concerns in Tokyo. What People Are Saying China's Coast Guard said in a statement: "The China Coast Guard 1306 fleet patrolled the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Dao on May 14. This is a rights-protection patrol activity carried out in accordance with the law." What's Next The Senkaku Islands are likely to remain a source of friction as China continues its efforts to normalize patrols there. U.S. officials have repeatedly affirmed that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty applies to the Senkakus, though Japan's cautious handling of the dispute suggests the matter is unlikely to escalate into an armed confrontation in the near future.
Yomiuri Shimbun
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan-U.S. Alliance: Correct Trump's Factual Error, Strengthen Defense Cooperation
If U.S. President Donald Trump continues to bloviate about his dissatisfaction with the Japan-U.S. security framework, it could have a negative influence on the alliance and its deterrent power could be diminished. While he may aim to get the upper hand in negotiations with Japan, Trump's assertion that 'we pay hundreds of billions of dollars to defend them [Japan], but they don't pay anything' is clearly wrong. There is an urgent need to correct this factual error and deepen Japan-U.S. defense cooperation. Regarding the Japan-U.S. intergovernmental talks on U.S. tariff measures, Trump initially insisted that the cost of military assistance would also be a subject of negotiations. However, in the end the issue has been set aside. Nevertheless, the Trump administration's assertions that the United States is forced to shoulder many defense burdens for its allies are likely to continue. The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates the U.S. obligation to defend Japan, while Japan provides bases to the United States. In addition, the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement stipulates that the U.S. side bears the cost of stationing U.S. troops in Japan, excluding land rent and other base-related costs. However, in the 1970s, as the U.S. side demanded that Japan bear a greater burden, the two sides concluded another agreement to increase expenditures by the Japanese side. As a result, the Japanese side's share of the cost of stationing U.S. forces in Japan for the five-year period from fiscal 2022 has risen to over ¥1 trillion. The Japan-U.S. security framework cannot be called a one-sided setup, and it can be said that it balances the obligations of both Japan and the United States. Furthermore, Japan enacted the security-related law in 2015 to make it possible for the Self-Defense Forces to protect U.S. naval and other vessels. The Japanese government should persistently explain to the U.S. side the actual situation in which Japan supports the activities of the U.S. military. At the same time, as the security environment around Japan is deteriorating, it is also essential to deepen Japan-U.S. defense cooperation. A possible option would be for Japan to enhance its response capabilities through joint development of defense equipment with the United States and increase Japan's purchases of U.S.-made equipment. Cooperation in ship-building and other areas is worthy of consideration. However, there have been many cases in which Japan purchased equipment from the United States, but the delivery has been delayed. A total of six state-of-the-art F-35 stealth fighter jets, which were scheduled for deployment in Japan in fiscal 2024, have yet to arrive. This will make it difficult to gain support from the Japanese people if Japan intends to buy more equipment from the United States. Japan also needs to enhance its defense capabilities. The government is in the process of increasing defense spending to a total of about ¥43 trillion over the five years from fiscal 2023. But the government reportedly may not be able to procure equipment as planned due to soaring prices. Increasing the spending will be an important issue to consider. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 8, 2025)
Nikkei Asia
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
It's time for Japan to rethink its security dependency on Washington
Robert Dujarric is co-director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at the Japan campus of Temple University. The cornerstone of Tokyo's security is the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. But what matters most is not the American pledge to defend Japan -- treaties, unlike private contracts, aren't enforceable. No government will go to war solely because a document says it must.
Asahi Shimbun
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Survey shows growing anxiety in Japan over future Asian war
After enjoying eight decades of peace since World War II, a growing number of Japanese fear Japan will be caught up in a major war in Asia, with 62 percent in a new survey saying such a conflict is likely. That marks a significant increase from the 50 percent in a similar survey conducted a decade ago. In a recent Asahi Shimbun survey, respondents were asked to assess the likelihood of Japan becoming involved in a large-scale war in Asia at some point in the future. The survey found that 12 percent said a war is 'very likely' and 50 percent said it is 'likely.' Meanwhile, 30 percent believed a war is unlikely and just 5 percent said there is 'no chance' of a war. This marks a notable shift in public sentiment from the 2015 survey, where opinions were more evenly split: 50 percent saw war as likely, while 46 percent disagreed. The results suggest that more Japanese now feel the country is entering what some have described as a "new pre-war era." Regional security concerns are closely linked to perceptions of an increasingly assertive China. Among respondents who view China as a threat--a third of the total--22 percent said a war involving Japan is 'very likely,' nearly double the overall average of 12 percent. Doubts about Japan's alliance with the United States seem to fuel unease. Despite the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, only 15 percent of respondents believe the United States would 'definitely protect' Japan in the event of a crisis. A striking 77 percent expressed skepticism about Washington's commitment to Japan's defense. Within this pessimistic group, 67 percent believe a major war involving Japan is likely. The ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, also seems to be influencing Japanese public opinion. Among those who reported a strong interest in current global conflicts--a third of the total--72 percent said a major war in Asia involving Japan is likely. The survey was conducted by mail between late February and early April among 3,000 randomly selected voters across the country. Of these, 63 percent, or 1,899 individuals, returned valid responses.
Asahi Shimbun
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Survey: 77% doubt U.S. will protect Japan in military crisis
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meets U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 7. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Despite the long existence of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, only 15 percent of Japanese believe the United States 'will protect' Japan in the event of a military emergency, a survey showed. Around 77 percent of survey respondents said they do not think Washington will protect its alliance partner. Although simple comparisons cannot be made because of differences in survey methods, the ratios of those skeptical of U.S. protection in past surveys had been less than 60 percent. When asked about Japan's diplomacy with the United States, 24 percent said that Tokyo 'should follow (the wishes of Washington) as much as possible,' while 68 percent said Japan 'should be independent as much as possible.' The nationwide survey was conducted by mail from late February, after Donald Trump was inaugurated as U.S. president for a second time, to early April on 3,000 randomly selected voters. Valid responses were received from 1,899, or 63 percent. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The United States has played a central role in maintaining international order since the end of the war. But the Trump administration's policies and 'America First' stance threaten to upend the global order. When asked if they think the international community can rely on the United States to maintain peace around the world, only 3 percent of survey respondents agreed 'to a great extent,' while 40 percent agreed 'to some extent.' Forty-eight percent said the international community 'cannot rely much on the United States,' and 6 percent said it 'cannot rely at all on the United States.' Although a majority of respondents believe Japan should gain more independence from the United States, 66 percent 'disagreed' with the idea of Japan shifting its diplomatic priority to other Asian countries, including China. Only 16 percent 'agreed' with such a change. The survey also asked whether Japan has done enough to apologize and make amends to the countries and peoples it has harmed through war and colonial rule. Fifty-eight percent said Japan 'has done enough,' while 29 percent said that it 'has not done enough.' In a mail survey conducted 10 years ago, 57 percent said Japan had done 'enough' to apologize and make amends, while 24 percent said the country had not done enough. When asked whether Japanese politicians should continue to convey messages of apology to countries damaged by Japan, 47 percent of respondents said 'there is no need,' while 44 percent said such messages should continue. The results were slightly reversed from 10 years ago, when 46 percent of survey respondents said politicians 'should continue to convey messages of apology,' and 42 percent said 'there is no need.' Among respondents in the latest survey who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 41 percent said messages of apology 'should continue,' and 50 percent said there is 'no need.' When asked whether Japan should ratify the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, 73 percent of respondents said the country 'should join,' far exceeding the 22 percent who said Japan 'should not join.' As for Japan's reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for security, 38 percent said it is 'necessary,' while 55 percent said it is 'unnecessary.' Among those who said the reliance is not necessary, 82 percent feel that Japan should join the anti-nuclear weapons treaty. The ratio was 65 percent among those who said Japan's reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella is necessary. The survey also asked respondents if they felt that the Japanese government was 'earnestly working' to eliminate nuclear weapons from the world. Only 19 percent said the Japanese government is 'earnestly working' toward that end, while 77 percent said they 'don't think so.' In an interview survey conducted in June 1985, 40 years after the end of World War II, 21 percent of respondents said the Japanese government was 'earnestly working' toward abolishing nuclear weapons, while 61 percent said they didn't think so. Japan's basic stance is to act as a 'bridge' between nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. However, the survey results show dissatisfaction with the government's efforts.
