Latest news with #JapanAirSelf-DefenseForce
Japan Forward
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
To China Provocations, Ishiba Gov't Response is Truly Pathetic
このページを 日本語 で読む Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama all adopted timid stances toward China. This situation is extremely unfortunate as it undermines Japan's national interests. On July 9 and July 10, a Chinese J-H7 fighter-bomber made an abnormal approach towards a Japan Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft over the East China Sea. On both days, the Chinese military aircraft came within about 70 meters of the ASDF plane if measured in a straight line. These were abnormal, dangerous, and provocative manners of flying. The latest incidents came shortly after similar incidents on June 7 and June 8. In those cases, a Chinese military aircraft made an abnormal approach towards a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese military's high-handed behavior is utterly unacceptable. China must reflect on such foolish actions that impair its dignity as a country. But even more concerning is the Ishiba administration's truly pathetic response to these Chinese provocations. This Chinese JH7 fighter bomber approached Japan's Air Self-Defense Force YS11EB electronic measuring device on July 9. (Photo provided by the Ministry of Defense) On July 10, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. At that time, Iwaya conveyed Japan's serious concerns about the dangerous approaches of Chinese military aircraft. He also called for China to desist from such behavior. Also, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi expressed serious concern about the incidents to Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao via telephone. However, expressing "serious concerns" is a milder diplomatic response than a formal "protest." How Germany handled a similar incident in early July stands in stark contrast. After a German military aircraft was targeted by a laser on a Chinese warship during a reconnaissance flight over the Red Sea, Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese ambassador to Germany. When he arrived, German officials delivered a strong protest. Why don't we learn from Germany? Leaders of Japanese political parties attend a pre-election debate in Tokyo on July 2. (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai) During a street corner campaign speech ahead of the July 20 Upper House election, Ishiba said, "We will not be disrespected." He was referring to the tariff policy of the Trump administration. Yet he refused to speak out in protest regarding abnormal behavior on the part of the Chinese military. It is Chinese behavior that could lead to an accidental military conflict. Ishiba has also been silent on the subject on social media. His responses have been clearly imbalanced. Even after the close encounters over the Pacific in June, the government only expressed "serious concern." Then, too, Prime Minister Ishiba issued no statement on the matter. After this pitiful performance, Japan should expect to be disrespected and once again subjected to dangerous provocations. Clearly, the Japanese government should display more righteous anger. The attitude of LDP Secretary-General Moriyama is also bizarre. On July 11 he met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Osaka. But according to reports, the main topics discussed were the issue of resuming Japanese beef exports to China and a request for China to loan Japan more giant pandas. Why is it that Moriyama did not press He to engage in a frank and honest exchange regarding the abnormal approaches of Chinese military aircraft? Even more so, why didn't he call for the release of Japanese nationals currently detained by Chinese authorities? The same also holds true for Foreign Minister Iwaya. If our leaders will not speak and act resolutely for the sake of Japan, they are not fit to serve at the nation's helm. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
GMA Network
15-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Japan calls China's military activity its biggest strategic challenge
A Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber, center, is seen close to a YS-11EB electronic-intelligence aircraft, partly seen at left, of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force over the East China Sea on July 9, 2025. (Ministry of Defense via AP) TOKYO —Japan cautioned against China's rapid acceleration of military activity stretching from its southwestern coasts to the Pacific, describing the moves in a new defense report Tuesday as the biggest strategic challenge. China's growing military cooperation with Russia also poses serious security concerns to Japan, along with increasing tension around Taiwan and threats coming from North Korea, the Defense Ministry said in the annual report submitted to the Cabinet. 'The international society is in a new crisis era as it faces the biggest challenges since the end of World War II,' the report said, citing significant changes to the global power balance while raising concerns about an escalation of the China-U.S. rivalry. The security threats are concentrated in the Indo-Pacific, where Japan is located, and could get worse in the future, the report said. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the white paper, saying it "adopts a wrongful perception of China, unjustifiably interferes in China's internal affairs, and plays up the so-called China threat.' Beijing has lodged protests with Japan, Lin said, defending China's military activities as 'legitimate and reasonable.' He urged Japan to reflect on its wartime past and 'stop hyping tension in the region and China-related issues as a pretext to justify its military buildup.' Japan has strengthened its military forces on southwestern islands in recent years and was preparing to deploy long-distance cruise missiles, as it worries about a conflict in Taiwan, which China claims as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary. The presence of Chinese warships in the Pacific has steadily increased and the frequency of their passage off southwestern Japan has tripled in the past three years, including in waters between Taiwan and the neighboring Japanese island of Yonaguni, the report said. It comes days after Japan demanded China stop flying its fighter jets unusually close to Japanese intelligence-gathering aircraft, which it said was happening repeatedly and could cause a collision. Beijing in turn accused Japan of flying near Chinese airspace for spying purposes. China's increasing dispatch of aircraft carriers in the Pacific underscores the country's attempt to advance its sea power in distant waters, the report said. The Defense Ministry also noted two cases last year in which a Chinese warplane briefly violated Japanese airspace off islands near Nagasaki, and an aircraft carrier's entry into a zone just outside of Japan's territorial waters southwest of the Nansei island chain, which stretches from the southern coast of Kyushu to Taiwan. North Korea poses 'an increasingly serious and imminent threat,' the report said, noting the North's development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland.
Japan Forward
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
Blue Impulse Delivers Spectacular Air Show at Osaka Expo
このページを 日本語 で読む On the afternoon of July 13, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's acrobatic flight team, Blue Impulse, performed an aerial demonstration over the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai venue. Visitors applauded as six jets delivered a stunning air show in perfect formation. Blue Impulse flying over the Osaka Expo venue — July 13 afternoon, Konohana Ward, Osaka City. (©Sankei by Tomoichiro Takekawa) This was the second consecutive day the team performed. The six aircraft arrived over the venue at around 3:00 PM, roughly the same time as the day before, and spent about 15 minutes drawing dynamic patterns in the blue sky with smoke trails. Blue Impulse jets and Expo 2025's official mascot MYAKU-MYAKU in the foreground— July 13 afternoon, Konohana Ward, Osaka City. (©Sankei by Tomoichiro Takekawa) The demonstration was originally planned for the Expo's opening day on April 13, but had to be canceled due to bad weather. After growing public calls for a rescheduled flight, the show was held to celebrate the halfway point of the six-month-long Expo. Blue Impulse draws a large heart shape in the sky. (©Sankei by Koji Taito) With July 13 marking the event's midpoint, the performance on the 12th drew around 164,000 visitors. The two days of Blue Impulse added to the excitement and energy building around the Expo. Blue Impulse releases smoke before landing after completing a flight over the Expo venue. (©Sankei by Kotaro Hikono) Blue Impulse flies over Osaka Castle — July 13 afternoon, Chuo Ward, Osaka City. The defense ministry and the Japan Self-Defense Forces encouraged people to share the experience on social media using the hashtag #大阪の空を見上げよう (lit "look up at the skies of Osaka"). Images of the jets soaring not only above the Expo site but also across various parts of Osaka Prefecture were widely shared online. Author: The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Toronto Star
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Japan calls China's military activity its biggest strategic challenge
In this photo provided by Japan's Ministry of Defense, a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber, center, is seen close to a YS-11EB electronic-intelligence aircraft, partly seen at left, of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force over the East China Sea on July 9, 2025. (Ministry of Defense via AP) flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
Japan Today
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Japan warns of China's military moves as biggest strategic challenge
A Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber, center, is seen close to a YS-11EB electronic-intelligence aircraft, partly seen at left, of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force over the East China Sea on July 9. By Mari Yamaguchi Japan raised strong caution against China's rapid acceleration of military activity in extensive areas from its southwestern coasts to the Pacific, describing the moves as the biggest strategic challenge. China's growing joint operations with Russia also pose serious security concerns to Japan, along with increasing tension around Taiwan and threats coming from North Korea, the Defense Ministry said in an annual military report submitted to Cabinet on Tuesday. 'The international society is in a new crisis era as it faces the biggest challenges since the end of World War II,' the report said, citing significant changes to the global power balance while raising concerns about an escalation of the China-U.S. rivalry. The security threats are concentrated in the Indo-Pacific, where Japan is located, and could get worse in the future, the report said. Japan has accelerated its military buildup on southwestern islands in recent years, preparing to deploy long-distance cruise missiles, as it worries about a conflict in Taiwan, which China claims as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary. Taiwan launched 10-day, annual live-fire military exercises last week intended to guard against Chinese threats to invade. Japan tested a short-range, surface-to-ship missile at home earlier last month. Chinese warships' advance in the Pacific has steadily increased, with the frequency of their passage off southwestern Japan tripling in the past three years, including in waters between Taiwan and its neighboring Japanese island of Yonaguni, the 534-page report said. The report comes days after Japan demanded China stop flying its fighter jets abnormally close to Japanese intelligence-gathering aircraft, which it said was happening repeatedly and could cause a collision. Beijing, in return, accused Japan of flying near Chinese airspace for spying purposes. Two earlier close encounters in June occurred over the Pacific Ocean, where Japan spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers operating together for the first time. China's increasing dispatch of aircraft carriers in the Pacific underscores the country's attempt to advance its sea power in distant waters, the report said. It said China's frequent dispatch of bombers for long-distance flights in the Pacific by more sophisticated flight routes and fleet organization is seen as Beijing's attempt to show off its presence around Japan and to further advance its operational capability. The Defense Ministry noted two cases last year — a Chinese warplane's brief violation of Japanese airspace over waters off islands near Nagasaki and an aircraft carrier's entry into a zone just outside of Japan's territorial waters further southwest of the Nansei island chain, which stretches from the southern coast of Kyushu to Taiwan. With President Donald Trump focusing on the strengthening of the U.S. economy and security, Japan and other U.S. allies face expectations to play a greater role for peace and stability in the region, the report said. North Korea poses 'an increasingly serious and imminent threat' for Japan's security, the report said, noting the North's development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads into Japanese territory and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland. Russia maintains active military operations around Japan and violated the country's airspace in September, the report added, saying its increasing strategic cooperation with China has posed 'strong concern' for Japan's security. Reeno Hashimoto in Tokyo contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.
