Latest news with #JapanGroundSelf-DefenseForce
Kyodo News
a day ago
- General
- Kyodo News
4 Japan SDF members hurt in blast near U.S. Kadena Air Base
KYODO NEWS - 13 hours ago - 21:34 | All, Japan Four Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members were slightly injured in an explosion on Monday while handling an unexploded bomb at a depot near the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, local and Defense Ministry officials said. The ministry officials said the explosion occurred around 11:20 a.m. at a GSDF storage facility for unexploded bombs in Kadena Ammunition Storage Area near the base. The four members from the 101st explosive ordnance disposal unit, which defuses bombs left over from World War II, were removing rust and mud from an unexploded bomb in preparation for disposal. They suffered non-life-threatening injuries such as burns, in the first such incident experienced by the unit during their work. No evacuation order was issued for nearby residents. The U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps are in charge of the ammunition storage area, covering about 26 square kilometers as of March 2024. According to local authorities, the depot was set up by the prefecture in the storage area for the GSDF to engage in disposal of unexploded bombs. "It is crucial to take measures as many unexploded bombs are believed to be still buried in Okinawa. We will conduct disposal steadily," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference. The Self-Defense Forces carried out 1,852 disposal operations for unexploded bombs, dealing with a total of about 35 tons nationwide in fiscal 2023, including 441 operations involving about 19.7 tons in Okinawa, equivalent to about 57 percent of the total. Okinawa remains home to the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan even after its 1972 reversion from U.S. control following Japan's defeat in World War II.
Nikkei Asia
2 days ago
- Nikkei Asia
Japan SDF members hurt in blast near U.S. air base in Okinawa
NAHA, Japan (Kyodo) -- An explosion occurred Monday near the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, slightly injuring four Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members who were working at a depot, local and Defense Ministry officials said. The ministry officials said there was an unidentified explosion while SDF personnel were preparing for bomb disposal operations, causing those in close proximity to suffer finger lacerations and possible hearing damage.
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Ally Plans Long-Range Missile Test Amid China and Russia Threats
Japan is set to conduct an anti-ship missile firing drill on its territory, as Chinese and Russian naval forces continue operating in waters surrounding the United States ally. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Newsweek written request for comment. Japan forms part of the First Island Chain, along with Taiwan and the Philippines. This is part of a U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting China's and Russia's military access to the broader Western Pacific Ocean through the use of Washington-aligned territories. A total of five waterways around the Japanese archipelago are designated by Tokyo as what it calls "international straits," which Chinese and Russian naval vessels have used for transit. The Japanese Defense Ministry has regularly monitored and reported their movements. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force announced on Tuesday that its annual surface-to-ship missile firing training is scheduled to take place from June 19 to 30 on the southern coast of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, with the aim of improving its anti-ship capabilities. The training will involve the Type 88 surface-to-ship missile, which is capable of striking targets over 62 miles away, Japanese daily newspaper The Asahi Shimbun reported on Wednesday. A pair of launch events have been planned, during which unarmed missiles will be fired at targets in waters within a 24-mile radius southwest of the range, according to the report. The range is northeast of the Tsugaru Strait, which connects the Sea of Japan in the west-referred to as the East Sea in South Korea-with the Pacific Ocean in the east. The strait separates two of Japan's main islands: Hokkaido to the north and Honshu to the south. Due to "space constraints and safety concerns," Japan's missile firing events had previously been held in the U.S. and other overseas locations, the report said. The upcoming event will mark the first-ever launch of the indigenous Type 88 missile to be carried out in the country. China's expansion of its warship fleet and increased naval activities have pushed Japan to enhance its ship-sinking capabilities. Japan is developing an upgraded version of the Type 12 missile and has ordered two types of American missiles with maritime strike capabilities. Japan's defense white paper 2024 read: "China is further strengthening cooperation with Russia, including in military activities. It has also conducted joint bomber flights and naval navigations with Russia in the vicinity of Japan. These repeated joint activities are clearly intended for demonstration of force against Japan and are a grave concern from the perspective of the national security of Japan." Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said: "Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring, and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft for a long time, jeopardizing the safety of Chinese vessels and aircraft and easily causing maritime and air security problems." The Russian Foreign Ministry said: "With regard to resuming the bilateral political dialogue, it was again emphasized that the path to full-fledged cooperation can only be opened if Japan drops its hostile policy [toward] Russia, confirmed by concrete steps." It remains to be seen whether Japan will schedule additional missile-firing drills on its own soil. Related Articles US Ally Receives F-35 Boost for Future China FightChina Builds New Structure in Disputed Waters Claimed by US AllyUS Ally Confronts Armed Chinese Ships in Disputed WatersMap Shows Countries That Prefer China to the US 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires continue to burn across Japan
March 24 (UPI) -- Local governments in two Japanese prefectures ordered the evacuation of nearly 2,800 people Monday where wildfires continue to burn. The incidents have left around 1.5 square miles scorched across four cities. A fire broke out Sunday within Okayama Prefecture in the cities Okayama and Tamano, which has since consumed about a combined square mile of land, damaged six buildings and resulted in the evacuation of almost 900 residents. A separate blaze also broke out Sunday in Ehime Prefecture between the cities of Imabari and Saijo across approximately half a square mile, where almost 1,900 people have been evacuated and one was reported to have been injured. The amount of the damage to structures there has yet to be determined. A wildfire also broke out in Kumamoto Prefecture Sunday but has since been reported to be extinguished. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force continues to battle the fires active in Okayama and Ehime prefectures, and it is unclear of the current status of either situation.
