# Japan
Latest news and articles about Japan
Total: 54 articles found
Takaichi’s Bold Start: Japan’s Lurch Right Risks Debt, Inflation and Social Strain
Sanae Takaichi’s elevation to prime minister follows a decisive LDP electoral victory and ushers in a policy mix of aggressive, debt‑funded fiscal expansion targeted at defence and high‑tech industries. Critics warn this approach risks worsening Japan’s already massive public debt burden, accelerating yen depreciation and stoking inflation and social division, while political scandals and intra‑party factionalism threaten the government’s stability.
New Year Tensions: Philippines’ Spratly Provocation Tests China as Washington and Tokyo Hold Back
Over Lunar New Year’s Eve the Philippines staged a high-profile maritime exercise near the Spratly Islands that China treated as a provocation, prompting a measured but forceful Chinese deployment and documentation of the incident. Washington and Tokyo remained conspicuously restrained, reflecting a cautious approach to balancing alliance reassurance with the risks of direct confrontation with Beijing.
After LDP Landslide, Singapore Issues Stark Warning on a Resurgent Japanese Militarism
Singapore has publicly criticized what it sees as the risk of a resurgent Japanese militarism after a commanding LDP election win, invoking wartime memories of the 1942 occupation. The response blends historical grievance with contemporary defence preparedness and sends a wider diplomatic signal about regional stability and the preservation of the postwar order.
Trilateral Next‑Gen Fighter Programme Stalls as UK Delays Key Contract, Putting 2035 Target at Risk
The Japan‑UK‑Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has been set back after the planned 2025 contract between its international government body and the trilateral joint venture was delayed for reasons tied to the UK. The postponement imperils the programme’s 2035 deployment goal and raises wider questions about governance, cost‑sharing and strategic timelines in multinational defence projects.
Founder of APA Hotels Who Published Nanjing Massacre Denial Dies, Leaving a Controversial Legacy
Toshio Motoya, founder of APA Hotels and a prominent funder of Japan's right wing, has died aged 82. He was best known internationally for placing books in hotel rooms that denied the Nanjing Massacre and contested other wartime histories, a stance that sparked regional outrage and lasting reputational damage for his company.
Three US Service Members in Japan Arrested in Theft Cases, Raising Local Tensions Over Base Conduct
Three US service members stationed in Japan have been arrested on suspicion of theft, including two Marines from Iwakuni suspected of a series of thefts possibly exceeding ¥10 million and a Marine in Okinawa accused of taking a patron's bag worth about ¥780,000. The incidents revive local tensions over US bases, spotlight questions of troop discipline, jurisdiction, and local accountability under the Status of Forces framework.
Japan’s Big Gamble: Takaichi’s Fiscal Blitz Risks a ‘Truss Moment’ as Debt and Supply Chains Bite
Sanae Takaichi’s electoral win paves the way for ambitious fiscal stimulus, defence spending and a temporary cut to food consumption tax, moves that have boosted equities but raised alarms about Japan’s ability to finance such a course. With public debt near 230% of GDP and heavy dependence on foreign and Chinese processing capacity for strategic minerals, Tokyo faces a high-stakes test of credibility that could spill across bond, currency and commodity markets.
Japan’s F-35Bs in Kyushu Raise the Stakes in a Quiet Air-Sea Contest with China
Japan has forward-deployed F-35B stealth jets to a base on Kyushu and declared a high training tempo, partly to offset surveillance risks at a planned island facility. The move tightens Japan’s ability to contest Chinese carrier movements but highlights a larger systems race: China’s expanding carrier fleet, land-based stealth fighters and tanker support will increasingly shape operational outcomes in the East and South China Seas.
Japan’s Seabed Rare‑Earth Claim Bumps Into Technical and Strategic Realities
Japan has announced a large rare‑earth deposit beneath the seabed near Minami‑Tori‑shima, but deep water, engineering complexity, high extraction costs and environmental and regulatory hurdles make commercial exploitation unlikely in the near term. China’s existing lead in purification technology and cost structure means Tokyo’s claim is more of a political signal than an immediate challenge to Beijing’s dominance in rare‑earth supply chains.
Japan’s Big-Ticket U.S. Arms Purchases Marred by Delays and Defects — Audit Raises Questions About Strategy and Value
A Japanese Board of Audit review found extensive delays and maintenance problems in U.S. defence equipment bought through the Foreign Military Sales program, even as Tokyo increases spending to bolster its forces. The findings raise questions about the cost‑effectiveness, timing and strategic rationale of Japan’s heavy purchases of American arms.
Japan’s Leader Seeks a “Suitable Environment” for Yasukuni Visits — and Regional Trust Is the Casualty
Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said she is trying to create a “suitable environment” for visiting Yasukuni Shrine and expects neighbouring countries to understand. The statement signals an effort to normalize a contentious nationalist symbol that enshrines Class-A war criminals and is likely to aggravate tensions with China and South Korea while complicating regional cooperation.
Beijing Dismisses Lai Ching-te’s Overtures as a ‘Doomed’ Bid for Independence
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned DPP leader Lai Ching‑te for seeking foreign support for Taiwanese independence, calling such efforts futile and labelling him a provocateur. The exchange follows Lai’s outreach to Japan and highlights Beijing’s use of sharp rhetoric to deter Taipei’s international engagements while signalling resolve to domestic and international audiences.