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Jesse Johnson

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 16, 2016

MSDF training sub to visit Philippines; two escort ships to go on to port call in Vietnam

Japan has confirmed that a Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine will visit the Philippines for the first time in more than a decade, while two ships escorting the sub will continue on to Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay for an unprecedented port call and training exercises.

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 15, 2016

Without naming names, Japan video showcases effort to halt China maritime expansion

The Foreign Ministry releases a video highlighting Tokyo's own measures to help Southeast Asian nations match Beijing's maritime muscle.

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 13, 2016

China to create 'international maritime judicial center' amid rising sea tensions

China will set up an "international maritime judicial center" in a bid to help protect its sea rights, the country's chief justice said Sunday, a move that analysts say Beijing could use to bolster its claims in the disputed South and East China seas.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 12, 2016

China plans to begin civilian flights to, from disputed South China Sea isles

China is set to begin operating civilian flights to a disputed island in the South China Sea within a year, state media reported Friday as Beijing ramps up infrastructure development in the contested waters.

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 11, 2016

Amid South China Sea spat, Japan foreign aid white paper stresses importance of sea lanes

Tokyo renews its commitment to the ASEAN in its annual report on foreign aid, stressing the importance of safe sea lanes.

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 10, 2016

Japanese submarine to take part in Australian military drills

The Maritime Self-Defense Force has announced its participation in joint drills with the Australian navy and air force.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 9, 2016

Amid South China Sea spat, long-range U.S. bombers could be rotated through Australia: report

In a move that is likely to anger Beijing, Washington is reportedly holding high-level talks with Canberra on the rotational deployment of long-range bombers to Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. has reported.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Mar 1, 2016

Australia increasingly likely to pick Japan for huge submarine order, experts say

With Australia's release of its defense white paper last week, the race to build the country's next generation of submarines enters the home stretch — and some experts say the Japanese bid appears to hold an insurmountable lead.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 24, 2016

China seen locking in gains as fighter jets reported on isle in South China Sea

In the latest in a series of moves that is likely to stoke already heated tensions in the South China Sea, Beijing has sent fighter jets to an island where it has deployed surface-to-air missile batteries, U.S. media said Tuesday.

Japan Times

JAPAN / History

Feb 20, 2016

In first, U.S. admits nuclear weapons were stored in Okinawa during Cold War

The Pentagon revealed Friday “that U.S. nuclear weapons were deployed on Okinawa prior to Okinawa's reversion to Japan on May 15, 1972.”

Japan Times

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Feb 18, 2016

Beijing missile deployment could lay groundwork for South China Sea ADIZ

Beijing's deployment of surface-to-air missiles to an island in the Paracel chain could lead to a new air defense identification zone in South China Sea, analysts say.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 17, 2016

Canadian behind Rodman trips to bring hockey to North Korea

The Canadian man who once helped bring basketball hall-of-famer Dennis Rodman to North Korea is now eyeing another project: a hockey tournament that could see former NHL players visit the secluded nation.

Japan Times

WORLD / ANALYSIS

Feb 1, 2016

U.S. risks credibility gap by swatting China with international treaty it has never ratified

In the wake of Washington's second "freedom of navigation" operation near Beijing's man-made islets in the South China Sea, an often overlooked fact remains: The set of laws governing global maritime behavior that the U.S. has been touting has never been ratified by the Senate.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Jan 31, 2016

U.S. defies Chinese maritime claims after warship sails near island in disputed South China Sea

The U.S. Navy sent a Japan-based warship within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of an island in the South China Sea Saturday that is claimed by Beijing and others in an effort to challenge what the Pentagon called "excessive maritime claims."

ASIA PACIFIC

Jan 24, 2016

China's risk tolerance exceeds expectations amid faltering U.S. rebalance to Asia, study says

Beijing's view of American power as less of a constraint in Asia is boosting its willingness to pursue more aggressive risk-taking, putting a damper on Washington's rebalance to the region, a major independent U.S. report has warned.

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Jan 13, 2016

U.S.-Philippine military deal ruling likely to bolster Tokyo's ties with Manila

A top-court ruling may bolster Manila's security ties with Tokyo as it grapples with an increasingly bellicose Beijing.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Dec 16, 2015

Australia conducts surveillance flight in South China Sea; move could focus attention on Japan

Australia performs a “freedom of navigation” flight near artificial islands China is building in the South China Sea.

JAPAN / History

Dec 11, 2015

Fifty Japanese scholars attack McGraw-Hill, U.S. academics on 'comfort women' issue

The “comfort women” dispute heats up as 50 Japanese scholars chide the author of a U.S. textbook and his backers for “errors” they claim no Japanese scholar would support.

Japan Times

WORLD / Society

Nov 21, 2015

Roanoke mayor apologizes for Japanese internment remarks

The embattled mayor of Roanoke, Virginia, apologized Friday for comments earlier in the week citing the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II in a statement defending his push to keep Syrian refugees out of the area.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 30, 2015

Abe treads in China's footprints in Central Asia, picks up human rights baggage

Prime Minster Shinzo Abe's trip to Mongolia and Central Asia — in which he became the first Japanese leader ever to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan — looks to bring in a raft of investment deals for Tokyo. But the whirlwind tour likely had other motivations, too, and raises questions...

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.

Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.

By Tomoko Otake

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