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uddu wrote: ↑08 Oct 2025 21:32
....Japan’s new ruling party leader — and likely PM — Takaichi Sanae has proposed a “quasi-alliance” to deter Chinese aggression. That potential coalition would include Japan, India, Taiwan, Australia and the EU. It comes after her predecessor, PM Ishiba Shigeru, talked up the idea of an “Asian NATO”.
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Japan is already part of a QUAD (if it still exists). Why another alliance?
Or does it think that the US is not reliable?
An Asian NATO must keep the whites out. Europe won't & can't fight China. Australia is a US poodle.
Everybody realizes that they have to have a Plan B just in case Trump continues and completes his term.
On a parallel track, Japan & SoKo are deeply engaging strategically completely overcoming all their past animosities and even the new SoKo President is totally on board.
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has called for a top-level meeting with two other opposition parties to discuss the possibility of uniting behind a single candidate for prime minister.
But the differing policies among the parties could thwart an agreement.
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Noda noted that the CDP, DPP and Nippon Ishin have a combined 210 seats in the Lower House, more than the LDP’s 196.
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Komeito head rejects rumors claiming party ‘takes directions from China’ to prevent Takaichi from becoming PM, saying them ‘groundless’; expert says hypes stem from entrenched inter-party conflicts in Japan https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345498.shtml
The Komeito party, often seen as a supporting actor in Japan's political arena, recently found itself in the spotlight after the party decided Friday to quit the Japanese ruling coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The decision of the Komeito party has been hyped by certain political figures in Japan.
Regarding some Japanese far-right politicians' recent claims that "Komeito received instructions from China to prevent [Sanae] Takaichi from becoming the Japanese prime minister," Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito stated on the party's YouTube channel on Sunday that this is "completely baseless."
The topic of the party's relationship with China was particularly discussed. When asked about allegations from some far-right forces that "Komeito is subservient to China" or "takes directions from China" to prevent Takaichi from becoming prime minister, Saito replied, "It is pure disinformation, entirely groundless. I was elected as a representative of the Japanese people. I work for the interests of Japan and its citizens—that is the role of a Japanese politician. I do not work for China's interests."
Saito added that "It's truly saddening that such rumors even emerge."
During the interview, after the host said that these rumors are being made by sitting lawmakers like Haruo Kitamura of the Conservative Party, Saito stated that "Frankly, I want to protest. These claims are utterly unfounded."
Given the Komeito party's long-standing advocacy for friendly relations with China and its active efforts to improve ties, some far-right politicians in Japan have seized on this development to hype anti-China rhetoric, according to some Chinese experts.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi held back-to-back meetings on Oct. 15 with leaders of three opposition parties in a bid to secure support in the Diet vote for the next prime minister.
After Komeito’s exit from the ruling coalition left the LDP in a weakened position, Takaichi urgently sought cross-party backing to bolster her candidacy.
In the afternoon, Takaichi met separately with Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party for the People, and Hirofumi Yoshimura, chief of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).
But while Takaichi tried to solidify her chances in the Diet, movement within the opposition has also intensified to choose a different leader.
The CDP has positioned Tamaki as a “strong candidate” for prime minister and is calling for broader opposition coordination.
Noda emphasized the urgency of the moment. “Opportunities to take power from the LDP come only once every decade or so,” he said. “This is a critical juncture.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that he told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato that the Trump administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy.
"Minister Kato and I also discussed important issues pertaining to the U.S.-Japan economic relationship and the Administration's expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy," Bessent said on X, after the two met on Wednesday.
"Japan will do what it can based on the basic principle of coordinating with G7 countries to achieve peace in Ukraine in a fair manner," Kato told reporters, when asked whether Japan was urged by Bessent to stop importing Russian energy.
Tokyo has agreed with other G7 countries to phase out Russian oil imports in response to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, Japan continues to buy Sakhalin Blend crude, a byproduct of liquefied natural gas production at the Sakhalin-2 project, which is vital to Japan's energy security as it accounts for about 9% of its LNG imports.
Japan is looking into the feasibility of exporting decommissioned escort ships to Southeast Asian nations, particularly the Philippines, and perhaps Indonesia and Vietnam, to bolster regional security cooperation and counterbalance China’s growing maritime presence.
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At the heart of the proposal is the potential transfer of Abukuma-class destroyer escort ships to the Philippines.
Six vessels equipped with anti-ship missiles that have been in service for over 30 years are being phased out by the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
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Japan’s arms export policy, governed by the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, currently restricts exports to five categories: rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping.
Due to their ability to inflict lethal harm, escort ships fall outside these categories.
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However, exceptions exist for equipment jointly developed or produced with partner nations. For instance, Japan’s enhanced Mogami-class frigate was selected for Australia’s naval upgrade in August under a joint development framework.
To navigate these restrictions, Japanese officials are considering classifying the export of modified Abukuma-class ships to the Philippines as a form of joint development.
This would involve customizing the vessels with Philippine-requested equipment and communication systems.
Indonesia and Vietnam have also emerged as potential recipients, aligning with Japan’s 2022 defense build-up plan that encourages transfers to like-minded countries.
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The Philippines, which is locked in a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, is eager to strengthen its naval capabilities.
Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Jose Maria Ambrosio Ezpeleta expressed interest in acquiring up to three Abukuma-class escort ships during a Senate committee hearing on Oct. 7.
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A landmark development has paved the way for Sanae Takaichi to become Japan’s 104th prime minister and first woman to hold the country’s highest political office.
The breakthrough came during policy talks on Oct. 17 between Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the opposition Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).
In reaching a basic agreement to form a coalition government, Ishin announced its withdrawal from discussions about an alternative setup with key opposition parties.
With the extraordinary Diet session scheduled to convene on Oct. 21, Takaichi’s election as prime minister is now all but certain. Her appointment would mark a milestone in Japan’s constitutional history.
Following the talks, Fujita told reporters, “We’ve made progress toward finalizing the details, including the timeline.”
During the talks, Ishin stuck to 12 key policy priorities, including the “secondary capital concept” to back up Tokyo’s functions during disasters, and a reduction in social insurance premiums.
One of the most prominent demands from Ishin--championed by party leader and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura--is a 10 percent cut in the number of Diet members.
Several LDP officials expressed a willingness to accept Ishin’s proposals.
Leaders of the two parties also discussed corporate and organizational donations, where the LDP favors transparency and Ishin advocates for a complete ban.
Fujita emphasized, though, that the party is not using only those two policies as bargaining chips.
An Ishin executive acknowledged the party’s strategic thinking, admitting that “the ban on donations is a tough sell” and that shifting focus to the more achievable goal of reducing seats was a calculated move.
With the LDP pact in hand, Ishin informed the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People that it was pulling out of their three-party talks.
Abe was lauded in Taiwan for saying “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency” (albeit after he had already stepped down as prime minister). Takaichi elaborated on this formula a couple of months ago while visiting Taiwan. She clarified that because Japan is an island country, any regional conflict that threatens sea routes – including a conflict in the Taiwan Strait – could threaten Japan’s food and energy security and pose an existential risk to Japan.
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Takaichi has visited Taiwan multiple times before as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, including in April of this year. Speaking at a seminar in Taipei, Takaichi raised concerns about the unpredictability of the United States and the need for Japan and Taiwan to invest in their own defense capabilities. She suggested that Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India, the Philippines, and other countries, including from Europe, should form a “quasi-security alliance” or a stronger network to protect each other’s security and safety and jointly maintain their security guarantees.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16105105
Two ladies at the helm of still Feudalistic Japan!
Is this the first time that Japan has both PM and Finance Minister being women to hold the office??
But the smaller coalition partner wants changes and more military spending.
They want new Gen Subs with vertical lauch to be built.
And the new PM had advocated for an Asian NATO!!
This might sound like music to OM but will he acccept India in the QUAD or does the Deep State wants only clients (like the Old Fashioned Roman Consuls!!)
uddu wrote: ↑08 Oct 2025 21:32
....Japan’s new ruling party leader — and likely PM — Takaichi Sanae has proposed a “quasi-alliance” to deter Chinese aggression. That potential coalition would include Japan, India, Taiwan, Australia and the EU. It comes after her predecessor, PM Ishiba Shigeru, talked up the idea of an “Asian NATO”.
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Japan is already part of a QUAD (if it still exists). Why another alliance?
Or does it think that the US is not reliable?
An Asian NATO must keep the whites out. Europe won't & can't fight China. Australia is a US poodle.
what country in its right mind thinks US is reliable ..
JAPAN-INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE (JAIMEX) – 2025
Posted On: 22 OCT 2025 5:02PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, an indigenously built Shivalik-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, participated in the Sea phase of JAIMEX-25 (Japan India Maritime Exercise) from 16 to 18 Oct 2025 and made a port call at Yokosuka, Japan, on 21 Oct 2025 for the Harbour phase.
Prior to arriving at Yokosuka, INS Sahyadri and JMSDF Ships Asahi, Oumi and Submarine Jinryu participated in the sea phase of JAIMEX-25. The sea phase included advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare and missile defence drills, enhancing interoperability by undertaking flying operations and underway replenishment. JAIMEX-25 underscores the strong and burgeoning Navy-to-Navy interactions that underpin the ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ established between India and Japan in 2014. This partnership is a crucial pillar for ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi isn't shying away from the hot button issue of Taiwan that her predecessors tread lightly on, citing a condition for Japan to provide support in exercising its right of collective self-defense.
Responding at the Nov. 7 Lower House Budget Committee, Takaichi said that the use of military force by China on Taiwan such as a naval blockade would likely constitute a “survival-threatening situation” that would force Japan to respond.
However, Takaichi prefaced her remarks by following the script used by past prime ministers.
When asked by Katsuya Okada of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan what she considered to be a survival-threatening situation, Takaichi said, “A judgment must be made after comprehensively assessing all information in line with the individual and specific circumstances of what has actually occurred.”
Takaichi said a line of private ships from China surrounding Taiwan would not constitute such a situation. However, if China conducted the naval blockade while military fighting was taking place, that would constitute a survival-threatening situation and the Self-Defense Forces would be sent to provide support, she said.
Okada likely asked the question because Takaichi while running for president of the Liberal Democratic Party in the past clearly stated that a military contingency by China against Taiwan was, in effect, a military action against Japan.
The conditions for exercising the right of collective self-defense were included in national security legislation passed in 2015 by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
But although Takaichi considers herself the true successor to Abe, he never as prime minister brought up a possible attack on Taiwan as warranting a defense response by Japan.
TOKYO – Japan’s Defence Minister, visiting a military base close to Taiwan, said plans to deploy missiles to the post were on track as tensions smoulder between Tokyo and Beijing over the East Asian island.
“The deployment can help lower the chance of an armed attack on our country,” Mr Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters on Nov 23 as he wrapped up his first trip to the base on the southern Japanese island of Yonaguni.
“The view that it will heighten regional tensions is not accurate.”
Japan is planning to station medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni, about 110km east of Taiwan, as part of a broader military build-up on its southern island chain.
This is Communist Party of China opinion. China is preaching the Japanese Constitution to Japan. This is like Islamists in Pakistan preaching secularism to India. If these are good values for the preachee to follow, then they are good values for the preacher to follow.
But, from the Indian POV, what does India want Japan to do?
Takaichi’s remarks a pretext for Japan’s rearmament
Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made provocative remarks on Taiwan in the Diet by linking the Taiwan question to a "survival-threatening situation" of Japan, which implies the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Straits.
Such dangerous rhetoric is not an isolated political stunt. It reflects a deeper agenda among Japan's right-wing forces to break free from the constraints of the pacifist constitution and pursue qualitative change in policy. Under the guise of "threat," Japan is systematically transforming itself into a country capable of waging war. This not only undermines the post-war international order but also poses significant risks for peace and stability in East Asia.
Historically, Japan has launched brutal wars of aggression, inflicting immense suffering on Asian countries - including China. The core logic behind the formulation of the constitution of Japan is to free Japan from the shackles of militarism by renouncing the right to wage war and restricting military forces.
Article 9 of Japan's constitution clearly stipulates: "The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."
Article 9 became the cornerstone of Japan's post-war development and fundamentally precluded the exercise of collective self-defense. If the state renounces the right of belligerency and maintains no war potential, collective self-defense - fighting alongside other countries - naturally becomes impossible.
If I go with AI, the Chinese are misinterpreting the Japanese Constitution.
AI says:
Key Aspects of State Self-Defense
Constitutional Interpretation: Japan's government interprets Article 9 as allowing for the inherent right to self-defense and the maintenance of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF).
Exclusively Defense-Oriented Policy: Force can only be used when attacked and only to the minimum extent necessary.
Prohibited Capabilities: The SDF is not allowed to possess armaments purely for attacking another country's territory, such as ICBMs or long-range strategic bombers.
Three Conditions for the Use of Force: Under the 2015 Legislation for Peace and Security, the SDF may use force only if an armed attack occurs against Japan or a close ally that threatens Japan's survival and its people's rights, there are no other means, and the force is limited to the minimum necessary.
Collective Self-Defense: While previously interpreted as prohibited, a 2014 Cabinet reinterpretation allows for a limited exercise of collective self-defense if an attack on a close ally poses an "existential crisis" to Japan.
In 2014, the Abe-administration overcame political opposition from its partner in alliance, The New Komeito, and authorized a reinterpretation of war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, allowing Japan for the first time since World War II to come to the aid of an ally under attack. According to the new conditions, Japan can come to the aid of a friendly nation if:
The attack on that country poses a clear danger to Japan’s survival or could fundamentally overturn Japanese citizens’ constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
There is no other way of repelling the attack and protecting Japan and its citizens.
The use of force is limited to the minimum necessary.
Finally, in September 2015, Shinzo Abe secured the legislative approval for the bill over-turning the employment of the Japanese forces only for self-defence, when the Upper Chamber of the Japanese Parliament also approved the Bill.
India In Talks With Japan To Acquire Kawasaki C-2 Aircraft For IAF Fleet Upgrade
India is in negotiations with Japan for Kawasaki C-2 military transport aircraft to replace the aging fleet of soviet era Indian Air Force (IAF) Ilyushin IL-76 and Antonov An-32 transport aircraft.
The IAF is exploring options to consolidate tactical and strategic airlift needs with the Airbus C-295M to replace the Avro HS-748 fleet and seeking heavier platforms like the Japanese C-2 to succeed IL-76 aircrafts.
The IAF current transport fleet comprises over 100 An-32s, 14 operational IL-76s, 11 C-17 Globemasters, 56 Avro HS-748s and 12 C-130J Super Hercules. The British Avro turboprop aircraft’s are being progressively replaced by the C-295M under a ₹21,935-crore contract signed in 2021 with Airbus C-295M with a payload capacity of 9.5 tonnes, designed for tactical missions.
Included in the budget proposal is 1.1 trillion yen in additional defense spending, which would bring the total amount in the current fiscal year to 11 trillion yen.
That means defense spending will exceed 2 percent of gross domestic product.
The government initially set fiscal 2027 as the target date for achieving the 2-percent goal.
In her first Diet policy speech, Takaichi pledged to move forward that goal, largely because U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressuring allies to increase their defense spending.
The Defense Ministry will be allocated a record 847.2 billion yen in the supplementary budget, mainly for aircraft, ships and medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
The quake struck 80 kilometers east-northeast of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture at a depth of 50 kilometers, shaking areas up to upper 6 intensity and felt as far as Tokyo. Officials evacuated about 90,000 people along the Pacific coast in Aomori, Iwate, and Hokkaido after warnings of waves up to 3 meters; smaller waves of 40 to 70 centimeters followed, with no major flooding reported. At least 13 people sustained minor injuries from falls, power outages occurred in spots, and bullet train service halted between Fukushima and Shin-Aomori. Japan's preparedness, including early warnings and drills, kept damage limited near the 2011 Tohoku disaster zone, though officials urged caution for aftershocks.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Dec. 23 cited the need to ensure Japan can maintain “force sustainment” in a military conflict as a reason for swiftly revising three key security documents.
“Because our security environment has dramatically changed, Japan needs to proactively enhance our capabilities by ourselves,” she said at a Tokyo meeting with managing editors of Kyodo News member companies.
Force sustainment refers to the ability to continue fighting a war over the long term in terms of ammunition, fuel and equipment.
Takaichi emphasized the need for Japan to be prepared for an extended conflict like the war between Russia and Ukraine.
China Opens A New Front in its Fight Against Japan | Vantage with Palki Sharma China has announced export controls banning more than 800 “dual‑use” items to Japan — goods that can serve both commercial and military purposes. Beijing says the move targets what it calls Japanese “militarism,” but experts warn the vague list lets China restrict key supplies, including rare earths, at will. This latest front follows months of diplomatic friction triggered by Japanese remarks on defending Taiwan, cancelled flights, seafood bans, and military stand‑offs. As Tokyo refuses to back down, the trade spat threatens to deepen into a broader, long‑term challenge with regional implications.
Japan chose to go with low weight projectiles that require less power, lower temperature and also used water to cool it. Worked well and cost less. Very good Anti-missile gun. The earlier artillery shell that was used before we went and tested the 155mm was a lower caliber ramjet shell. Probably such could be used in anti air operations. Japan's New MASSIVE Railgun Just Beat Every $5M Chinese Missile! In 2021, the United States Navy quietly killed the most powerful gun ever invented. They spent 15 years and $500 million trying to build a cannon that shoots with pure electricity. And then... they gave up. They told Congress it was impossible. They said the barrels melted. They said the power supply was too big. They boxed up the future of warfare and let it gather dust in a warehouse in Virginia.
But 6,000 miles away, in a secret lab in Tokyo, someone wasn't listening. While the US was writing eulogies for the railgun, Japan was fixing it. And in late 2023, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force didn't just run a simulation. They put a railgun on a ship, pointed it at the ocean, and pulled the trigger. 120 SHOTS. ZERO FAILURES.
It's a story about how the world's biggest military superpower got beaten at its own game by an ally with a fraction of the budget. Today on Front Cost, we are exposing the $35,000 slug that just made China's laser army obsolete—and the embarrassing phone call the Pentagon is making to Tokyo right now to ask for their blueprints back.
My regular scans of the English sections of the newspapers of various nations has left me with the impression that the most vassal-like of the US allies are South Korea and Japan. My knowledge of these countries is meager and shallow and the English section might be designed to create a certain impression.
Today, the Asahi Shimbun issues what seems to me to almost like the Declaration of Independence.
EDITORIAL: After year of Trump, Japan should side with peaceful nations https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16293635
EDITORIAL: After year of Trump, Japan should side with peaceful nations
January 19, 2026 at 17:08 JST
The world faces a major challenge as the United States, once the protector of the post-Cold War order, is now trampling upon international law, state sovereignty and long-held alliances with friendly nations.
In his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump bristled against order and rules but went only so far as isolation.
But with Jan. 20 marking one year into his second term, Trump is trying to convert the world from one based on rule of law to rule by power.
The eventual destination will be an orderless world of survival of the fittest in which major powers use their military superiority to rule.
We cannot allow such folly.
LEANING TOWARD SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
The U.S. military action against Venezuela was especially serious. Not only was a sovereign state invaded and its president detained, but Trump also said he wanted to run the country.
The military move blatantly treads on respect for sovereignty that is the foundation of international law.
What cannot be overlooked is Trump’s comment that priority would be placed on having U.S. companies rebuild the Venezuelan petroleum industry, a clear sign that he intends to control natural resources before holding fair elections or promoting democracy in the country.
The United States has previously used military power against sovereign states without having a U.N. resolution.
But in those cases, discussions were held on the appropriateness of such moves, and Washington at least proclaimed a “just cause,” such as humanitarian engagement or to deal with weapons of mass destruction.
No such principle has been raised at the United Nations in the latest case.
The so-called Donroe Doctrine espoused by Trump to give the United States exclusive rule over the Western Hemisphere clearly shows his rejection of international cooperation.
While the United States claims its moves are intended to remove the presence of China and Russia from the region, it is clear the real aim is to establish a sphere of influence to allow the siphoning of special interests rather than expanding democracy.
That leaves open the possibility of giving China and Russia an excuse to legitimize similar action.
Trump’s rationale of power is also being directed at allies.
His desire to possess Greenland is a sign that he views NATO not as a community based on a shared set of values but as a subject to deals and domination.
His mention of a possible military option in Greenland could unravel the bonds of that alliance.
Any threat from China and Russia is only an excuse. His real aim is to gain natural resources.
POWER OVER COOPERATION
The thinking behind Trump’s diplomacy is appallingly simple.
His close associate, Stephen Miller, told CNN that international cooperation was a myth and that only power matters in the world.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump himself said international law was unnecessary and that his actions were restricted only by his own morality.
This is the first time in the postwar era that an American leader has so brazenly revealed his view of governance that places priority on use of force and the leader’s own decisions rather than an order based on rules.
Trump also recently announced that the United States would leave 66 international organizations.
He has threatened sanctions against the International Criminal Court that rules on war and humanitarian crimes.
Global order will crumble from its very roots if a major power places itself outside of the rule of law and denies any attempt by others to pursue its responsibility.
Belittling rules is also evident in Trump’s trade policy.
In his first term, Trump used tariffs forcefully as a bargaining tool. But in his second term, he has ignored the rules of free trade and used tariffs as a tool for making threats and encouraging subordination.
In addition, he has used the thinking that power exceeds the law domestically by deploying the Department of Justice as a political tool and applying pressure on media organizations.
Reports about an investigation into Jerome Powell, the U.S. Federal Reserve chair, threatens the independence of the central bank.
The use of heavily armed officers and the National Guard to round up immigrants has caused outrage in affected communities and led to deaths and injuries.
Military tactics go beyond enforcement of the law and represent an extremely dangerous sign for a democratic society.
In an attempt to legitimize such moves, Trump has frequently said he was chosen president through elections.
But the ballot does not provide carte blanche.
Governance lacking balance of powers and restraint cannot be considered a democracy.
GROWING U.S. ISOLATION
Small and midsize nations will ramp up defense spending to protect themselves if the world is split by the major powers into spheres of influence. Some countries might be tempted to possess nuclear weapons.
Interest would weaken in military conflicts and humanitarian crises outside of such spheres. And people facing such conflicts and poverty who cannot raise their voices will be sacrificed.
Trump should not forget that his self-righteous behavior based on his belief that international cooperation and rules are a hindrance will come back to bite the United States.
The country will find itself isolated without allies in a military conflict.
Trampling on the rules of free trade will lead to greater uncertainty in the global economy, which will directly affect the U.S. economy.
The United States will also face the consequences if nothing is done about global issues such as climate change.
Tokyo should not take a “Japan first” stance and must be cautious about pandering and following along just to avoid friction by raising objections.
Japan should cooperate with democratic nations in Europe as well as Australia and others with which it shares values.
It should also engage the Global South group of newly emerging and developing nations to work toward spreading the rule of law.
Protecting multilateral frameworks, such as the G-7 and G-20, and working to make the U.N. system function will be in Japan’s best interests.
Because we live in a time when a large number of nuclear weapons exist, Japan must stand on the side of nations striving to achieve peace without relying on military force.
"India is a global leader in lab-grown diamond (LGD) production, contributing roughly 1.5 to 3 million carats annually—about 15% of global output—with a, heavy concentration in Surat using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technology."
A plan to build a synthetic diamond plant in the United States is a prime prospect in Japan’s $550-billion investment package, as the allies push to expand production of a material vital to chip and high-precision manufacturing, sources said.
It could be among the first batch of projects, details of which Reuters is reporting for the first time, set to be unveiled ahead of a U.S. visit by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi planned as early as March, the two sources said.
Both declined to be identified as the matter is private.
“The United States wants to accelerate domestic production of synthetic diamonds,” one of the sources said. “By involving Japanese companies, Washington hopes to build a U.S.–Japan supply chain that does not rely on China.”
China’s recent moves to put export controls on some artificial diamonds has underscored the strategic importance of the material, most of which is now produced in China.
IMO, the constitutional revision in Japan will alarm the Koreas; but it will also alarm China, which is good for India.
Japan rearming itself would also present collaboration opportunities for India.
The Asahi Shimbun reports:
Constitutional revision backers hope to gain supermajority
The ruling coalition is eager to revise pacifist Article 9 of the Constitution, which prohibits Japan from maintaining air, ground and maritime military forces. Some opposition parties back this move.
With the ruling coalition poised for a major victory in the Feb. 8 Lower House election, attention is focusing on whether forces favoring constitutional revision can win a supermajority in the Diet.
Support from two-thirds of lawmakers in both Diet chambers is required before a proposed constitutional amendment can be voted on in a public referendum.
Although the pro-revision camp lacks a two-thirds majority in the Upper House, gaining that threshold in the Lower House—310 of 465 seats--would build significant momentum.
“We won’t be able to formally propose it until at least the next Upper House election, but if we secure two-thirds in the Lower House, we will advance the discussion,” a senior official of the Takaichi administration said.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her landmark victory in the elections to Japan’s House of Representatives, expressing confidence that bilateral ties between India and Japan would further deepen under her leadership.Congratulating her on the outcome, PM Modi underlined the importance of India–Japan ties, which are anchored in a Special Strategic and Global Partnership and play a key role in regional and global stability.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Congratulations Sanae Takaichi on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives. Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights.”
Takaichi secured a sweeping mandate in the snap lower house elections, consolidating her position just months after becoming Japan’s first woman prime minister. Her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with coalition partners is expected to command a strong two-thirds majority, giving her government a decisive edge to push its legislative agenda.
Takaichi, 64, emerged as Japan’s prime minister in October after winning the leadership of the LDP, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the office.
On the morning of Feb. 9, the election results were confirmed for all 465 seats in the Lower House.
The LDP won 316, compared with its pre-election strength of 198, to secure a two-thirds supermajority on its own in the Diet chamber.
That tally broke the 40-year-old LDP record of 304 seats won in 1986 under the Yasuhiro Nakasone administration.
It is also the first time in the postwar era for a single party to secure a two-thirds supermajority in the Lower House. The LDP’s seat total also surpassed the 308 won by the then-Democratic Party of Japan in 2009.
More than 90 percent of the LDP’s 337 candidates won seats, a success rate described as an “excessive victory.”
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to make advanced 3-nanometer chips in Japan, stepping up its semiconductor manufacturing roadmap in the country in a triumph for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s technology ambitions.
TSMC is to adopt cutting-edge technology for its second wafer fab in Kumamoto, company chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) said yesterday.
That is an upgrade from an original blueprint to produce 7-nanometer chips by late next year, people familiar with the matter said.
The new EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer aircraft, based on the Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft, will replace the unique EC-1 which has been in service since 1986.
What Naval chief said on Strait of Hormuz tension after Indian warship escorts LPG vessels Speaking at the International Conference On India-Japan Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Enhancing Security and Stability, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said that disruption of business at maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz are concerning, especially for energy importing countries like India and Japan.
