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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”.
...
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.
