Japanese Defense Minister: China, Taiwan Military Balance Shifting in Beijing’s Favor

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (16) refuels underway during a December 2021 deployment. PLAN Photo

The military balance between China and Taiwan is shifting in China’s favor, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Friday.

Speaking at his regular press conference at the Ministry of Defense, Kishi said the security environment around Japan is becoming severe at an unprecedented speed, as Japan released its annual defense white paper the same day, highlighting the threats posed to Japan by...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/22/japanese-defense-minister-china-taiwan-military-balance-shifting-in-beijings-favor

Chinese Navy, Air Force Active Near Senkaku Islands, Says Japanese MoD

Russian and Chinese ships have operated near the Senkaku Islands. Japanese MoD Image

Chinese operations near the Senkaku Islands are becoming more frequent as overall Chinese and Russian forces have been more active in the Western Pacific, Japanese officials said on Tuesday.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Japanese forces will deal with any attempts by China to change the status quo of the Senkaku islands resolutely and calmly.

The Senkaku Islands, known as Diaoyu by China and Diaoyutai by...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/05/chinese-navy-air-force-active-near-senkaku-islands-says-japanese-mod

People’s Liberation Army Navy Ships Complete Circle Around Japan

Chinese ships operating near Japan on June 24, 2022. Japanese MoD Image

A People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) surface group entered the East China Sea on Wednesday, according to a Thursday Japan Defense Ministry release. The surface group completed a near circuit of Japan since they were sighted in the Tsushima Strait on June 12.

On Wednesday at 11 p.m., three PLAN ships were sighted sailing northwest in an area 130 kilometers northeast of Miyako Island, according to the release. Hull numbers...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/01/peoples-liberation-army-navy-ships-complete-circle-around-japan

Russian, Chinese Ships Steaming Near Japan as Carrier Lincoln Operates Near Korea

An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye landing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). US Navy Photo

KULA LUMPUR – Three Russian warships and three Russian civilian vessels transited the Tsushima Straits on Tuesday, while a Chinese surveillance ship sailed from the East China Sea into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, according to releases posted on Wednesday by the Joint Staff Office of the Japan Self-Defense Force.

The three Russian Navy ships are destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleyev (548), an Altay-class...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/21/russian-chinese-ships-steaming-near-japan-as-carrier-lincoln-operates-near-korea

Japan Monitoring Russian and Chinese Military Activity in Sea of Japan, Defense Minister Says

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Arthur Renteria, from Carson, California, stands starboard life buoy watch on the fantail aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Murasame-class destroyer JS Inazuma (DD 105) sails in formation during a U.S.-Japan bilateral exercise in the Sea of Japan on April 12, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Japan is monitoring the increased Russian and Chinese military activity around its...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/15/japan-monitoring-russian-and-chinese-military-activity-in-sea-of-japan-defense-minister-says

China Sent Uninvited Spy Ship to Russian Vostok 2018 Exercise Alongside Troops, Tanks

An undated photo of Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) Tianwangxing (852).

Russia recently concluded the 2018 edition of the massive Vostok exercise series that included Chinese forces for the first time. At Moscow’s invitation, Beijing sent People’s Liberation Army soldiers, helicopters, tanks – and one uninvited Chinese surveillance ship.

A PLA Navy Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) shadowed Russian Navy assets for the length of the at-sea portion of the...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/17/china-sent-uninvited-spy-ship-russian-vostok-2018-exercise-alongside-troops-tanks