Chinese, Russian Bombers Hold Joint Exercises Near Japan, Korea

Route of Russian and Chinese bombers during an exercise near Japan and South Korea. Japanese MoD Photo

Four Chinese H-6 bombers and two Russian Tu-95 bombers conducted joint flights together on Tuesday around Japan and the Republic of Korea, prompting both countries to scramble fighter aircraft to monitor the flights. The joint flights took place the same day U.S. President Joe Biden was meeting his Australian, Indian and Japanese Quad grouping counterparts in Tokyo, though both the Russian and...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/25/chinese-russian-bombers-hold-joint-exercises-near-japan-korea

Chinese Carrier Strike Group Now Operating in East China Sea

Ships from the Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group on May 22, 2022. Japanese MoD Photo

China’s Liaoning Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the East China Sea after conducting drills in the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea for more than two weeks, the Japan Ministry of Defense said over the weekend.

The majority of the group transited the Miyako Strait on Saturday, the Japanese government said in news releases on Friday and Saturday.

The Liaoning CSG includes eight ships, namely carrier...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/23/chinese-carrier-strike-group-now-operating-in-east-china-sea

Chinese Navy Active Near Japan, Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Begins Spring Patrol

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) departs Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) for a regularly scheduled deployment, May 20, 2022. US Navy Photo

A Chinese surveillance ship and a Russian surveillance ship made separate transits through Japan this week.

The Chinese ship sailed through the Osumi Strait on Thursday, while the Russian ship sailed through La Pérouse Strait on Wednesday. The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s 41st Chinese Naval Escort Taskforce sailed through the Miyako Strait on...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/20/chinese-navy-active-near-japan-carrier-uss-ronald-reagan-begins-spring-patrol

Japanese Lawmakers Argue for Counterstrike Capability for Self Defense Force

A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Soldier assigned to the 1st Airborne Brigade proceeds to a meeting point after completing a static line jump from a U. S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at JGSDF Narashino Training Area, Japan, April 19, 2022. US Air Force Photo

Japan must develop counterstrike capabilities in coordination with the United States to deter the “more serious imminent threat” from North Korea and the newly accelerated threats from China and...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/03/japanese-lawmakers-argue-for-counterstrike-capability-for-self-defense-force

Japan’s Ruling Party Calls for ‘Counter Attack’ Capability, Increased Defense Budget

Soldiers from the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) conduct individual and small-unit maneuver exercises during Iron Fist at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, February 6, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presented its national security strategy proposals Wednesday to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, calling to increase in Japan’s defense budget to 2 percent or more of GDP along with the development...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/28/japans-ruling-party-calls-for-counter-attack-capability-increased-defense-budget