Japan's Mogami warship is set for a showdown with the simpler and less expensive Type 31 frigate from the U.K. as the two nations compete to supply vessels to the Royal New Zealand Navy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/12/japan/politics/japan-mogami-new-zealand/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #newzealandjapanrelations #defense #msdf #mogami

Tokyo's lodging of a protest with Beijing over the installation of structures in the East China Sea marks the latest in a series of incidents between the two Asian rivals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/06/japan/politics/china-japan-security-tensions/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #chinajapanrelations #defense #eastchinasea #senkakus #disputedislands #sanaetakaichi #msdf

Japan plans to strengthen its defense system in the Pacific Ocean as part of the revision of three security-related documents slated to be made by year-end, sources have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/05/japan/japan-pacific-ocean-defense-system/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #msdf #sdf #defense #china #shinjirokoizumi

The MSDF's Aegis destroyer Chokai has become Japan's first vessel capable of firing U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, a development that could put targets deep inside China and North Korea within striking distance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/27/japan/japan-chokai-msdf-tomahawk-missiles/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #msdf #missiles #defense #defenseministry

Japan ⁠could consider deploying minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/22/japan/japan-could-consider-hormuz-minesweeping/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #straitofhormuz #iran #msdf #sdf #defense #us

China's claim that Japan is returning to militarism is misleading because legal and institutional constraints make such a shift unlikely and current defense reforms reflect responses to changing regional threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/20/japan/myths-of-japanese-militarism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #wangyi #china #munichsecurityconference #yasukunishrine #taiwan #alliedoccupation #sdf #gsdf #msdf #sanaetakaichi #article9 #shinzoabe #defense #us

China may have tested Japan and the United States to see their response through military actions by its aircraft carrier Liaoning and bombers near Japan in December. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/28/japan/china-tests-japan-and-us-in-pacific/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #msdf #asdf #sdf #us #china #defense #usnavy #georgewashington #liaoning

The Defense Ministry has decided to suspend Kawasaki Heavy Industries from bidding on its projects for 2½ months until March 11, citing data falsifications on submarine engines. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/27/japan/kawasaki-heavy-defense-ministry-suspension/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #msdf #defense #defenseministry #corruption #submarines #kawasakiheavy

As Tokyo and Manila discuss the transfer of used Japanese destroyers, the Philippine Navy chief says the service is also seeking five more retired TC-90 aircraft from the MSDF to boost its patrol capabilities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/26/japan/philippine-navy-chief-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #philippines #philippinesjapanrelations #defense #msdf #sdf #china #southchinasea #southeastasia

Japan and Indonesia have agreed to boost their defense and security ties, opening up opportunities for trilateral cooperation involving Australia following Jakarta’s plan to upgrade a key pact with Canberra. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/18/japan/politics/indonesia-japan-meeting-defense/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #defense #indonesiajapanrelations #shinjirokoizumi #toshimitsumotegi #indonesia #china #sdf #msdf