日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（2/2）

Recently BBC News on-line reported the following:

Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism (2/2)

 BBC - Kurumi Mori,Tokyo correspondent and Koh Ewe

21 Apr. 2026

(continue)

The new arms export rules were announced as Japan's Self-Defence Forces took part in annual war games between the US and the Philippines. Japan is joining the war games as combatants for the first time, instead of mere observers.

China has opposed the drills, claiming that it would deepen divisions in the region. The exercises take place in parts of the Philippines that are near waters and islands claimed by Beijing, including Taiwan.

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing's control - and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island.

Last year, Takaichi drew Beijing's ire after she suggested in parliament that Japan could respond with its Self-Defence Force if Beijing attacked Taiwan.

South Korea's foreign ministry said Japan's defence policy "should ideally be carried out in a manner that upholds the spirit of the Peace Constitution while contributing to peace and stability in the region".

South Korea was colonised by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War Two. Japanese soldiers forced hundreds of thousands of Koreans to work in its mines and factories. Women were pushed into sexual slavery.

Eight decades of pacifism

Japan's defence posture was written into its post-World War Two constitution in 1947. It renounced war as a way to settle international disputes and stated that Japan will never maintain war potential.

For decades, pacifism has become part of Japan's identity. But that mindset has been shifting gradually.

In 2014, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe relaxed a blanket ban on all military sales, allowing it to jointly develop arms with allies and give its defence industry access to new markets and technology.

In 2023, then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took it a step further to allow exports of finished lethal weapons for the first time since World War Two.

Takaichi has supported revising the pacifist constitution. While she has not specified the proposed changes, many think it will involve amending Article 9, which renounces war.

Takaichi's supporters say Japan needs to face a new reality where old rules no longer apply for a country that sits surrounded by China, Russia, and North Korea.

But critics worry that Japan is becoming a war-capable country. To them, Takaichi's stand on constitutional reform could mean Japan might be drawn into military conflicts.

Translation

日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（2/2）

（繼續）

日本自衛隊宣佈新的武器出口限制之際，正值日本自衛隊參加美菲年度聯合軍事演習。日本首次以參戰方身分參與此次演習，而非只是觀察員的身份。

中國反對此次演習，聲稱將加深地區分裂。演習地點位於菲律賓部分地區，靠近北京聲稱擁有主權的海域和島嶼，包括台灣。

中國將自治的台灣視為分離省份，最終將置於北京的控制之下，亦不排除使用武力收復台灣。

去年，高市在國會表示，如果北京攻擊台灣，日本可能動用自衛隊回應，此舉激怒了北京。

韓國外交部表示，日本的防衛政策「理想地應秉持和平憲法的精神，同時為區域和平與穩定做出貢獻」。

韓國自1910年起被日本殖民統治，直到二戰結束。日本士兵強迫數十萬韓國人到其礦場和工廠從事苦役。婦女被迫淪為性奴。

八十年的和平主義

日本的防衛立場於1947年寫入二戰後憲法。日本放棄以戰爭解決國際爭端，並聲明日本永遠不會保持戰爭能力。

幾十年來，和平主義已成為日本身份認同的一部分。但這種觀念正逐漸轉變。

2014年，時任首相安倍晉三放寬了對所有軍售的全面禁令，允許日本與盟友聯合研發武器，並使其國防工業能夠進入新的市場並獲得新技術。

2023年，時任首相岸田文雄更進一步，允許自二戰以來首次出口致命武器成品。

高市一直支持修改和平憲法。雖然她沒有具體說明擬議的修改內容，但許多人認為這將涉及修改放棄戰爭的第九條。

高市的支持者認為，日本需要面對新的現實，舊規則不再適用於這個被中國、俄羅斯和北韓包圍的國家。

但批評者擔心日本正在變成一個具備戰爭能力的國家。在他們看來，高市在憲法改革問題上的立場可能意味著日本將被捲入軍事衝突。

So, Japan has relaxed decades-old restrictions on its arms exports. The announcement marks a milestone in Tokyo's shift away from the pacifism that has dominated its post-war defense policy. Apparently, Japan feels that old rules no longer apply for her country that is surrounded by China, Russia, and North Korea. On top of that, the US is asking its partners to beef up their defense capabilities.

日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（1/2）

Recently BBC on-line reported the following:

Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism (1/2)

 BBC - Kurumi Mori,Tokyo correspondent and Koh Ewe

21 Apr. 2026

Japan has relaxed decades-old restrictions on its arms exports, clearing the way for it to sell weapons to more than a dozen countries.

The announcement on Tuesday marks a milestone in Tokyo's shift away from the pacifism that has characterised its post-war defence policy. It also comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region.

Restrictions that limit arms exports to just five categories - rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping - will be lifted.

This means Japan can now sell lethal weapons to the 17 countries with which it has defence agreements, including the US and the UK.

A ban on arms sales to countries involved in conflict will stay, although it does not cover those that have defence pacts with Japan. Authorities in Tokyo say they will allow for exceptions "in special circumstances".

"In an increasingly severe security environment, no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on X on Tuesday.

However, she also said there was "absolutely no change in our commitment to upholding the path and fundamental principles we have followed as a peace-loving nation for over 80 years since the war".

"Under the new system, we will strategically promote equipment transfers while making even more rigorous and cautious judgments on whether transfers are permissible," she wrote.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said in a press briefing that the move was "intended to safeguard Japan's security and further contribute to the peace and stability of the region".

China has said it is "seriously concerned" about what it described as Japan's "reckless militarisation".

"China will remain highly vigilant and resolutely opposed [to the move]," Beijing's foreign ministry said in a routine media briefing on Tuesday.

(to be continued)

Translation

日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（1/2）

日本放寬了實施數十年的武器出口限制，為其向十幾個國家出售武器掃清了障礙物。

週二的這項宣布標誌著東京在擺脫其戰後國防政策中所奉行的和平主義方面邁出了重要一步。此外，這宣佈也正值該地區局勢高度緊張之際。

先前將武器出口限制在五類 - 即救援、運輸、預警、監視和掃雷 - 將被取消。

這意味著日本現在可以向與其簽訂了國防條約的17個國家出售致命性武器，其中包括美國和英國。

禁止向捲入衝突的國家出售武器的禁令仍然有效，但禁令不適用於與日本簽訂了國防條約的國家。東京當局表示，他們將在「特別情況下」允許例外出售。

日本首相高市早苗週二在X網站上撰文指出:「在日益嚴峻的安全環境下，任何國家都無法獨自維護自身的和平與安全」。

然而，她也表示，“我們作為80多年來始終承諾堅持愛好和平的國家的道路和基本原則絕對沒有改變。”

她寫道：“在新體制下，我們將戰略性地推進裝備轉讓，同時對轉讓是否合法做出更加嚴格謹慎的判斷。”

內閣官房長官木原稔(Minoru Kihara) 在記者會上表示，此舉「旨在維護日本的安全，並進一步為該地區的和平與穩定作出貢獻」。

中國對日本的决定稱之為「魯莽軍事化」並表示深表「關切」。

北京外交部週二在例行記者會上表示，“中方將保持高度警惕，堅決反對（這一舉動）。”

（待續）

美日韓雷達計劃會激怒中國和平壤

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

US-Japan-South Korea Radar Plan Set to Rile China and Pyongyang

Jon Herskovitz

Tue, May 9, 2023 at 10:05 a.m. GMT+1

(Bloomberg) -- The US, Japan and South Korea are seeking to link their radar systems to better track missiles from North Korea and accelerate their response to any launch, a move that has the potential to anger China as well as Pyongyang.

A broad agreement on the plan is likely to come during a joint defense meeting in Singapore in June, the Yomiuri newspaper reported Tuesday, citing government officials it didn’t identify. A recent warming of ties between Seoul and Tokyo, which included a resumption of shuttle diplomacy scuttled for about a dozen years over political tensions, has helped advance the arrangement, it said.

Under the agreement, the command-and-control centers used by the militaries of Japan and South Korea, as well as US forces in both countries, would be fed through the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, the paper said. This would help provide instantaneous data on missile flights, while keeping some political distance between South Korea and Japan, which each have a military alliance with the US but are not mutual allies, it added.

The arrangement would be one of the most tangible efforts to improve joint efforts to keep track of North Korean missiles as a part of the recent rapprochement between Seoul and Tokyo.

But the effort could also could draw the ire of Beijing, which in 2017 objected to South Korea deploying a US defense shield over concerns its powerful radar would allow spying on China’s missile systems. North Korea has decried military cooperation among the US, South Korea and Japan, pledging to bolster its nuclear arsenal to thwart what it sees as hostile intentions from the three adversaries.

Japan’s top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said Tuesday that no decision had been made on concrete steps to put the arrangement into action after it was agreed to in principle at a trilateral summit in November. South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu said at a briefing in Seoul that consultations on details are ongoing and no final decisions have been made.

Cooperation among the three countries picked up pace when Yoon Suk Yeol became South Korea’s president a year ago, pledging to take a tough line on North Korea and advancing security policies that better aligned with those of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government.

Since then, the US, South Korea and Japan have trained together, including on joint drills centered on intercepting missiles and hunting submarines — exercises that have taken on greater importance with North Korea deploying new systems to deliver strikes in the air and at sea.

Missile Threat

At the same time, Kim Jong Un’s regime has rolled out new rockets that are quick to deploy, maneuverable in flight and designed to deliver nuclear strikes to all of Japan and South Korea, which host the bulk of US troops in the region.

Yoon has also taken on China, with his government telling Beijing that the possible operation of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system was a matter of South Korea’s self-defense and “not negotiable.”

The conflict several years ago over Thaad led to economic retaliation from Beijing that shaved an estimated 0.4 percentage points off South Korea’s gross domestic product expansion in 2017. Yoon’s predecessor, President Moon Jae-in ameliorated Beijing’s anger by pledging no new Thaad deployments, no participation in a US missile defense network and no transformation of security cooperation among the US, Japan and South Korea into a military alliance.

“On the Thaad issue, the two sides reached agreement not to allow this issue to be a stumbling block in bilateral cooperation and will strive to make sure that bilateral relations and cooperation will not be affected by this issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, referring to Moon’s pledge.

Given their proximity, North Korea’s missiles could deliver a strike on most parts of South Korea in less than five minutes from launch and on Japan within about 15 minutes from launch, highlighting the need for all three to instantaneously track missiles.

But due to the Earth’s curvature, Japan’s radar system has had trouble spotting the initial stages of missile launches from western parts of North Korea. Japan has also had embarrassing incidents where it has lost track of multistage missiles fired from North Korea.

The most recent incident took place last month, when Japan issued an alert to people on the main northern island of Hokkaido about a North Korean missile possibly heading their way. The missile did not threaten the island and the alert was lifted a few minutes later — with the government saying it lost track of the missile on radar and apologizing.

The radar alliance would be under the auspices of a 2014 information-sharing pact among the three countries and involve systems already deployed, Yomiuri said. This could allay any possible protests from China.

“The main focus of the Japan-US-South Korea cooperation is North Korea, but they are showing they won’t hesitate because of China — it has a symbolic aspect,” said Tetsuo Kotani, a professor at Meikai University.

“The arrangement will enable a more accurate grasp of a missile’s trajectory,” he added.

Translation

（彭博社）— 美國、日本和韓國正在尋求將它們的雷達系統連接起來，以更好地跟踪來自朝鮮的導彈，並加快對任何導彈發射的反應，此舉有可能激怒中國和平壤。

讀賣新聞周二援引未具名的政府官員的話稱，6 月份在新加坡舉行的聯合防務會議期間可能會就該計劃達成廣泛協議。 它說，最近首爾和東京之間的關係回暖，其中包括恢復因政治緊張局勢而中斷了大約十幾年的穿梭外交，這有助於推進這一安排。

該報稱，根據協議，日本和韓國軍隊以及駐兩國美軍使用的指揮控制中心,將通過位於夏威夷的美國印太司令部提供信號。 它補充說，這將有助於提供導彈飛行的即時數據，同時在韓國和日本之間保持一定的政治距離，這兩個國家都與美國有軍事同盟，但不是共同的盟友。

作為近期首爾和東京之間和解的一部分，這項安排將是改善追踪朝鮮導彈的聯合努力的最切實的努力之一。

但這一努力也可能會激怒北京，北京在 2017 年反對韓國部署美國的防護盾，擔心其強大的雷達會監視中國的導彈系統。 朝鮮譴責美國、韓國和日本之間的軍事合作，並誓言加強其核武庫以挫敗它認為來自這三個對手的敵對意圖。

日本政府最高發言人 Hirokazu Matsuno 周二表示，在 11 月的三方峰會上原則上同意後，尚未就實施該安排的具體步驟做出決定。 韓國國防部發言人 Jeon Ha-kyu 在首爾的一次簡報會上表示，有關細節的磋商正在進行中，尚未做出最終決定。

三個國家之間的合作, 於一年前 Yoon Suk Yeol 成為韓國總統後加快了步伐，承諾對朝鮮採取強硬立場，並推進與日本首相岸田文雄政府的安全政策更加一致的安全政策。

從那時起，美國、韓國和日本一起訓練，包括以攔截導彈和獵殺潛艇為中心的聯合演習 - 隨著朝鮮部署新系統在空中和海上以進行襲擊，這些演習變得更加重要。

 導彈威脅

與此同時，金正恩政權推出了新型火箭，這些火箭部署迅速，飛行時機動靈活，旨在對日本和韓國進行核打擊,大部分美軍駐紮在該地區。

Yoon 還與中國進行了較量，他的政府告訴北京，可能運作洛克希德馬丁公司的末端高空區域防禦系統是韓國自衛的問題， “沒有商量餘地” 。

幾年前圍繞薩德的爭議導致了北京的經濟報復，據估計，韓國 2017 年的國內生產總值擴張減少了 0.4 個百分點。Yoon 的前任總統文在寅承諾不再部署新的薩德，不參與美國導彈防禦網絡，沒有轉變美日韓之間的安全合成為軍事同盟, 緩和了北京的憤怒。

中國外交部發言人汪文斌, 週二在北京舉行的新聞發布會上提到文在寅的承諾時說: “在薩德問題上，雙方達成共識，不讓該問題成為兩國合作的絆腳石，將努力確保兩國關係與合作不受該問題的影響” 。

鑑於距離很近，朝鮮的導彈可以在發射後不到 5 分鐘內對韓國大部分地區進行打擊，在發射後約 15 分鐘內對日本進行打擊，這凸顯了這三者都需要即時跟踪導彈。

但由於地球的曲率，日本的雷達系統難以發現從朝鮮西部地區發射導彈的初始階段。 日本也曾發生過無法追踪從朝鮮發射的多級導彈的尷尬事件。

最近的一次事件發生在上個月，當時日本向北部主要島嶼北海道的民眾發出警告，稱朝鮮導彈可能正朝他們襲來。 導彈沒有威脅到該島，幾分鐘後警報解除 - 政府表示它在雷達上失去了對導彈的追踪並道歉。

讀賣新聞說，雷達聯盟將受在 2014 年三個國家之間的信息共享協議的主導，並涉及已經部署的系統。 這可能會平息來自中國的任何可能的抗議。

明海大學教授Tetsuo Kotani說: “日美韓合作的主要焦點是朝鮮，但他們表明他們不會因為中國而猶豫 - 這具有像徵意義” 。

他補充說: “這種安排將使我們能夠更準確地掌握導彈的軌跡” 。

So, the US, Japan and South Korea are seeking to link their radar systems to better track missiles from North Korea and accelerate their response to any launch. It seems that these three countries have aligned themselves closer than a few years ago because of the aggressive attitude of North Korea.

Briefing for Residents on the opening of a new Ground Self-Defense Force garrison - Okinawa Ishigaki Island

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

陸上自衛隊の新たな駐屯地開設で住民説明会 沖縄 石垣島

2023年3月22日 22時54分

沖縄県の石垣島に今月、開設された陸上自衛隊の駐屯地について、住民を対象にした説明会が22日夜開かれました。

防衛省は南西諸島の防衛を強化するとして、今月16日、石垣島に陸上自衛隊の新たな駐屯地、「石垣駐屯地」を開設しました。

これに関連して22日夜、防衛省と石垣市が住民を対象に説明会を開き、防衛省側の担当者は駐屯地に置かれるミサイルなどの装備や、今後予定している訓練などについて説明しました。

また、参加した住民が「『反撃能力』を行使するためのミサイルが石垣島に配備される可能性は高いのではないか」と質問したのに対し、「具体的な配備先は決まっていない」と答えていました。

このほか、参加者からは、駐屯地からの排水の処理やヘリコプターの運用についての質問のほか、「自衛隊を配備するのではなく、もっと外交で努力してほしい」といった意見も出されていました。

説明会は定員およそ1000人の会場で開かれましたが、参加したのはおよそ170人で、空席が目立ちました。

参加した30代の農家の男性は、「説明を聞いても、不安が残ったままの人がいるだろうと感じました。今後、『反撃能力』を行使するためのミサイルが配備されるのかや、駐屯地がさらに大きくなるのではないかといった点が心配です」と話していました。

Translation

Regarding the Ground Self-Defense Force garrison that was established this month on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, a briefing session for residents was held on the night of the 22^nd.

The Ministry of Defense opened a new garrison of the Ground Self-Defense Force, the "Ishigaki Garrison", on Ishigaki Island on the 16th of this month to strengthen the defense of the Nansei Islands.

In connection with this, on the evening of the 22nd, the Ministry of Defense and Ishigaki City held a briefing for residents, and the person in charge of the Ministry of Defense explained the equipment such as missiles placed at the garrison and the training scheduled in the future.

Also, residents who participated asked "whether there a high possibility that missiles to exercise 'counterattack capability' will be deployed on Ishigaki Island”, the answer was that ``the specific deployment destination has not been decided.''

In addition, the participants asked questions about the treatment of wastewater from the garrison and the operation of helicopters. An opinion was also raised that “Rather than deploying the Self-Defense Forces, I would like Japan to make more efforts in diplomacy.”

The briefing was held at a venue with a capacity of about 1,000 people, but about 170 people participated, and there were conspicuous empty seats.

A farmer in his 30s who participated said, ``Even after listening to the explanation, I felt that some people would remain uneasy. I am worried about whether missiles will be deployed to carry out the "counterattack capability" in the future, and whether the garrison will become even larger.”

              So, Japan opens a new garrison of the Ground Self-Defense Force, the "Ishigaki Garrison", on Ishigaki Island to strengthen the defense of the Nansei Islands. Some local people worry about whether missiles to be deployed to will be use to carry out the "counterattack capability" in future as this type of installation probably will increase the chance of being attacked by the enemy in case of a war.

"Mysterious metal sphere" about 1.5m in diameter sitting on the coast, Hamamatsu in Shizuoka

 

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

海岸に直径約1.5m “謎の金属製の球体” 静岡 浜松

2023年2月21日 19時53分

 静岡県浜松市の海岸に「機雷のようなものがある」と警察に通報があり、爆発物処理班が出動しました。警察によりますと、見つかったのは直径が1.5メートルほどある金属製の球体で、中は空洞とみられ、爆発の危険性はないことが確認されました。球体が何なのかはまだ分かっていないということです。

 今月18日、浜松市西区の遠州浜海岸で、散歩していた人が海岸に鉄球のようなものがあるのに気付き、21日になって警察に「機雷のようなものが打ち上げられている」と通報しました。

 警察によりますと、海岸で見つかったのは直径が1.5メートルほどある金属製の球体で、警察は現場近くの道路や半径100メートルの範囲の立ち入りを規制したうえで、機動隊の爆発物処理班が出動して調べました。

警察によりますと、X線を使って調べたところ、中は空洞とみられ、爆発の危険性がないことが確認されたということで周辺の規制を解除しました。

この球体が何なのかは分かっていないということです。

 今後は海岸を管理する県がどのように撤去するか、関係機関と協議することにしています。

海岸に来ていた男性「1か月以上前からあった」

海岸にランニングに来ていた浜松市の50代の男性は「鉄球のようなものは1か月以上前から浜辺にありました。材質はおそらく鉄だと思います。近づいて手で押してみたこともありますが、重くて動きませんでした」と話していました。

Translation

Police received a report that there was something like a mine on the coast of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and an explosive ordnance disposal team was dispatched. According to the police, what was found was a metal sphere with a diameter of about 1.5 meters, and it was confirmed that the inside was hollow and there was no danger of explosion. It was not yet known what the sphere was.

On the 18th of this month, a person taking a walk on the coast of Enshuhama in Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City noticed something like an iron ball on the beach, and on the 21st he informed the police to say that, "Something like a mine was washed ashore."

According to the police, what was found on the beach was a metal sphere with a diameter of about 1.5 meters.  The police restricted access to roads near the scene and area within a radius of 100 meters, and the explosives disposal team of the riot police was dispatched to investigate.

According to the police, after examining it using X-rays, it was confirmed that the inside was hollow and there was no danger of explosion, so restriction on the surrounding area was lifted.

It was not yet known what this sphere was.

In the future, the prefecture that managed the coast would consult with related organizations on how to remove it.

A man who came to the beach - "It's been there for more than a month"

A man in his 50s from Hamamatsu City, who came to the beach to do running said, ``Something like an iron ball has been on the beach for more than a month. I think the material is probably iron. I approached it and tried to push it with my hand, but it was heavy and did not move."

              So, the Japanese police found something like a mine on the coast of Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Prefecture. A few days later the Canadian military discovered Chinese spy buoys in the Arctic which might be used to monitor US submarines and melting ice sheets. This spy buoy looked like the one found in Hamamatsu city.

Japan-U.S. Strengthen Military Ties - Reorganization of U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa to Deter China

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

日米が軍事関係強化、中国の抑止念頭に沖縄の米海兵隊改編へ

2023.01.12 Thu posted at 11:22 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 日米両国は１１日、双方の軍事関係を大幅に強化し、日本における米軍の態勢を刷新すると発表した。これには改編された米海兵隊部隊の駐留も含まれる。同部隊は先進的な諜報（ちょうほう）・偵察能力のほか、対艦ミサイルの発射能力も備える。事情を把握する米国の当局者２人が明らかにした。

改編された「海兵沿岸連隊」の配備については、日米の外務・防衛担当閣僚協議（２プラス２）に臨んだ米国のオースティン国防長官が記者会見で発表した。会見にはブリンケン国務長官のほか日本側の林芳正外相、浜田靖一防衛相も同席した。

オースティン氏によると当該の連隊は戦闘力や機動性を高めており、配備は地域の抑止力拡大につながる。米軍が日本及び日本国民をより効果的に防衛することが可能になる見通しだという。

発表は中国に強力なメッセージを送るもので、日米が策定した一連の構想の一環。この構想は安全保障と諜報における両国間の結びつきを加速することを念頭に置く。

１３日にはバイデン大統領と岸田文雄首相による日米首脳会談がホワイトハウスで行われる予定。 

上記の海兵沿岸連隊は沖縄に配備され、即応部隊として日本の防衛に当たる。複数の米当局者が１１日に明らかにした。沖縄は台湾に近いことなどから、太平洋における米軍の作戦上の重要地点とみなされている。２０を超える沖縄の米軍基地には、２万５０００人以上の米軍要員が駐留する。日本の米軍基地のおよそ７割が沖縄に集中している。

今回の海兵沿岸連隊の沖縄配備は、米軍にとってこの数年で最も重要な改編だと当局者の１人は指摘する。これに先駆け、ワシントンの有力なシンクタンクが机上演習（シミュレーション）を行い、中国との軍事紛争において日本、とりわけ沖縄が極めて重大な役割を果たすとも分析していた。

このほかにも日米は１１日、両国の防衛協定を拡大し、宇宙空間での攻撃もその内容に含めると発表した。背景には急速な進歩を遂げる中国の宇宙計画や極超音速兵器の開発についての懸念の高まりがある。

Translation

(CNN) The United States and Japan announced on Monday that they would significantly strengthen their military ties and revamp the posture of the U.S. forces in Japan. This would include the presence of a reorganized U.S. Marine Corps unit. The unit would have advanced intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as the ability to launch anti-ship missiles. Two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said this.

The deployment of the reorganized "Marine Coastal Regiment" was announced at a press conference by US Secretary of Defense Austin during the Japan-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Talks (2+2). The press conference was attended by Secretary of State Brinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Defense Minister Seiichi Hamada.

Austin said the regiment would become more combat and mobile, and the deployment could increase deterrence in the region. It was expected that the US military would be able to defend Japan and its people more effectively.

The announcement sent a powerful message to China and was part of a series of initiatives developed by the United States and Japan. The initiative sought to accelerate ties between the two countries in security and intelligence.

President Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida would hold a Japan-US summit at the White House on the 13th.

The Marine Coastal Regiment mentioned above would be deployed to Okinawa and could serve as a readiness force to defend Japan. This was according to multiple U.S. officials on the 11th. Due to its proximity to Taiwan and other factors, Okinawa was considered an important operational point for U.S. forces in the Pacific. More than 25,000 US military personnel are stationed at more than 20 US military bases on Okinawa. About 70% of the US military bases in Japan were concentrated in Okinawa.

The deployment of the Marine Coastal Regiment to Okinawa would be the most significant restructuring of the U.S. military in years, one official said. Prior to this, an influential think tank in Washington conducted a tabletop exercise (simulation), and analyzed that Japan, especially Okinawa, would play an extremely important role in a military conflict with China.

In addition, Japan and the United States announced on the 11th that they would expand their defense pact to include attacks in outer space. This came amid growing concerns about China's rapidly advancing space program and hypersonic weapon development.

So, the US and Japan will significantly strengthen their military ties and revamp the posture of the U.S. forces in Japan by reorganizing the U.S. Marine Corps unit. It is quite clear that the level of confrontation in the area is increasing.

New model of Chinese military drone flying between Okinawa main island and Miyako island confirmed - Ministry of Defense

Recently HNK News on-line reported the following:

初確認機種の中国軍無人機 沖縄本島と宮古島の間を飛行 防衛省

2023年1月1日 23時18分

防衛省は1日、中国軍の無人機が沖縄本島と宮古島の間の上空を飛行したと発表しました。初めて確認した機種だということで警戒と監視を続けています。

防衛省によりますと、1日午前から午後にかけて、中国軍の偵察型無人機「WZ7」1機が沖縄本島と宮古島の間の上空を飛行して東シナ海から太平洋の方向に通過したのが確認されました。

無人機は宮古島の南の上空で旋回したあと、同じコースを戻って中国大陸の方向へ飛行したということです。

航空自衛隊の戦闘機がスクランブル＝緊急発進して対応し領空侵犯はありませんでした。

防衛省によりますと、この機種を日本周辺で確認したのは初めてで、これまでに確認した中国軍の無人機としては4機種目だということです。

防衛省は中国軍がさまざまな機種の無人機を活用して運用能力の向上を図っている可能性があるとみて、警戒と監視を続けています。

Translation

The Ministry of Defense announced on the 1st that a Chinese military drone flew over the area between the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima. As it was the first confirmed model, vigilance and monitoring would be continued.

According to the Ministry of Defense, from the morning to the afternoon on the 1st, a reconnaissance-type drone "WZ7" of the Chinese military flew over the area between the main island of Okinawa and Miyako Island; and passed from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

After circling in the sky south of Miyako Island, the drone returned to the same course and flew in the direction of mainland China.

Air Self-Defense Force fighters responded by scramble = emergency launch, and there was no airspace violation.

According to the Ministry of Defense, a new model had been confirmed around Japan, and the fourth type of Chinese military drone that was confirmed so far.

The Ministry of Defense continued vigilance and monitoring, and saw the possibility that the Chinese military was using various types of drones to improve their operational capabilities.

              So, according Japan, this is the first time that another new model of drone from China is confirmed to appear around Japan. It seems that drones are being used more frequently to carry out military operations.

日本不斷增加的國防預算,現在幾乎與俄羅斯相等

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Japan’s Rising Defense Budget Is Now Nearly on Par With Russia

Isabel Reynolds

Tue, December 6, 2022 at 3:55 p.m.

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has ordered a sharp defense spending hike that could see his long-pacifist country’s defense budget balloon to near the levels spent by Russia.

Kishida instructed ministers to put together a budget of about 43 trillion yen ($315 billion) for the five-year period starting in April, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Monday. That’s up 57% on the 27 trillion yen initially budgeted for the current five-year period.

The change of direction for Japan, which has retained a US-drafted pacifist constitution since its defeat in World War II, comes after the country was shocked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China’s threats toward Taiwan and North Korea’s atomic ambitions have also lent support for Tokyo to embark on one of its largest military buildups in decades.

A poll conducted by the Yomiuri newspaper over the weekend found 51% of respondents approved of a hike to more than 40 trillion yen, while 42% disapproved.

The money is set to be used for items such as stockpiling missiles that are capable of striking military assets in neighbors Russia, China and North Korea. Another goal over the next 10 years would be to triple the number of military units equipped with ballistic missile interceptors in a southwestern island chain that stretches toward Taiwan, Kyodo News reported Monday, citing a draft of a government document.

The news met with criticism from China. “Japan has been sensationalizing regional tensions in an attempt to seek a military breakthrough,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

“This is highly dangerous. It cannot but put Asian neighbors and the international community on high alert about Japan’s commitment to an exclusively defensive policy and to peaceful development,” she said.

Kishida’s increase could mean Japan leapfrogs countries like Saudi Arabia and France to become the world’s fifth-largest defense spender and reaches annual spending about level with Russia, based on 2021 figures provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The slump in the yen against the dollar in recent months will mean the cash may not go as far as in the past.

Ministries and ruling Liberal Democratic Party politicians have wrangled over the extent of the increase, which will place another strain on the finances of the deeply indebted and aging nation.

The premier called for a concrete plan by the end of the year to fund the increase, including spending reforms and use of non-tax revenues as well as taxes, Hamada said. Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told reporters Tuesday that adjustments would be needed to secure the necessary funds for the five-year period.

The government is set to reveal how it plans to use the funds in revised national security documents and an annual budget to be unveiled later this month.

Kishida has also ordered ministers to aim to raise total defense-related spending to 2% of gross domestic product over the same five-year period. While Japan isn’t a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that would meet the target set for members.

The figure is likely to be made up of defense ministry spending and other items such as research and coastguard funding, which have previously been counted separately.

Translation

（彭博社）- 日本首相岸田文雄已下令大幅增加國防開支，這可能會使這個長期和平主義國家的國防預算激增至接近俄羅斯的水平。

日本防衛大臣Yasukazu Hamada周一表示，岸田指示大臣們為從 4 月開始的五年期編制出約 43 萬億日元（3,150 億美元）的預算。 這比當前五年期最初預算的 27 萬億日元增加了 57%。

自二戰戰敗以來，日本一直保留美國起草的和平憲法，但受俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭一事所震驚，日本改變了方向。 中國對台灣的威脅和北韓的核子野心, 也支持東京開始其幾十年來其中一次最大規模的軍事力量增加。

讀賣新聞周末進行的一項民意調查發現，51% 的受訪者贊成加至 40 萬億日元以上，而 42% 的人不贊成。

這筆錢將用於購儲導彈能夠打擊鄰國俄羅斯、中國和朝鮮軍事資產的導彈等物品。 共同社週一援引一份政府文件草案報導稱，未來 10 年的另一個目標是將在西南向台灣延伸的島鏈上, 把配備有彈道導彈攔截器的軍事單位數量增加兩倍。

這一消息遭到了中國的批評。外交部發言人毛寧週二在北京舉行的例行新聞發布會上說: “日本一直在煽動地區緊張局勢，企圖尋求軍事突破” 。

她說: “這是非常危險的。 這不能不讓亞洲鄰國和國際社會對日本奉行專守防禦政策和和平發展的承諾保持高度警惕” 。

根據斯德哥爾摩國際和平研究所提供的 2021 年數據，岸田的增加可能意味著日本超越沙特阿拉伯和法國等國家成為世界第五大國防支出國，並達到與俄羅斯大致相當的年度支出水平。 近幾個月日元兌美元的暴跌意味著現金可能不會像過去那樣走得那麼遠。

各部門和執政的自民黨政客就加息幅度爭論不休，這將給這個負債累累且老齡化的國家的財政帶來另一壓力。

Hamada 說，首相呼籲在年底前製定一項具體計劃來為增加的資金提供資金，包括支出改革和使用稅收及非稅收。 財務大臣Shunichi Suzuki周二告訴記者，需要進行調整以確保五年期間的必要資金。

政府將在修訂後的國家安全文件透露它計劃如何使用這些資金, 和將於本月晚些時候公佈年度預算。

岸田還命令部長們在同一個五年期間, 將與國防相關的總支出提高到國內生產總值的 2%。 雖然日本不是北大西洋公約組織的成員，但這將達到為成員設定的目標。

這個數字很可能由國防部支出和其他項目組成，例如研究和海岸警衛隊的資金，這些項目以前是單獨計算的。

       So, Japan will beef up the number of its missiles that are capable of striking military assets in Russia, China and North Korea. Its another defense goal over the next 10 years is to triple the number of military units equipped with ballistic missile interceptors in a southwestern island chain that stretches toward Taiwan. I am wondering whether Russia, China and North Korea are the first movers in forcing Japan to make a change in its defense policy.

Air Self-Defense Force's next fighter - Coordinating with the United Kingdom for common aircraft development

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

航空自衛隊の次期戦闘機 イギリスと共通の機体開発で調整

2022年9月4日 4時58分

航空自衛隊の次期戦闘機をめぐり、防衛省は開発費の抑制などのため、エンジンの共同研究を行っているイギリスと共通の機体を開発する方向で調整を進めています。

航空自衛隊のF2戦闘機の後継となる次期戦闘機をめぐっては、ことし1月から日本とイギリスの大手企業がエンジンの共同研究を始めていて、5月の日英首脳会談では開発に関する両国間の協力の全体像をことしの年末までに合意することで一致しました。

これを受けて防衛省は、次期戦闘機に求める性能がイギリスとほぼ同じで、開発費も抑制できるとして、共通の機体を開発する方向で調整を進めています。

また、共同開発には、戦闘機の開発でイギリスと協力関係にあるイタリアの参加も検討されています。

防衛省は来年度予算案の概算要求に次期戦闘機の開発費などとして1432億円を盛り込んでいて、F2戦闘機の退役が始まる2035年ごろまでに次期戦闘機の配備を始めたいとしています。

Translation

Regarding the Air Self-Defense Force's next-generation fighter, the Ministry of Defense which was already conducting joint research on engines, in order to control development costs was making adjustments to develop a common airframe with the United Kingdom.

Regarding the next-generation fighter that would succeed the Air Self-Defense Force's F2 fighter, major Japanese and British companies had started joint research on the engine since January this year, and at the Japan-UK summit meeting in May they shared the view that they could agree on an overall picture of cooperation by the end of this year.

In response to this, the Ministry of Defense was proceeding with coordination in the direction of developing a common aircraft as its performance requirement for the next fighter was almost the same as that of the UK, and the development costs could be suppressed.

In addition, the joint development was also considering the participation of Italy which had a cooperative relationship with the United Kingdom in the development of fighter aircraft.

The Ministry of Defense had included 143.2 billion yen in the budget request for the next fiscal year's budget proposal for development costs for the next-generation fighter, and wanted to start deploying the next-generation fighter by around 2035, when the F2 fighters would retire.

So, Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force will develop a common airframe with the United Kingdom for it's next-generation F2 fighter in order to control development costs. My understanding it that currently Japan is also using F-35 fighter jet bought from the US.

日本計劃開發遠程導彈以對抗中國，俄羅斯

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Japan plans to develop longer-range missiles to counter China, Russia

Tue, August 30, 2022 at 9:54 PM

By Tim Kelly

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will develop and mass produce a cruise missile and a high-velocity ballistic missile, it said on Wednesday, as it seeks the ability to strike more distant targets as part of a military expansion aimed at meeting threats from China and Russia.

The procurement plan unveiled in the Ministry of Defence's annual budget request represents a clear departure from a decades-long range limit imposed on Japan's constitutionally constrained Self Defence Forces, that meant they could only field missiles with ranges of a few hundred kilometres.

"China continues to threaten to use force to unilaterally change the status quo and is deepening its alliance with Russia," the ministry said in its budget request.

"It is also applying pressure around Taiwan with supposed military exercises and has not renounced the use of military force as a way to unite Taiwan with the rest of China," it said.

Alarm about China's regional ambitions grew this month after it fired five ballistic missiles into waters less than 160 km (100 miles) from Japan in a show of force after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visited Taiwan.

The ministry also mentioned North Korea as a threat to Japan.

The budget request is for funding to mass produce ground-launched cruise missiles, an extended range version of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries designed Type 12 missile already in use, to strike ships, and a new, high-velocity glide ballistic missiles capable of hitting ground targets.

The ministry is also seeking money to develop other projectiles, including hypersonic warheads.

The ministry did not give a range for the proposed weapons, or say how many it planned to field, but they would likely be able to reach targets in mainland China if deployed along Japan's nearby southwest Okinawa island chain.

Japan has already ordered air-launched missiles, including the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) made by Norway's Kongsberg, and Lockheed Martin Corp's Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-Off Missile (JASSM) with a range of up to 1,000 km (620 miles).

Unlike with ship or ground-based launchers, however, the number it can fire is limited by how many planes it can put in the air to fire them.

The ministry asked for a 3.6% increase in spending to 5.6 trillion yen ($39.78 billion) for the year starting on April 1, but said the figure would rise after it calculated the cost of new procurement programmes.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government will approve that increased request at the end of the year when it will also unveil a major defence strategy overhaul and new midterm military buildup plan.

Kishida, who has described security in East Asia as "fragile" after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has promised to "substantially" increase defence outlays to prepare Japan for regional conflict.

His ruling Liberal Democratic Party in its upper house election manifesto in July promised to double defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product over five years.

That would make Japan the world's third biggest military spender behind major ally the United States, and neighbouring China.

In addition to increasing stockpile of missiles and other munitions, Japan's military wants to develop its cyber defences, electromagnetic warfare capabilities and space presence.

(Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Translation

東京（路透社）- 日本週三表示，因為它正去尋求可打擊更遠距離目標的能力, 它將開發和大規模生產巡航導彈和高速彈道導彈，作為軍事擴張的一 部分, 旨在應對來自中國和俄羅斯的威脅。

防衛省年度預算申請中所公佈的採購計劃, 明顯背離了對日本憲法約束的自衛隊長達數十年的射程限制，這意味著他們能部署射程達幾百公里的導彈。

該省在其預算請求中表示: “中國繼續威脅使用武力去單方面改變現狀，並正在深化與俄羅斯的聯盟” 。

它說: “中國還通過所謂軍事演習在台灣周圍施加壓力，並且沒有放棄使用武力作為一種方式,將台灣與中國統一起來”。

在美國眾議院議長佩洛西訪問台灣後，中國向距離日本不到 160 公里（100 英里）的水域發射了五枚彈道導彈，以顯示武力，令日本對中國在地區野心的擔憂加劇。

該省還提到北朝鮮是對日本的威脅。

預算請求是提供資金, 為大規模生產陸基巡航導彈、即是三菱重工設計的並已在使用的 12 型導彈的增程版本, 以打擊艦船, 及能夠擊中地面目標的新型高速滑翔彈道導彈。

該省還在尋求資金來開發其他發射体，包括高超音速彈頭。

該省沒有給出建議武器的射程，也沒有說明計劃部署多少，但如果部署在日本附近的沖繩西南島鏈沿線，它們很可能能夠射到中國大陸的目標。

日本已經訂購了空射導彈，包括挪威Kongsberg聯合攻擊導彈（JSM）和Lockheed Martin Corp's的聯合空對地防區外導彈（JASSM），射程可達 1,000 公里（620 英里） 。

然而，它與艦載或陸基發射器不同的是，它可以發射的數量, 是受到有多少架飛機可以在空中發射的限制。

該省要求從 4 月 1 日開始的年度支出增加 3.6%，至 5.6 萬億日元（397.8 億美元），但表示在計算新採購計劃的成本後，這一數字將上升。

岸田文雄首相的政府將在年底批准這一增加的要求，屆時還將公佈一項重大的國防戰略改革和新的中期軍事建設計劃。

在俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭後，岸田曾將東亞的安全描述為 “脆弱” ，並承諾 “大幅” 增加國防開支，為日本應對地區衝突做好準備。

他的執政黨自民黨在 7 月份的上議院選舉宣言中承諾在五年內將國防開支翻一番，達到國內生產總值的 2%。

這將使日本成為僅次於主要盟友美國和鄰國中國的世界第三大軍費開支國。

除了增加導彈和其他彈藥的庫存外，日本軍方還希望發展其網絡防禦、電磁戰能力和太空參与。

       So, Japan will develop and mass produce missiles so as to seek the ability to strike more distant targets to meet threats from China and Russia. This represents a clear departure from a decades-long range limit imposed on Japan’s Self Defense Forces. It seems that Asia has become more dangerous and war cloud is gathering there.

面對擔憂中國, 日本與菲律賓加強安全關係

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Japan, Philippines to step up security ties amid China worry

MARI YAMAGUCHI

Thu, April 7, 2022, 8:42 AM

TOKYO (AP) — The defense ministers of Japan and the Philippines agreed Thursday to bolster security cooperation and expand joint drills between their forces as they shared concerns about China’s increasingly assertive military actions in the region.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and his Philippine counterpart, Delfin Lorenzana, also shared concern about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its impact in the Indo-Pacific, and noted that any attempts to change the status quo by force is unacceptable, Japan's Defense Ministry said in a statement that avoided identifying China by name.

Japan has significantly expanded joint drills with the United States and other partners, including Australia, India, France, Britain and Germany, that share its concerns about China’s assertion of its territorial claims in the region, which has some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

Japan is especially concerned about Chinese military and coast guard activity in the East China Sea near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls Diaoyu.

On Thursday, Japan's Defense Ministry said it spotted a Chinese Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft flying over the Sakishima islands, although it did not violate Japanese airspace.

Kishi and Lorenzana also agreed to increase cooperation in defense equipment and technology transfer between the two countries. Tokyo and Manila agreed in 2020 on the Japanese export of air radar systems to the Philippine military.

For Japan, the Philippines is geopolitically important as China increases its influence in the region.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have been locked in an increasingly tense territorial standoff in the busy waterway for decades.

The defense ministers will be joined by foreign ministers from each country on Saturday for the first “two plus two” security talks between the two countries.

Translation

東京（美聯社）- 日本和菲律賓國防部長周四同意加強安全合作並擴大雙方部隊之間的聯合演習，因為他們對中國在該地區日益強硬的軍事行動表示擔憂。

日本防衛大臣岸信夫和菲律賓防長 Delfin Lorenzana 也對俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭及其對印太地區的影響表示擔憂，日本防衛大臣在一份避免點名中國的聲明指出, 任何以武力改變現狀的企圖都是不可接受的。

日本大幅擴大了與美國和包括澳大利亞、印度、法國、英國和德國在內的其他夥伴的聯合演習，這些夥伴與中國在該地區主張其領土主張一樣感到擔憂，該地區擁有世界上最繁忙的一些海上航道。

日本特別關注中國在日本控制的尖閣諸島附近東海的軍事和海岸警衛隊活動，中國也聲稱擁有尖閣諸島並稱它為釣魚島。

週四，日本防衛省表示，它發現了一架中國 Y-9 電子戰飛機飛越先島群島群島，儘管它沒有侵犯日本領空。

岸信夫和Lorenzana還同意加强两國在國防裝備和技術轉讓方面的合作。東京和馬尼拉於 2020 年同意日本向菲律賓軍方出口空中雷達系統。

對日本而言，隨著中國在該地區影響力的增強，菲律賓在地緣政治上具有重要意義。

幾十年來，中國、菲律賓、越南、台灣、馬來西亞和文萊,在對繁忙的航道涉及的領土擁有,陷入了日益緊張對峙。

週六，兩國國防部長將與該國外交部長一起參加兩國之間的首次“二加二”安全會談。

So,  Japan and the Philippines will bolster security cooperation and expand joint military drills as they share concerns about China’s increasingly assertive military actions in the region.

澳大利亞與日本簽署防務協議，因為對中國的擔憂上升

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Australia, Japan Sign Defense Pact as China Concerns Loom

6 Jan 2022

Associated Press | By Haruka Nuga and Steve McMorran

SYDNEY — The leaders of Japan and Australia signed a “landmark” defense agreement Thursday that allows closer cooperation between their militaries and stands as a rebuke to China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in a virtual summit to sign the Reciprocal Access Agreement, the first such defense pact signed by Japan with any country other than the United States.

The agreement follows more than a year of talks between Japan and Australia aimed at breaking down legal barriers to allow the troops of one country to enter the other for training and other purposes.

“Japan is our closest partner in Asia as demonstrated by our special strategic partnership — Australia’s only such partnership,” Morrison said. “An equal partnership, shared trust between two great democracies committed to the rule of law, human rights, free trade and a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Kishida hailed the agreement as “a landmark instrument which will elevate security cooperation between the nations to new heights.”

While China wasn’t mentioned, its significance at the signing was implicit.

Japan’s ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, said that “in light of the deteriorating security environment, what Japan and Australia can do together is first of all to increase deterrence.”

Morrison said the agreement “will form an important part of Australia and Japan’s response to the uncertainty we now face and will underpin greater and more complex engagement in operability between the Australia Defense Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces.”

He called the pact a "pivotal moment for Australia and Japan and (for) the security of our two nations and our people.”

Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the agreement recognized the importance of establishing firm defense partnerships to deter an increasingly aggressive China.

“Japan is breaking away from its post-war constitutional constraints on the use of military force because Tokyo recognizes the challenges it is facing from China,” he told Sky News. “There is a territorial dispute between China and Japan ... and more significantly there is a growing concern China will make a move over Taiwan in the next few years.”

The pact builds on the strategic dialogue known as “the Quad,” which includes Japan, Australia, the United States and India. Australia last year also signed the AUKUS agreement with the United States and Britain, both of which have pledged to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Translation

悉尼 - 週四，日本和澳大利亞領導人簽署了一項“具有里程碑意義的”防務協議，該協議允許兩國軍隊之間進行更密切的合作，這是對中國在印太地區日益增強的獨斷行為的訓誡。

澳大利亞總理斯科特·莫里森和日本首相岸田文雄在虛擬峰會上會面，簽署了互惠准入協議，這是日本與美國以外的任何國家簽署的第一個此類防務協議。

該協議是在日本和澳大利亞進行了一年多的談判之後達成的，旨在打破法律障礙，允許一個國家的軍隊進入另一個國家進行訓練和其他目的。

莫里森說: “日本是我們在亞洲最親密的伙伴, 正如我們的特殊戰略夥伴關係所證明 - 澳大利亞是唯一的這樣的伙伴”; “有著平等夥伴關係的兩個共同信任致力於法治、人權、自由貿易和自由開放的印太地區的偉大民主國家” 。

岸田稱該協議是“具有里程碑意義的,將兩國安全合作提升到新高度的文書”。

雖然沒有提到中國，但它在簽署時的意義是隱含的。

日本駐澳大利亞大使Shingo Yamagami表示， “鑑於安全環境不斷惡化，日本和澳大利亞可以共同做的事是首先增加威懾力” 。

莫里森表示，該協議 “將成為澳大利亞和日本應對我們現在面臨的不確定性的重要組成部分，並將支持澳大利亞國防軍和日本自衛隊在可操作性方面進行更廣泛、更複雜的接觸。”

他稱該協議是“澳大利亞和日本的一個關鍵時刻,亦是對我們兩國和其人民的安全(而言)”。

澳大利亞戰略政策研究所的高級分析師 Malcolm Davis 表示，該協議承認建立牢固的國防夥伴關係以阻止日益咄咄逼人的中國的重要性。

他告訴天空新聞(Sky News),“日本正在擺脫戰後憲法對使用武力的限制，因為東京認識到它面臨來自中國的挑戰” ;  “中國和日本之間存在領土爭端……更重要的是，人們越來越擔心中國將在未來幾年內對台灣採取行動。”

該協議建立在被稱為 “the Quad” 的戰略對話之上，其中包括日本、澳大利亞、美國和印度。澳大利亞去年還與美國和英國簽署了AUKUS協議，兩國都承諾幫助澳大利亞獲得核動力潛艇。

So, the leaders of Japan and Australia have signed a “landmark” defense agreement as a rebuke to China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. In the past year Australia has become more active in dealing with China.

日美擬定應對台灣緊急情況的計劃 - 共同社

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Japan, U.S. draw up plan for any Taiwan emergency -Kyodo

Thu, December 23, 2021, 3:29 AM

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese and U.S. armed forces have drawn up a draft plan for a joint operation for a possible Taiwan emergency, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Thursday, citing unnamed Japanese government sources, amid increased tensions between the island and China.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own "sacred" territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claims, fuelling anger in Taipei and deep concern in Washington.

Taiwan's government says it wants peace, but will defend itself if needed.

Under the plan, the U.S. Marine Corps will set up temporary bases on the Nansei island chain stretching from Kyushu, one of the four main islands of Japan, to Taiwan, at the initial stage of a Taiwan emergency, and will deploy troops, Kyodo said.

Japanese armed forces will provide logistical support in such areas as ammunition and fuel supplies, it said.

Japan, former colonial ruler of Taiwan, and the United States would likely reach an agreement to start formulating an official plan at a "2+2" meeting of foreign and defense ministers early next year, the news agency said.

Japanese defense ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

In October, Japan's government signaled a more assertive position on China's aggressive posture towards self-ruled Taiwan, suggesting it would consider options and prepare for "various scenarios", while reaffirming close U.S. ties.

Earlier this month, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan.

U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have long said that given the tens of thousands of troops the U.S. has in Japan and its proximity to Taiwan, Japan would likely have to play an important role in any Taiwan emergency.

Japan is host to major U.S. military bases, including on the southern island of Okinawa, a short flight from Taiwan, which would be crucial for any U.S. support during a Chinese attack.

China views democratic Taiwan as a wayward province, awaiting the day the island can be brought under its control - peacefully or militarily - with no right to state-to-state relations.

The United States, like most countries in the world, recognizes China over Taiwan, in line with Beijing's "one China" policy. But Washington is the island's biggest arms supplier and ally and is obliged by law to help it defend itself.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Alison Williams, Nick Macfie and Dan Grebler)

Translation

東京（路透社）- 在台灣與中國之間的緊張局勢加在加劇之際, 日本共同社週四援引未具名的日本政府消息人士的話稱，日本和美國武裝部隊已經制定了一項聯合行動計劃草案，以應對可能出現的台灣緊急情況。

中國聲稱由民主方式治理的台灣是自己的“神聖”領土，並在過去兩年加大了軍事和外交壓力，以維護其聲稱的主權主張，激起台北的憤怒和華盛頓的深切關注。

台灣政府表示，它想要和平，但在必要時會自衛。

共同社稱，根據該計劃，美國海軍陸戰隊將在台灣緊急狀態初期，在從日本四大島嶼之一的九州到台灣的南西島鏈上設立臨時基地，並將部署軍隊。

它說, 日本武裝部隊將在彈藥和燃料供應等領域提供後勤支持。

該通訊社稱，台灣前殖民統治者日本和美國可能會在明年初舉行的“2+2”外長和防長會議上達成協議，開始製定官方計劃。

現無法立即聯繫到日本防衛省官員發表評論。

在 10 月，日本政府對中國向自治台灣的侵略姿態表明了更自信的立場，暗示它將考慮各種選擇並為“各種情況”做好準備，同時重申與美國的密切關係。

本月早些時候，日本前首相安倍晉三表示，如果中國襲擊台灣，日本和美國不能袖手旁觀。

不願透露姓名的美國官員長期以來一直表示，鑑於美國在日本擁有數万名士兵，而且靠近台灣，日本可能不得不在任何台灣緊急情況中發揮重要作用。

日本是美國主要軍事基地的所在地，包括位於南部島嶼沖繩島，距離台灣只有很短的航程，這對中國發動襲擊期間, 給美國提供任何支持都至關重要。

中國將民主的台灣視為一個任性的省份, 它無權建立國家間的關係, 並等待和平或地軍事地控制該島的那一天 。

與世界上大多數國家一樣，美國在台灣承認中國，符合北京的“一個中國”政策。但華盛頓是島上最大的武器供應商和盟友，法律有義務幫助它自衛。

       So, Japanese and U.S. armed forces have drawn up a draft plan for a joint operation for a possible Taiwan emergency. Under the plan, the U.S. Marine Corps will set up temporary bases on the Nansei island chain stretching from Kyushu to Taiwan at the initial stage of a Taiwan emergency.