The following is the English summary of the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Programs and Budget of Japan. Read More
Category Archives: China
Carrier USS Nimitz Visits South Korea Amidst North Korean, Russian Missile Tests
USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG-73) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) steam in formation on March 23, 2023. US Navy Photo
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group docked at the port of Busan, South Korea on Tuesday to mark the 70th Anniversary of the U.S-South Korea alliance ahead of more trilateral drills with the Republic of Korea Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Read More
AUKUS Success Will Depend on Long-term Political Will, Says Regional Expert
President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Surnak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speak at the AUKUS bilateral meeting in San Diego, Calif, March 13, 2023. DoD Photo
As new details emerge about the AUKUS technology-sharing agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, a regional expert says the deal’s success requires both flexibility and sustained political support in all three countries. Read More
China Protests U.S. South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operation
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, March 24. Milius is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. US Navy Photo
A U.S. warship conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, near the Parcel Islands, the day after China claimed it chased away the ship from its territorial waters, U.S. 7th Fleet announced Friday. Read More
Makin Island ARG Docks in Busan, 3 LCS Now Underway in Indo-PACOM
USS Makin Island (LHD-8) conducts a photo exercise and replenishment-at-sea with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93), March 15, 2023. US Navy Photo
The Makin Island Amphibious Group (ARG) docked at the port of Busan in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as part of their participation in the U.S.-ROK Exercise Ssangyong this week. Read More
U.S. 7th Fleet Denies Destroyer was Expelled from South China Sea Island Chain
Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG-69) steams alongside the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) during an underway replenishment while operating in the Philippine Sea, March 16. US Navy Photo
VA - This post has been updated to indicate USS Milius had not been conducting a freedom of navigation operation at the time of the incident.
The Navy denied that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile illegally entered China’s maritime territory and was chased off by People’s Liberation Army forces, contradicting claims by China’s Southern Theatre Command. Read More
U.S. Needs Air Superiority, Ship-Killing Weapons to Defend Taiwan, Pacific Air Forces Commander Says
Soldiers from a M110A2 self-propelled artillery squad from the Republic of China (Taiwan) Army. CNA Photo
The ability to sink Chinese warships armed with surface-to-air missiles is critical to defending Taiwan, the Air Force’s top officer for the Pacific said Tuesday. Read More
SECNAV, CNO Pushing Plans to Decommission 11 Warships in Fiscal Year 2024
USS Vicksburg (CG-69) getting repaired at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Va., on April 8, 2022. Christopher P. Cavas Photo used with permission
THE PENTAGON – After unveiling a budget that wants to decommission 11 warships next year, Navy officials are appealing to the public to allow the service to move ahead with their proposal. Read More
U.S. Bombers Drill with Japanese, South Korean Fighters After North Korean Missile Launches
Japanese sailors aboard JS Atago (DDG-177) drill with US Navy destroyers. JMSDF Photo
U.S. forces conducted separate presence drills with South Korea and Japan over the last several days in response to multiple North Korean ballistic missile launches. Read More
Japan Faces Readiness Hurdle As it Modernizes Military, Former Defense Chief Says
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47 Chinook, lands on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) during a bilateral simulated casualty pick up in the Philippine Sea, March 10, 2023. U.S. Marine Corps Photo
Japan’s toughest hurdle, as it launches an unprecedented military modernization program and doubles defense spending, is the operational readiness of its air, naval and land forces, a former chief of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said Thursday. Read More
