Japan estimates that it will need around 1,000 long-range standoff missiles in addition to its stockpile of anti-ballistic missiles as a defense against China s increasing military capabilities, government sources say
The governments of Japan and China are arranging high-level security talks in China, sources close to the matter say, with the two sides seeking to avoid further deterioration of ties following Beijing s major military exercises held near Taiwan earlier this month.
With Russia s war on Ukraine setting alarm bells ringing in Japan about an assertive China, the defense budget has become one of the key issues in the House of Councillors election on July 10.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida suggests he is positive toward a significant increase in spending on defense research and development after a group of his ruling party proposes that the government secure 1 trillion yen ($7.4 billion) within five years for that purpose.
The defense ministers of Japan and China hold talks in Singapore, with their discussions expected to include Taiwan and Chinese vessels intrusions into waters near the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands.