The U.S. government has approved the potential sale to Japan of air-to-surface missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $104 million, the State Department says.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military begin a large-scale joint exercise mainly in and around Japan s southwestern islands, in an effort to boost their operational capability in those areas, with China s intensifying military activities in mind.
GOTEMBA, Japan (AP) — Japanese and U.S. Marines had their first airborne landing and combat training together on Tuesday near Mt. Fuji as the two allies strengthen military cooperation amid
Japan s annual budget for hosting U.S. military forces is likely to exceed 210 billion yen ($1.9 billion) from fiscal 2022, government sources said on Dec. 7.
Mayor opposed to U.S. military drill site on Japan island wins re-election
A local mayor in southwestern Japan, who is opposed to having an island his city oversees become a site for U.S. military drills, won re-election on Sunday.
Shunsuke Yaita, the 67-year-old incumbent for Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, beat Kiyonobu Fukui, who was backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. His victory could impact the central government s plan to allow the uninhibited Mage Island to be used for U.S. military plane takeoff and landing exercises.
Shunsuke Yaita talks to supporters after winning re-election as mayor of Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Jan. 31, 2021. (Kyodo)