Japan Rearming Massively To Face Aggressive China Threat

THURSDAY PDB – Japan has become America's indispensable ally in the Pacific. G7 leaders meet in Japan as China's aggression pushes Tokyo past pacifism. 

Friday's summit will see the world's biggest economic powers grapple with China's huge military buildup in the Pacific.

America's biggest ally in the region has committed to doubling its national defense budget, a major departure from more than 75 years of ‘pacifist' foreign policy.

Doubling its spending will give Japan the third-highest national defense budget in the world, and it will see billions of dollars flow to U.S. companies for weapons like Tomahawk missiles and F-35 fighter jets.

Japan can't pass the buck anymore. Ever since World War II ended, Japan has been passing the buck.

“Now people understand how serious it is,” said international political scholar Narushige Michishita, adding that the “potentially controversial shift in Japan's defense policy has so far been largely accepted by the Japanese public.”

Meanwhile, As the U.S. Attends the G7 In Japan, China Hosts a Summit of Its Own. Xi Jinping of China is meeting with leaders of five countries in Central Asia, a region crucial to his geopolitical ambitions.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of today's other top defense stories from national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

NATIONAL SECURITY

From Ukraine war to China's rising power: 5 reasons this G7 matters. This year's G7 meeting in Japan holds special significance, not only for its location.

HOMELAND SECURITY

SENDING THEM TO DO WHAT? – These Marine units are deploying to the southern border. Approximately 550 Marines from bases in California and North Carolina are heading to the southern border amid the end of Trump-era immigration restrictions.

Leak suspect was warned about classified docs, prosecutors say. Justice Department lawyers made the disclosure in a filing urging a magistrate judge to keep Jack Teixeira behind bars while he awaits trial.

State Department worries about cyber vulnerabilities amid debt debate. The department wants to spend nearly $1 billion on cybersecurity in 2024 to improve networks and communications devices.

WHAT A JOKE – HE “WANDERED” THROUGH THE BUILDING AND PLED GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR “ILLEGALLY PARADING” – SERIOUSLY? – Marine is first active-duty military member convicted in Jan. 6 riot. Micah Coomer is one of five active-duty military members charged with “entering” the Capitol. Four are Marines.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 449. Ukraine denied a Russian claim that a US-made Patriot defense system was destroyed, while U.S. officials said the equipment was probably damaged but not knocked out.

Russia launches ninth wave of missile attacks on Kyiv this month. Ukraine's capital has been pounded by waves of air attacks.

STILL NEED PROOF – Downing of Russian missiles shows ‘profound effect' of Ukrainians training on US systems. Ukraine's destruction Tuesday of six of Russia's vaunted Kinzhal missiles is most impressive not as proof that the US-made Patriot anti-missile system's technology works, but because US-trained Ukrainian troops brought down the missiles, the head of US Army Pacific said.

Pressure campaign on Biden to send F-16s to Ukraine goes into overdrive. Officials signal they're still open to allowing other countries to send their U.S.-made jets.

NATO contractor accused of smuggling quantum computing and other advanced technology to Russia. The contractor has been arrested under suspicion he helped Russia obtain advanced military technologies, the U.S. Justice Department said.

IRAN THREAT

PREPARING TO STRIKE? OR SENDING MESSAGE? – US proposed conducting joint military planning with Israel on Iran. Team Biden proposed to Israel a few weeks ago the idea of engaging in joint military planning concerning Iran.

SPACE THREAT

Space Force official: Lack of communication with China increases risk of mishaps in orbit. Lt. Gen. Burt: U.S. issues potential collision warnings to the Chinese space station and ‘we get no response.'

US will use AI to track orbiting objects, Space Command says. The four-year-old command is set to reach full operating capacity this year—but will it stay in Colorado?

USAF looks to fill intelligence gaps from space. As the Air Force plans to retire many of its aging intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft in coming years, it is looking to the Space Force and Intelligence Community to fill potential gaps and gain persistent coverage around the globe.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Pentagon seeks authority to transfer nuclear submarines to Australia. It asked Congress to authorize the transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement with the U.K.

4 killed in attack on convoy carrying US officials in Nigeria. “We condemn in the strongest terms this attack,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

PART OF WORRISOME GLOBAL TREND – Defense journalist arrested in India. Indian authorities have arrested Vivek Raghuvanshi, a longtime correspondent for Defense News, and accused him of espionage.

US MILITARY

Why the drinking water got tainted on the carriers Nimitz and Lincoln. The two carriers were dealing with water quality issues for longer than the Navy previously acknowledged.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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