{"id":2557,"date":"2025-05-02T08:59:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T23:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/?page_id=2557"},"modified":"2025-05-29T04:24:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T19:24:42","slug":"vol-20-april-30-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-20-april-30-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Vol. 20, April 30, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"l-post-content\">\n<style>\nbody {\n    width: 100%;\n    height: 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n}\nh1, h2, h3, h4, th, td, p, div {\n    font-family: \"Helvetica\", sans-serif;\n}\ntable tr, table th, table td {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n    font-weight: normal;\n}\n.c-table, .l-post-content table, #tinymce.post-type-post table, #tinymce.post-type-page table, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table, #tinymce.post-type-research table, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n}\n.c-table > thead > tr > th, .l-post-content table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-post table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-page table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-research table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > thead > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > thead > tr > th, .c-table > tbody > tr > th, .l-post-content table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-post table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-page table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-research table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > tbody > tr > th, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > tbody > tr > th, .c-table > tbody > tr > td, .l-post-content table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-post table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-page table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-symposium table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-rips_eye table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-activity_report table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-monthly_seminar table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-corporate_seminar table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-research table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-president_column table > tbody > tr > td, #tinymce.post-type-tinymcetemplates table > tbody > tr > td {\n    border: none;\n    padding: 0;\n    margin: 0;\n}\nhr, .hr {\n    border: none;\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;\n    margin-left: 0;\n    margin-right: 0;\n    max-width: none;\n    margin-top: 10px;\n    margin-bottom: 10px;\n}\ncenter {\n    word-break: break-all;\n}\ncenter .table-base {\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    : 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    width: 100%;\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n}\ncenter .table-inner {\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    border: 0;\n    width: 100%;\n    max-width: 600px;\n}\ncenter img {\n    max-: 240px;\n    width: auto;\n}\ncenter ul {\n    display: block;\n}\ncenter li {\n    display: block;\n}\n.table-box {\n    width: 100%;\n    overflow-x: auto;<\/p>\n<p>}\n.table-box table {\n    width: 100%;\n    display: block;\n}\nol li {\nlist-style: decimal;\n}\n<\/style>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"max-width: 450.0pt; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ffffff;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm; background: cover no-repeat #ffffff;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\" style=\"width: 100.0%; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm; min-width: 100%;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" width=\"100%\" style=\"width: 100.0%; background: white; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;\">\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt; min-width: 100%;\">\n<h1 align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center; line-: 25.2pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18.0pt; color: #202020;\">Vol.20. April 30, 2025<\/span><\/h1>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 18.0pt;\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt; min-width: 100%;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Monthly Column<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">White Hulls, Gray Intentions: <br \/>\n    China&#8217;s Coast Guard Institutionalization <br \/>\n    and the Contest for the Senkakus<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Kentaro Furuya<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align:center;\"> <span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;color:black\">Professor, GRIPS, Keio, and JCG Academy<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size:16.0pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past decade, the Senkaku Islands have emerged as a significant flashpoint in Japan-China relations. The islands have been peacefully under Japanese sovereignty since 1895,when these islands were incorporated into Japan. After World War II, they were temporarily under the US administration as part of Okinawa and then returned to the Japanese administration in 1972.(*1) Recently, the islands have become crucial to regional security due to their strategic location, potential hydrocarbon reserves, and symbolic significance in nationalist narratives in East Asia.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2012, the Japanese government transferred the ownership of the three islands from private owners to the government. This transfer provoked strong reactions from China. By developing the world&#8217;s largest coast guard and establishing the 2021 Coast Guard Law, the Chinese government has created a mechanism for maintaining a persistent presence in disputed waters while avoiding the escalatory risks associated with naval deployments. This transformation exemplifies China&#8217;s broader &quot;gray zone&quot; strategy\u2014employing coercive actions below the threshold of armed attack to alter the status quo gradually.(*2) The paper analyzes how this approach has prompted specific countermeasures from Japan and its international partners, with implications for crisis management and regional security architecture.\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Historical Context and Institutional Evolution<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prior to 2013, China&#8217;s maritime law enforcement capabilities were fragmented across five separate agencies\u2014China Marine Surveillance, Maritime Safety Administration, Fisheries Law Enforcement Command, China Customs, and Maritime Border Police\u2014each with distinct jurisdictions, command structures, and priorities, leading to inefficiencies and coordination issues. The fragmentation of operations regarding the Senkaku Islands had become issues due to ineffectiveness after Japan transferred ownership of the three islands out of five in 2012, such as CMS vessels patrolling while FLEC escorted fishing boats.(*3)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lack of coordination among agencies resulted in competing assertions of Chinese claims and inconsistent messaging. In March 2013, the Chinese government restructured its maritime agencies, merging four out of five law enforcement bodies into the China Coast Guard (CCG) under the State Oceanic Administration. This change aimed to reduce inefficiencies and competition among agencies and improve maritime law enforcement and rights protection.(*4)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CCG&#8217;s institutional evolution continued in 2018 when it was transferred from civilian control to the People&#8217;s Armed Police under the Central Military Commission, fundamentally shifting its status from civilian law enforcement to a paramilitary organization with direct military command integration. This transformation culminated in the 2021 Coast Guard Law, which explicitly authorizes the use of force against foreign vessels within the waters under China\u2019s jurisdiction and creates a legal framework for potentially escalatory behavior.(*5)\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Capability Transformation and Operational Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dramatic expansion in its capabilities has accompanied the CCG&#8217;s institutional consolidation. From approximately 51 large ocean-going cutters in 2012, the fleet expanded to 159 vessels by 2023, more than double the number of Japanese Coast Guard assets.(*6) This growth includes commissioning 12,000-ton class vessels\u2014larger than many naval destroyers\u2014equipped with 76mm cannons and helicopter facilities, effectively blurring traditional distinctions between Coast Guard and naval assets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This capability transformation has directly impacted operations around the Senkaku Islands. The pre-2013 pattern of occasional, sporadic intrusions has been replaced by near-continuous presence in the contiguous zone and increasingly frequent intrusions into the territorial waters. Japan Coast Guard data indicates a significant increase in the presence in the Japanese contiguous zones as well as the frequency and duration of these intrusions into the territorial sea by harassing Japanese fishery fleets,(*7) fundamentally altering the decades-old status quo.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the actual force has not yet been used in confrontations near the Senkakus, the armed CCG&#8217;s expanded presence has elevated escalation risks through three mechanisms: increased opportunities for unplanned encounters in the waters, military command integration complicating crisis management channels, and the Coast Guard Law&#8217;s explicit authorization of force under broadly defined circumstances.\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Japan&#8217;s Responsive Measures<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan has implemented a multi-faceted response to China&#8217;s Coast Guard transformation, evolving from reactive measures in 2012-2015 to a more comprehensive strategy since 2016. Key components include:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Capacity Enhancement<\/strong>: Japan has systematically expanded its Coast Guard capabilities through annual budget increases, establishing the fleets dedicated to Senkaku Guard and Security operations in February 2016.(*8) The annual Ministerial Meeting to enhance the capability of JCG has been held since 2016, aiming at the institutional development of JCG by the whole government.(*9)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alliance Adaptation<\/strong>: Japan-U.S. Security consultations have continuously confirmed the application of Article V of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation And Security Between Japan and the United States of America and increasingly emphasized coast guard cooperation, resulting in joint exercises, intelligence sharing protocols, and coordinated response mechanisms tailored to &#8216;gray zone&#8217; scenarios.(*10)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhanced JCG-JSDF Cooperation<\/strong>: In 2015, the Cabinet decided that in case a foreign warship did not exercise the right of innocent passage within the Jpaan\u2019s territorial sea, an accelerated procedure would be used to mobilize the JSDF assets under the Maritime Security Operation.(*11) In addition, the Control Guideline of JCG by the Minister of Defense was adopted in April 2023, enabling further cooperation between JCG and JSDF in case of an armed attack against Japan.(*12)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These measures collectively demonstrate Japan&#8217;s recognition that effective countermeasures must be able to counter China&#8217;s approach in spanning institutional, legal, operational, and diplomatic domains.\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">China&#8217;s Coast Guard transformation has fundamentally altered security dynamics around the Senkaku Islands. The 2013 consolidation and 2018 military integration created an instrument that effectively blurs the line between law enforcement and military operations, enabling China to maintain a continuous presence in waters around the Islands while avoiding the immediate escalation risks associated with naval deployments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Japan, this &quot;gray zone&quot; challenge has necessitated adaptations across multiple domains, from enhancing the JCG&#8217;s capabilities to alliance management to further cooperation with JSDF. Japan has developed crisis management mechanisms, as the CCG&#8217;s regular operations create continuous tensions that complicate regional security dynamics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CCG institutional transformation demonstrates China&#8217;s strategic preference for incremental approaches to territorial disputes and illustrates how administrative reforms can yield strategic advantages by creating new operational realities. As similar patterns emerge across the Indo-Pacific, Coast Guards have become frontline instruments in regional competition, challenging traditional assumptions about escalation management and maritime security. Understanding these dynamics remains essential for preventing inadvertent escalation in contested waters throughout the region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notes<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan, \u201cSituation of the Senkaku Islands,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/senkaku\/page1we_000010.html\">https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/a_o\/c_m1\/senkaku\/page1we_000010.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Erickson, Andrew S.; Hickey, Joshua; and Holst, Henry (2019) &quot;Surging Second Sea Force: China\u2019s Maritime Law-Enforcement Forces, Capabilities, and Future in the Gray Zone and Beyond,&quot; Naval War College Review, 72(2). <a href=\"https:\/\/digital-commons.usnwc.edu\/nwc-review\/vol72\/iss2\/4\">https:\/\/digital-commons.usnwc.edu\/nwc-review\/vol72\/iss2\/4<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>International Crisis Group, &quot;Dangerous Waters: China-Japan Relations on the Rocks,&quot; Asia Report, No. 245 (April 8, 2013): 12-15, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/asia\/north-east-asia\/china\/dangerous-waters-china-japan-relations-rocks\">https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/asia\/north-east-asia\/china\/dangerous-waters-china-japan-relations-rocks<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Lyle J. Morris, \u201cMilitarizing Coast Guard operations in the maritime gray zone,\u201d in China\u2019s Maritime Gray Zone Operations, eds. Andrew S. Erickson and Ryan D. Martinson. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2019, pp. 77-91.<\/li>\n<li>Kentaro Furuya, \u201cThe China Coast Guard Law and Challenges to the International Order \u2014 Implications for CCG Activity around the Senkaku Islands,\u201d International Information Network Analysis, March 8, 2021, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spf.org\/iina\/en\/articles\/furuya_03.html\">https:\/\/www.spf.org\/iina\/en\/articles\/furuya_03.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Japan Coast Guard, \u201c\u6d77\u4e0a\u4fdd\u5b89\u30ec\u30dd\u30fc\u30c8 (Coast Guard Annual Report) 2024,\u201d May 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/info\/books\/report2024\/html\/honpen\/3_03_chap2.html\">https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/info\/books\/report2024\/html\/honpen\/3_03_chap2.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>ibid.<\/li>\n<li>Japan Coast Guard, \u201c\u6d77\u4e0a\u4fdd\u5b89\u30ec\u30dd\u30fc\u30c8(Coast Guard Annual Report) 2016,\u201d May 2016, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/info\/books\/report2016\/html\/topics\/topics16_02.html\">https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/info\/books\/report2016\/html\/topics\/topics16_02.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, \u201c\u6d77\u4e0a\u4fdd\u5b89\u80fd\u529b\u5f37\u5316\u306b\u95a2\u3059\u308b\u95a2\u4fc2\u95a3\u50da\u4f1a\u8b70 (the Ministerial Conference to enhance the capability of the Japan Coast Guard),\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/jp\/singi\/kaihotaisei\/index.html\">https:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/jp\/singi\/kaihotaisei\/index.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>For example, the US Department of Defense, \u201cJoint Statement of the Security Consultative Committee (&quot;2+2&quot;), \u201d July 28, 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/serve-from-netstorage\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3852169\/joint-statement-of-the-security-consultative-committee-22\/index.html\">https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/serve-from-netstorage\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3852169\/joint-statement-of-the-security-consultative-committee-22\/index.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Cabinet Decision, \u201c\u6211\u304c\u56fd\u306e\u9818\u6d77\u53ca\u3073\u5185\u6c34\u3067\u56fd\u969b\u6cd5\u4e0a\u306e\u7121\u5bb3\u901a\u822a\u306b\u8a72\u5f53\u3057\u306a\u3044\u822a\u884c\u3092\u884c\u3046\u5916\u56fd\u8ecd\u8266\u3078\u306e\u5bfe\u51e6\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066 (the measures against a warship not exercising the right of innocent passage within the Japan\u2019s territorial waters),\u201d May 14, 2015, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cas.go.jp\/jp\/gaiyou\/jimu\/pdf\/gaikokugunkantaisho.pdf\">https:\/\/www.cas.go.jp\/jp\/gaiyou\/jimu\/pdf\/gaikokugunkantaisho.pdf<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>In detail, Kentaro Furuya, \u201cThe Significance of and Issues Regarding the Formulation of the Japan Coast Guard Control Guideline,\u201d Aug. 18, 2023, International Information Network Analysis, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spf.org\/iina\/en\/articles\/furuya_04.html\">https:\/\/www.spf.org\/iina\/en\/articles\/furuya_04.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 6.75pt 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\" style=\"background: white; border-collapse: collapse;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 16.0pt; color: black;\">Statistical Data and Analysis (as of April 30)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 1rem; background: #aeedf1;\">\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 After renewal of exhibits, Japan&#8217;s National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty reopened on April 18.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty is the national exhibition facility to promoting accurate understanding of the facts and Japan\u2019s position with regard to the Northern Territories, Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 The exhibits are designed to attract people of all ages to learn about territory and sovereignty, including exhibits using immersive theater technology and 2D animated images to learn about history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 The traditional panel displays also continue to be set up, and there is a section of archives and databases for specialists and researchers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 It will be noted for its activities as a center for disseminating the facts about the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands and promoting an accurate understanding of Japan&#8217;s position both domestically and internationally.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0;\">\u00a0 For more information<br \/>\n<a style=\"color: #337ab7;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cas.go.jp\/jp\/ryodo_eg\/tenjikan\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.cas.go.jp\/jp\/ryodo_eg\/tenjikan\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746501190188000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P3eBLIuxTm6f46E7XgFpc\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.cas.go.jp\/jp\/<wbr \/>ryodo_eg\/tenjikan\/index.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">[Statistical Data as of April 30]<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" style=\"padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 0mm 13.5pt;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 0mm 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: 30.0pt;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">Japan Coast Guard (JCG) daily updates the statistical data on the number of China Coast Guard vessels entering in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands and intruding into Japanese territorial waters. The below is from the website of JCG.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">(<\/span><\/u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1743466658650000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2lSxpviNsXAJxvF5IjjW2g\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\">https:\/\/www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp\/<wbr \/> mission\/senkaku\/senkaku.html<\/span><\/a><\/span><u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">)<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\"><u><\/u><span style=\"text-decoration: none;\">\u00a0<\/span><u><\/u><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 94%; height: 626px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 106px;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 106px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Apr.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 106px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><a name=\"m_7332603014815507278_m_-1738302690041840738__Hlk190259379\"><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Contiguous zone<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\"> <u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 106px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Territorial<br \/>\nsea<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 106px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Apr.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 106px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Contiguous zone <u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 106px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">Territorial <br \/>\nsea<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">15<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">23<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">16<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">24<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">17<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">25<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">18<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">26<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">27<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">20<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">28<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">4<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 52px;\">\n<td style=\"border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-top: none; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">22<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: black;\">30<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0mm 4.95pt; height: 52px;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><u><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\"><u><\/u><span style=\"text-decoration: none;\">\u00a0<\/span><u><\/u><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><u><\/u>\u00a0<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"100\" valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">Date<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"margin-right: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-left: 12.0pt; text-align: center;\"><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">Topics<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-148\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n  Japan&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;<wbr>Nakatani\u2019s&nbsp;announcement&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;press&nbsp;conference&nbsp;(excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;I&nbsp;understand&nbsp;that&nbsp;a&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;<wbr>was&nbsp;held&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;5&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>celebrate&nbsp;the&nbsp;completion&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">renovation&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ream&nbsp;Naval&nbsp;<wbr>Base&nbsp;in&nbsp;Cambodia.&nbsp;In&nbsp;recent&nbsp;<wbr>years,&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;moves&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>secure&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">bases&nbsp;for&nbsp;its&nbsp;overseas&nbsp;<wbr>activities,&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;ports,&nbsp;<wbr>have&nbsp;become&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;<wbr>prominent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>closely&nbsp;monitoring&nbsp;these&nbsp;<wbr>developments&nbsp;with&nbsp;great&nbsp;<wbr>interest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;And,&nbsp;from&nbsp;April&nbsp;19&nbsp;to&nbsp;22,&nbsp;<wbr>Japan&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;<wbr>Force&nbsp;(JMSDF)&nbsp;vessel, which&nbsp;is<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">currently&nbsp;deployed&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>IMED25&nbsp;(Indo-Pacific&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;Deployment&nbsp;2025),\u201d<wbr>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">is&nbsp;scheduled&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;a&nbsp;port&nbsp;<wbr>call&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ream&nbsp;Naval&nbsp;Base&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;Cambodia. We&nbsp;are&nbsp;aware<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">that&nbsp;this&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;<wbr>time&nbsp;that&nbsp;a&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<wbr>vessel&nbsp;will&nbsp;call&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ream&nbsp;<wbr>Naval&nbsp;Base&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">after&nbsp;its&nbsp;refurbishment.&nbsp;It&nbsp;<wbr>is&nbsp;a&nbsp;symbol&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;friendly&nbsp;<wbr>relationship&nbsp;between&nbsp;our&nbsp;two&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">countries. This&nbsp;port&nbsp;call&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr>indication&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;progress&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;between&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;Cambodia&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;areas&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>security&nbsp;and&nbsp;defense. It&nbsp;will&nbsp;also&nbsp;contribute&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>making this<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">base&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201cmore&nbsp;open&nbsp;port\u201d,&nbsp;<wbr>which&nbsp;is&nbsp;important&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>realization&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201cfree&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>open&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Indo-Pacific\u201d&nbsp;and,&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr>extension,&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;stability&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;peace&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;region, including&nbsp;Japan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;and Self-Defense&nbsp;Forces&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>continue&nbsp;to consider&nbsp;and pursue&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">port&nbsp;calls&nbsp;at&nbsp;every&nbsp;<wbr>opportunity,&nbsp;not&nbsp;only&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>time&nbsp;but&nbsp;also&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;future.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Defense<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/j\/press\/kisha\/2025\/0415a.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/j\/press\/kisha\/2025\/0415a.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bFv9x9Zl1sOjUH94oL6pd\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/j\/press\/<wbr>kisha\/2025\/0415a.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-149\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;15,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  military&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;press&nbsp;<wbr>conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;five&nbsp;underwater&nbsp;<wbr>drones&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">found&nbsp;by&nbsp;fishermen&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>past&nbsp;several&nbsp;years,&nbsp;revealing&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;these&nbsp;drones&nbsp;had&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">capability&nbsp;to&nbsp;collect&nbsp;<wbr>information&nbsp;useful&nbsp;for&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr>underwater&nbsp;warfare. The&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;military<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;spokesman&nbsp;also&nbsp;stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>there&nbsp;was&nbsp;evidence&nbsp;that&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr>least&nbsp;one&nbsp;underwater&nbsp;drone&nbsp;<wbr>had&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">transmitted&nbsp;a&nbsp;signal&nbsp;to&nbsp;China.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;These&nbsp;drones&nbsp;were&nbsp;discovered&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;2022&nbsp;and&nbsp;2024&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>locations&nbsp;&#8220;important&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">strategically&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;defence&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;the&nbsp;security&nbsp;not&nbsp;only&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;country&nbsp;but&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>international&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">maritime&nbsp;navigation&#8221;,&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;military&nbsp;officials&nbsp;<wbr>told&nbsp;reporters&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;briefing&nbsp;<wbr>on&nbsp;Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Their&nbsp;data&nbsp;collection&nbsp;served&nbsp;<wbr>purposes&nbsp;&#8220;beyond&nbsp;navigation&#8221;,&nbsp;<wbr>according&nbsp;to&nbsp;Rear&nbsp;Admiral&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Roy&nbsp;Vincent&nbsp;Trinidad,&nbsp;who&nbsp;<wbr>serves&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;navy&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>spokesman&nbsp;for&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<wbr>issues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">He&nbsp;said&nbsp;the&nbsp;information&nbsp;could&nbsp;<wbr>be&nbsp;used&nbsp;for&nbsp;&#8220;underwater&nbsp;<wbr>warfare&#8221;,&nbsp;detecting&nbsp;threats&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">testing&nbsp;weaponry&nbsp;below&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>surface.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;While&nbsp;declining&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>definitively&nbsp;identify&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>drones&#8217;&nbsp;origin,&nbsp;Rear&nbsp;Admiral\u3000Trinidad&nbsp;noted&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">that&nbsp;several&nbsp;bore&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>markings,&nbsp;while&nbsp;at&nbsp;least&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr>had&nbsp;relayed&nbsp;a&nbsp;signal&nbsp;to&nbsp;China.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">He&nbsp;said&nbsp;&#8220;Based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>technical&nbsp;study&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>forensics&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;SIM&nbsp;card&nbsp;(<wbr>found&nbsp;on&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;five&nbsp;drones),&nbsp;the&nbsp;last&nbsp;<wbr>contact&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;card&nbsp;was&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>mainland&nbsp;China&#8221;.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Embassy&nbsp;did&nbsp;not&nbsp;<wbr>immediately&nbsp;respond&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>requests&nbsp;for&nbsp;comment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">AFP\u3000BB&nbsp;News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.afpbb.com\/articles\/-\/3573242?cx_part=latest\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.afpbb.com\/articles\/-\/3573242?cx_part%3Dlatest&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0d6bNtwsKzJoH6gdGisT0V\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.afpbb.com\/<wbr>articles\/-\/3573242?cx_part=<wbr>latest<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-150\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Chief&nbsp;Cabinet&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n      Yoshimasa&nbsp;Hayashi&nbsp;announced&nbsp;<wbr>at&nbsp;a&nbsp;press&nbsp;conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>April&nbsp;17<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">that&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;has&nbsp;issued&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>navigational&nbsp;alert&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Northern&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Territories,&nbsp;temporarily&nbsp;<wbr>disallowing&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;warships&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;public&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;to&nbsp;sail&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">area&nbsp;from&nbsp;4&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;16&nbsp;<wbr>until&nbsp;midnight&nbsp;on&nbsp;May&nbsp;1.&nbsp;He&nbsp;<wbr>pointed&nbsp;out&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">covered&nbsp;include&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>territorial&nbsp;waters.&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;<wbr>Hayashi&nbsp;explained&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Government&nbsp;protested&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Russian&nbsp;side&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>diplomatic&nbsp;channels,&nbsp;saying,&nbsp;&#8220;<wbr>This&nbsp;is&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">contrary&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;country&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>position&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;unacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;It&nbsp;is&nbsp;believed&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Russian&nbsp;side&nbsp;has&nbsp;an&nbsp;aim&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>assert&nbsp;its&nbsp;territorial&nbsp;rights&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Northern&nbsp;Territories.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250417-D2TFGPM2O5KIJBNF4N5T7HDVTI\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250417-D2TFGPM2O5KIJBNF4N5T7HDVTI\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3TkDoyyFbNDN52N3MJpuy8\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20250417-<wbr>D2TFGPM2O5KIJBNF4N5T7HDVTI\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-151\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"font-size:12px\">Press Release by Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"font-size:12px\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"font-size:12px\">Japan-Australia Vice Ministers\u2019 Meeting<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;16,&nbsp;commencing&nbsp;at&nbsp;5:<wbr>00&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;for&nbsp;approximately&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;a&nbsp;half&nbsp;hours,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Mr.&nbsp;FUNAKOSHI&nbsp;Takehiro,&nbsp;Vice&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;for&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">including&nbsp;a&nbsp;working&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;<wbr>with&nbsp;Her&nbsp;Excellency&nbsp;Ms.&nbsp;Jan&nbsp;<wbr>Adams,&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Trade&nbsp;of&nbsp;Australia,&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>Tokyo.&nbsp;The&nbsp;overview&nbsp;is&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>follows.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">1&nbsp; The&nbsp;two&nbsp;sides&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;that,&nbsp;<wbr>amid&nbsp;further&nbsp;progress&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>bilateral&nbsp;cooperation,&nbsp;the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;\u201cSpecial&nbsp;Strategic&nbsp;<wbr>Partnership\u201d&nbsp;between&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;has&nbsp;become&nbsp;more&nbsp;<wbr>solid&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">than&nbsp;ever&nbsp;and&nbsp;concurred&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>realization&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">a&nbsp;\u201cFree&nbsp;and&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Indo-Pacific\u201d<wbr>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">2&nbsp; The&nbsp;two&nbsp;sides&nbsp;had&nbsp;a&nbsp;candid&nbsp;<wbr>exchange&nbsp;of&nbsp;views&nbsp;on&nbsp;issues&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;region&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;international&nbsp;arena.&nbsp;They&nbsp;<wbr>also&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>commitment&nbsp;to&nbsp;further&nbsp;deepen&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;various&nbsp;areas&nbsp;<wbr>including&nbsp;security,&nbsp;economics,<wbr>&nbsp;and&nbsp;people-to-people&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exchanges,&nbsp;with&nbsp;an&nbsp;eye&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>50th&nbsp;anniversary&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>signing&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Basic&nbsp;Treaty&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Friendship&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cooperation&nbsp;<wbr>next&nbsp;year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01184.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/release\/pressite_000001_01184.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0GfoRks6VwRA0AsZBvCkuD\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/press\/<wbr>release\/pressite_000001_01184.<wbr>html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-152\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;has&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n      Russian&nbsp;Udaloy&nbsp;I&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;564)&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">sailing&nbsp;northeast&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>waters&nbsp;50km&nbsp;west&nbsp;of&nbsp;Rebun-Tou&nbsp;<wbr>Island&nbsp;(Hokkaido)&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">on&nbsp;April&nbsp;16.&nbsp;Then&nbsp;this&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr>sailed&nbsp;east&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;<wbr>Strait.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"150\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZ2JEy6mJGLpb9PJ4-Zm0W8e4BKTioi3vU3sC3un1n98hwue1QqUrrQykUnAbG4RVky1alsyv0X89qD4EeK0Q0zb8s5SxitEV8BM3y426f8nTqDHaZJs5Wgpvn4gWb1rhW-q70=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0011-7767eb8a7b7d.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-153\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"font-size:12px\"><\/span><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228);font-size:12px\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250417_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250417_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1a2QWlEKWLs7NPnZBf1cOr\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250417_01.pdf<\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-154\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;\u201cNational&nbsp;Museum&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Territory&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sovereignty\u201d&nbsp;(<wbr>Chiyoda-ku,&nbsp;Tokyo), the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">government&#8217;s&nbsp;center&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>disseminating&nbsp;information&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>territorial&nbsp;issues,&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>reopen&nbsp;on&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">April&nbsp;18. The&nbsp;museum&nbsp;exhibits&nbsp;materials&nbsp;<wbr>showing&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;<wbr>Territories&nbsp;(Hokkaido),&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Senkaku&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;(Ishigaki&nbsp;<wbr>City,&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture),&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Takeshima&nbsp;(Oki&nbsp;Island&nbsp;<wbr>Town,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Shimane&nbsp;Prefecture)&nbsp;are&nbsp;Japan&#8217;<wbr>s&nbsp;inherent&nbsp;territories.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;renewal&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;museum&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>intended&nbsp;to&nbsp;promote&nbsp;<wbr>understanding&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>situation&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">surrounding&nbsp;the&nbsp;territory&nbsp;<wbr>among&nbsp;a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;range&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>visitors,&nbsp;including&nbsp;young&nbsp;<wbr>people,&nbsp;who&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">have&nbsp;not&nbsp;been&nbsp;frequent&nbsp;<wbr>visitors&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;museum.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>concept&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;museum&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr>changed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">from&nbsp;the&nbsp;traditional&nbsp;\u201creading\u201d<wbr>&nbsp;exhibit&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201chands-on\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>exhibit&nbsp;that&nbsp;utilizes&nbsp;video&nbsp;<wbr>images.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;museum&nbsp;was&nbsp;opened&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>press&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;17,&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>variety&nbsp;of&nbsp;images&nbsp;were&nbsp;shown<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;on&nbsp;large&nbsp;monitors&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>projectors.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;In&nbsp;the&nbsp;\u201cImmersive&nbsp;Theater,\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;centerpiece&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>exhibition,&nbsp;thirteen&nbsp;<wbr>projectors&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">projected&nbsp;CG&nbsp;images&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>landscape&nbsp;of&nbsp;each&nbsp;island&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>five&nbsp;walls,&nbsp;the&nbsp;floor,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">ceiling.&nbsp;The&nbsp;images&nbsp;showed&nbsp;<wbr>creatures&nbsp;that&nbsp;live&nbsp;or&nbsp;once&nbsp;<wbr>lived&nbsp;in&nbsp;each&nbsp;area,&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>killer&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">whales&nbsp;swimming&nbsp;among&nbsp;the&nbsp;ice&nbsp;<wbr>floes&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;<wbr>Territories&nbsp;and&nbsp;albatrosses&nbsp;<wbr>nesting&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">in&nbsp;the&nbsp;cliffs&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;<wbr>Islands.&nbsp;The&nbsp;powerful&nbsp;7-<wbr>minute&nbsp;video&nbsp;footage&nbsp;gives&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;viewer<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;impression&nbsp; of&nbsp;flying&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;islands&nbsp;or&nbsp;<wbr>diving&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;<wbr>ocean.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Senior&nbsp;Coordinator&nbsp;Kohei&nbsp;<wbr>Saito,&nbsp;Office&nbsp;of&nbsp;Policy&nbsp;<wbr>Planning&nbsp;and&nbsp;Coordination&nbsp;on&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Territory&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sovereignty,&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;Cabinet&nbsp;Secretariat,&nbsp;<wbr>said,&nbsp;\u201cI&nbsp;hope&nbsp;people&nbsp;will watch<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;video&nbsp;and&nbsp;learn&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>islands&nbsp;as&nbsp;if&nbsp;they&nbsp;were&nbsp;<wbr>actually&nbsp;there,\u201d&nbsp;and&nbsp;called&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">school&nbsp;trips&nbsp;and&nbsp;social&nbsp;<wbr>studies&nbsp;tours&nbsp;to&nbsp;visit&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>museum,&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;also&nbsp;close&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan\u2019s&nbsp;Diet.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;An&nbsp;extension&nbsp;is&nbsp;scheduled&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>open&nbsp;this&nbsp;summer&nbsp;and&nbsp;fall.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"200\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYA2m3gmttL4f62jXXSqIc6_8GOtySZ_CmteufY8EAiQUlwsJYzzHYHNqbu0Jbfp0JLvPKCB8JHIQBzS-DrTfNl4_PO3zjZSLj0mOy-P6Fb5ZoSbJt-yXksx_sE9NBg_AfRTI4=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0012-94761f0d91ae.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"154\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NaHf9IvSw2hf9gTlNOKJVSalGp1l-947h1XD4Vg_iNyL1de8rDKwUgM4acBgadhbnhpR4DHWkKiXC8u8agVjy-cvpC5iakVMS72Eh_ThHcx_7TT8WIHv6KLhiOM4jncaHm3P0w=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0013-264126436127.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"200\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NbnQ800enoa-aA2r8_-Jk0rA1ijBWAwIo4apnqAuZEdkSuO_7fPQbPOtyDYlexguRkwssTG04mBnZRONqtuO2dsiTUHKI6pn2EIG6UOseLTOpuZvq8KOab4QjJ_BFbnlPrWOZ4=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0014-adeb96e32264.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-155\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250418-5EEJ2EXOPJK33CJD4LS45EFJPA\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250418-5EEJ2EXOPJK33CJD4LS45EFJPA\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3oOjdK560PtBmmMxw0uRAe\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20250418-<wbr>5EEJ2EXOPJK33CJD4LS45EFJPA\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-156\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;national&nbsp;exhibition&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n      facility&nbsp;of&nbsp;materials&nbsp;related&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;Territories,&nbsp;<wbr>Takeshima<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Senkaku&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr>been&nbsp;reopened.&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;Sakai,&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;in&nbsp;charge&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Territorial&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Issues,&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;<wbr>intention&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>dissemination&nbsp;of&nbsp;information&nbsp;<wbr>about&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">position,&nbsp;including&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>attract&nbsp;the&nbsp;younger&nbsp;<wbr>generation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;was&nbsp;held&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>commemorate&nbsp;the&nbsp;reopening&nbsp;of&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>the&nbsp;National&nbsp;Museum&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Territory&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sovereignty\u201d&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>Tokyo&#8217;s&nbsp;Chiyoda&nbsp;Ward,&nbsp;which&nbsp;<wbr>exhibits&nbsp;historical&nbsp;materials&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">related&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;<wbr>Territories,&nbsp;Takeshima&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>Shimane&nbsp;Prefecture,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Senkaku&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Islands&nbsp;in&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;Prefecture.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Sakai&nbsp;said,&nbsp;&#8220;I&nbsp;hope&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;range&nbsp;of&nbsp;people,&nbsp;<wbr>even&nbsp;the&nbsp;younger&nbsp;generation,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">will&nbsp;visit&nbsp;the&nbsp;museum&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr>interest.&nbsp;I&nbsp;hope&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>visitors&nbsp;will&nbsp;deepen&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>understanding&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;territory,&nbsp;<wbr>sovereignty,&nbsp;and&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;<wbr>oceans,&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;they&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>have&nbsp;an&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;think&nbsp;about&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;measures&nbsp;that&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr>should&nbsp;take&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>increasingly&nbsp;severe&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">international&nbsp;environment\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">He&nbsp;emphasized,&nbsp;&#8220;We&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>strive&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;<wbr>information&nbsp;dissemination&nbsp;so&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;an&nbsp;accurate<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">understanding&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>position&nbsp;will&nbsp;spread,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;<wbr>will&nbsp;respond&nbsp;firmly&nbsp;with&nbsp;<wbr>determination<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;defend&nbsp;our&nbsp;territory,&nbsp;<wbr>territorial&nbsp;waters,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>airspace\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;In&nbsp;the&nbsp;renovated&nbsp;museum,&nbsp;<wbr>visitors&nbsp;can experience&nbsp;an&nbsp;immersive&nbsp;<wbr>experience&nbsp;of&nbsp;flying&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">over&nbsp;the&nbsp;islands&nbsp;or&nbsp;diving&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;by&nbsp;making&nbsp;full&nbsp;use&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;video&nbsp;images.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>government<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">is&nbsp;calling&nbsp;for&nbsp;its&nbsp;active&nbsp;use&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;extracurricular&nbsp;classes&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr>schools.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"260\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZc4uMSRFWGuLIcx7AdQ1qvT0GDHCWP1e723rcXkWs0MUgqygJ7KkpP2LYvjJwmoxDdDbk3vYgn-b-d7I0frvZw-tr4oobrKwz4WoswCMv-MG3KYwTNHfCVkA_j6gLbY-XzXug=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0015-2f5ca0fb96f3.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-157\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250418\/k10014783001000.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/html\/20250418\/k10014783001000.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039732000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2B7DrpW6gszgUs7RHkMxPo\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/news\/<wbr>html\/20250418\/k10014783001000.<wbr>html<\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-158\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;18,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;learned&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n      that&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;has&nbsp;notified&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;that&nbsp;it will<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conduct&nbsp;military&nbsp;exercises&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;area&nbsp;of&nbsp;ocean,&nbsp;<wbr>including&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;around Hokkaido,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;has&nbsp;protested&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;side. According&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japanese&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr>Affairs&nbsp;and&nbsp;others,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>designated&nbsp;area&nbsp;for the&nbsp;exercises<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">is&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;area&nbsp;that&nbsp;includes&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;Territories,&nbsp;<wbr>which&nbsp;is&nbsp;unusually wide-ranging<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">in&nbsp;recent&nbsp;years. On&nbsp;April&nbsp;16,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;suspended&nbsp;<wbr>the &#8220;right&nbsp;of&nbsp;innocent&nbsp;passage\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>for all<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;countries,&nbsp;including Japanese&nbsp;vessels, in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Northern<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Territories,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;is&nbsp;becoming&nbsp;<wbr>increasingly&nbsp;alarmed&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr>Russian&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">developments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;<wbr>Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs,&nbsp;<wbr>on&nbsp;April&nbsp;17,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;notified&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;it&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">would&nbsp;conduct&nbsp;shooting&nbsp;<wbr>exercises&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;near&nbsp;<wbr>Hokkaido&nbsp;and&nbsp;including&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Northern&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Territories&nbsp;from&nbsp;that&nbsp;day&nbsp;<wbr>until&nbsp;April&nbsp;22. On&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>diplomatic&nbsp;channels,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<wbr>Affairs&nbsp;lodged&nbsp;a&nbsp;stern&nbsp;<wbr>protest&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;side,<wbr>&nbsp;saying,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&#8220;Russia&#8217;s&nbsp;moves&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;<wbr>its&nbsp;military&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;four&nbsp;<wbr>northern&nbsp;islands,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr>these&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">shooting&nbsp;exercises,&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>incompatible&nbsp;with&nbsp;our&nbsp;country&#8217;<wbr>s&nbsp;position&nbsp;and&nbsp;unacceptable&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;designated&nbsp;area&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>exercises&nbsp;includes&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;<wbr>areas&nbsp;east&nbsp;of&nbsp;Hokkaido,&nbsp;as&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">well&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;sea&nbsp;areas&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Habomai&nbsp;Islands,&nbsp;Kunashiri&nbsp;<wbr>Island,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Shikotan&nbsp;Island.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">A&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government&nbsp;<wbr>official&nbsp;stated,&nbsp;&#8220;Never&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>recent&nbsp;years&nbsp;has&nbsp;such&nbsp;<wbr>proximity&nbsp;to&nbsp;Japan<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;area&nbsp;been&nbsp;<wbr>notified\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;16,&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;notified&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;it&nbsp;would&nbsp;suspend&nbsp;the&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>right&nbsp;of&nbsp;innocent&nbsp;passage\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>for&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessels&nbsp;of&nbsp;other&nbsp;nations&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;waters&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Northern&nbsp;Territories.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>United&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Nations Convention&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Law&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Sea&nbsp;recognizes&nbsp;the&nbsp;\u201cright&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>innocent&nbsp;passage\u201d&nbsp;that&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">allows&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;to&nbsp;navigate&nbsp;<wbr>freely&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>territorial&nbsp;waters&nbsp;of&nbsp;other&nbsp;<wbr>countries&nbsp;as&nbsp;long&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;they&nbsp;do&nbsp;not&nbsp;infringe&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;security&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;coastal&nbsp;<wbr>state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;government<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">protested&nbsp;through&nbsp;diplomatic&nbsp;<wbr>channels,&nbsp;but&nbsp;according&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Affairs,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;side&nbsp;did&nbsp;<wbr>not&nbsp;explain&nbsp;the&nbsp;reason&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;suspension&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;right&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">innocent&nbsp;passage.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile,&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;17,&nbsp;<wbr>Russia&nbsp;protested&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Japanese&nbsp;side&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>diplomatic<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">channels&nbsp;over&nbsp;missile&nbsp;launch&nbsp;<wbr>drills&nbsp;scheduled&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr>conducted&nbsp;by&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Self-<wbr>Defense&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Forces&nbsp;in&nbsp;Hokkaido&nbsp;this&nbsp;June.&nbsp;<wbr>The&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;side&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;<wbr>criticized&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;missile&nbsp;<wbr>drills&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;&#8220;provocative&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>activities. A&nbsp;Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs&nbsp;<wbr>official&nbsp;stated, &#8220;It&nbsp;is&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">unclear&nbsp;how&nbsp;this&nbsp;is&nbsp;related&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;side&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>shooting&nbsp;exercises&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Northern&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Territories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Sankei&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250418-RBSIO27HDFIFZPHDYA54B3MBUU\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/article\/20250418-RBSIO27HDFIFZPHDYA54B3MBUU\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3H1UByhPmLCyhMpLGqj-U0\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.sankei.com\/<wbr>article\/20250418-<wbr>RBSIO27HDFIFZPHDYA54B3MBUU\/<\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-159\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;Staff&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n      ond&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;IL-20&nbsp;ELINT&nbsp;<wbr>flying&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;continent into&nbsp;the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;17.&nbsp;<wbr>This&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;flew&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>area&nbsp;off&nbsp;Okinoshima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(<wbr>Simane&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Prefecture)&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Japan,&nbsp;then&nbsp;turned&nbsp;and&nbsp;flew&nbsp;<wbr>back&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;continent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr>scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;this&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"150\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NbMu7_NI-Kw-rQni9VaMhMtLBI5rN60qyvFXCqTrNHi_MPaunMTdxzK8BuXA2u1p3DAGX0-tebGFzU1hu1ZjSn-pNSlyhsasBj46gDmDrKVg5a4bAoPF51HNVTQjuBrsyUB6Sw=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0016-e9d2da800285.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-160\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250418_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250418_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2rss8g8DljNKfSa0XIt3ae\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250418_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-161\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228);font-size:12px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(51,51,51)\">&nbsp; &nbsp;JMSDF confirmed one Chinese Luyang III class destroyer (hull number 124) sailing<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228);font-size:12px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(51,51,51)\">southwest 40 km northeast of Tsushima Islands (Nagasaki Prefecture) on April 18.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228);font-size:12px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(51,51,51)\">Then JMSDF confirmed this vessel sailing southwest to the East Chaina Sea through the&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228);font-size:12px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(51,51,51)\">Tsushima Strait.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"150\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZe8fU9S54AIC4QsJFqLyDioYF5Hsr8j1a-ZDYZHISksWC1k2oVm6bXczc7JZrekQKzz98m0K_FmX0MS5XsSURF8SzlKHUWmYeuM7iWIor14B-3t-QKaPQG37gQ6ZkL2hZ6HQM=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0002-e269d5eef59c.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-162\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250418_06.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250418_06.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2_K4BYUyEYCvoWytRDIBkM\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250418_06.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-163\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Two&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n        Maritime&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr>have&nbsp;made&nbsp;a&nbsp;port&nbsp;call at&nbsp;a&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">base&nbsp;in&nbsp;Cambodia,&nbsp;which&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr>been&nbsp;expanded&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>financial&nbsp;support.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;minesweeper&nbsp;tender&nbsp;Bungo&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;the&nbsp;minesweeper&nbsp;Etajima&nbsp;<wbr>arrived&nbsp;on&nbsp;Saturday&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">at&nbsp;Ream&nbsp;Naval&nbsp;Base&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>Cambodia&#8217;s&nbsp;southwest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;At&nbsp;a&nbsp;welcome&nbsp;ceremony,&nbsp;<wbr>Captain&nbsp;Amano&nbsp;Shinsuke,&nbsp;<wbr>commander&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;MSDF&#8217;s&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Minesweeper&nbsp;Division&nbsp;3,&nbsp;said&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;visit&nbsp;was&nbsp;enabled&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr>efforts&nbsp;between&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Cambodia&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;promote&nbsp;cooperation. The&nbsp;representative&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Cambodian&nbsp;Navy&nbsp;expressed welcome<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;the&nbsp;MSDF&nbsp;members.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Work&nbsp;to&nbsp;expand&nbsp;Ream&nbsp;Naval&nbsp;<wbr>Base&nbsp;was&nbsp;completed&nbsp;this&nbsp;month&nbsp;<wbr>with&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;from&nbsp;China.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">The&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;minesweepers&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;first&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;ships&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>call&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;base&nbsp;since&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>work&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">was&nbsp;completed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;United&nbsp;States&nbsp;has&nbsp;<wbr>expressed&nbsp;concern&nbsp;that&nbsp;China&nbsp;<wbr>may&nbsp;use&nbsp;the&nbsp;base&nbsp;for&nbsp;military&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">purposes&nbsp;in&nbsp;return&nbsp;for&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr>assistance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Observers&nbsp;say&nbsp;the&nbsp;port&nbsp;call&nbsp;<wbr>appears&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;<wbr>by&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;to&nbsp;step&nbsp;up&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">with&nbsp;Cambodia&nbsp;amid&nbsp;<wbr>intensifying&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;<wbr>activity&nbsp;by&nbsp;Beijing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Cambodia,&nbsp;meanwhile,&nbsp;is&nbsp;seen&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;be&nbsp;aiming&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;balanced&nbsp;<wbr>approach&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;US&nbsp;by&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">accepting&nbsp;the&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr>ally.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK&nbsp;World&nbsp;(English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250419_13\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250419_13\/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1buzr3lvpwve7zqggdmo6o\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr>nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250419_13\/<wbr>index.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-164\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;18,&nbsp;a&nbsp;naval&nbsp;vessel&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n    believed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;landing&nbsp;ship&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Navy&nbsp;was&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">observed&nbsp;staying&nbsp;off&nbsp;Cape&nbsp;<wbr>Nosappu&nbsp;in&nbsp;Nemuro&nbsp;City.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;This&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;vessel,&nbsp;believed&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Navy&nbsp;\u201cRopucha&nbsp;<wbr>I&nbsp;class&nbsp;landing&nbsp;ship,\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">photographed&nbsp;by&nbsp;one&nbsp;viewer&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;Cape&nbsp;Nosafu&nbsp;in&nbsp;Nemuro&nbsp;<wbr>City,&nbsp;Japan. Kunashiri&nbsp;Island&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">can&nbsp;be&nbsp;seen&nbsp;faintly&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>background.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;This&nbsp;image&nbsp;was&nbsp;taken&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>April&nbsp;18&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;direction&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Kunashiri&nbsp;Island,&nbsp;north&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Cape&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Nosappu,&nbsp;and&nbsp;according&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>photographer,&nbsp;a&nbsp;ship&nbsp;believed&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;security&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessel&nbsp;could&nbsp;be&nbsp;seen&nbsp;nearby.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"240\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYR3aYl0rKoYrdc7pqR6Ygc7UFQzIDLYcMk0T9B3mOuKp1yMAkIVP6b5VyvVeFfFZmBtXfO1FAZZMZRigAooJYEi7bZifKx4xerd4DPd6iv5CZ97-AAj0aabJNR_iV2Wr6ZgrA=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0003-2b5c82b33a89.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-165\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">HTB News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.htb.co.jp\/news\/archives_31093.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.htb.co.jp\/news\/archives_31093.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pl9Z1oTgKOP8OOfDSeSK-\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.htb.co.jp\/news\/<wbr>archives_31093.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-166\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  United&nbsp;States&nbsp;have&nbsp;kicked&nbsp;off&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;40th&nbsp;iteration&nbsp;of&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>annual<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&#8220;Balikatan&#8221;&nbsp;joint&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>exercise.&nbsp;The&nbsp;US&nbsp;military&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>set&nbsp;to&nbsp;deploy&nbsp;a&nbsp;cutting-edge&nbsp;<wbr>weapon&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">system&nbsp;at&nbsp;this&nbsp;year&#8217;s&nbsp;drill.&nbsp;<wbr>It&nbsp;comes&nbsp;as&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>Manila&nbsp;and&nbsp;Beijing&nbsp;ratchet&nbsp;up&nbsp;<wbr>over<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">their&nbsp;competing&nbsp;territorial&nbsp;<wbr>claims&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;aggressive&nbsp;<wbr>actions&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">around&nbsp;Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;At&nbsp;Monday&#8217;s&nbsp;opening&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;Camp&nbsp;Aguinaldo,&nbsp;Quezon&nbsp;<wbr>City,&nbsp;Metro&nbsp;Manila,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Gen. Romeo&nbsp;Brawner,&nbsp;chief&nbsp;of&nbsp;staff&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Armed&nbsp;Forces&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines,&nbsp;called&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exercise&nbsp;to&nbsp;&#8220;embody&nbsp;unity&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>strength&nbsp;and&nbsp;herald&nbsp;a&nbsp;promise&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;peace&nbsp;through&nbsp;preparedness.<wbr>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A total&nbsp;of&nbsp;over&nbsp;14,000&nbsp;troops&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>taking&nbsp;part&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;19-day&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exercise, whose&nbsp;name&nbsp;means&nbsp;&#8220;shoulder&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>shoulder&#8221;&nbsp;in&nbsp;Filipino.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Both&nbsp;forces&nbsp;will&nbsp;conduct&nbsp;<wbr>live-fire&nbsp;defense&nbsp;training&nbsp;<wbr>simulating&nbsp;missile&nbsp;attacks along&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippine&nbsp;coast&nbsp;facing&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.&nbsp;They&#8217;ll&nbsp;also&nbsp;<wbr>carry&nbsp;out&nbsp;amphibious&nbsp;landing<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exercises&nbsp;on&nbsp;northern&nbsp;coastal&nbsp;<wbr>areas&nbsp;and&nbsp;outlying&nbsp;islands&nbsp;<wbr>near&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;<wbr>joint&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">operational&nbsp;coordination.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;US&nbsp;side&nbsp;will&nbsp;deploy&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>NMESIS&nbsp;anti-ship&nbsp;missile&nbsp;<wbr>system&nbsp;and&nbsp;unmanned&nbsp;surface&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessels to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>first&nbsp;time&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;joint&nbsp;<wbr>training.&nbsp;The&nbsp;missile&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>range&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;over&nbsp;180&nbsp;kilometers&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>mounted&nbsp;on&nbsp;an&nbsp;unmanned&nbsp;<wbr>vehicle.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;exercise&nbsp;comes&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>administration&nbsp;of&nbsp;US&nbsp;<wbr>President&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;steps&nbsp;<wbr>up&nbsp;its&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">efforts&nbsp;to&nbsp;deter&nbsp;China.&nbsp;On&nbsp;<wbr>his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;<wbr>last&nbsp;month,&nbsp;US&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;<wbr>Secretary&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Pete&nbsp;Hegseth&nbsp;warned&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Indo-Pacific&nbsp;region&nbsp;faces&nbsp;<wbr>increasing&nbsp;pressure from&nbsp;China<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;pledged&nbsp;to&nbsp;establish&nbsp;<wbr>necessary&nbsp;deterrence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK&nbsp;World&nbsp;(English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250421_27\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250421_27\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2p4V94KhAacXTyIwh0O_XW\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr>nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250421_27\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-166\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  United&nbsp;States&nbsp;have&nbsp;kicked&nbsp;off&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;40th&nbsp;iteration&nbsp;of&nbsp;their&nbsp;<wbr>annual<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;&#8220;Balikatan&#8221;&nbsp;joint&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>exercise.&nbsp;The&nbsp;US&nbsp;military&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>set&nbsp;to&nbsp;deploy&nbsp;a&nbsp;cutting-edge&nbsp;<wbr>weapon&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">system&nbsp;at&nbsp;this&nbsp;year&#8217;s&nbsp;drill.&nbsp;<wbr>It&nbsp;comes&nbsp;as&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>Manila&nbsp;and&nbsp;Beijing&nbsp;ratchet&nbsp;up&nbsp;<wbr>over<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">their&nbsp;competing&nbsp;territorial&nbsp;<wbr>claims&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;aggressive&nbsp;<wbr>actions&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">around&nbsp;Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;At&nbsp;Monday&#8217;s&nbsp;opening&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;Camp&nbsp;Aguinaldo,&nbsp;Quezon&nbsp;<wbr>City,&nbsp;Metro&nbsp;Manila,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Gen. Romeo&nbsp;Brawner,&nbsp;chief&nbsp;of&nbsp;staff&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Armed&nbsp;Forces&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines,&nbsp;called&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exercise&nbsp;to&nbsp;&#8220;embody&nbsp;unity&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>strength&nbsp;and&nbsp;herald&nbsp;a&nbsp;promise&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;peace&nbsp;through&nbsp;preparedness.<wbr>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;A total&nbsp;of&nbsp;over&nbsp;14,000&nbsp;troops&nbsp;<wbr>from&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>taking&nbsp;part&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;19-day&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exercise, whose&nbsp;name&nbsp;means&nbsp;&#8220;shoulder&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>shoulder&#8221;&nbsp;in&nbsp;Filipino.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Both&nbsp;forces&nbsp;will&nbsp;conduct&nbsp;<wbr>live-fire&nbsp;defense&nbsp;training&nbsp;<wbr>simulating&nbsp;missile&nbsp;attacks along&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippine&nbsp;coast&nbsp;facing&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.&nbsp;They&#8217;ll&nbsp;also&nbsp;<wbr>carry&nbsp;out&nbsp;amphibious&nbsp;landing<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exercises&nbsp;on&nbsp;northern&nbsp;coastal&nbsp;<wbr>areas&nbsp;and&nbsp;outlying&nbsp;islands&nbsp;<wbr>near&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;<wbr>joint&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">operational&nbsp;coordination.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;US&nbsp;side&nbsp;will&nbsp;deploy&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>NMESIS&nbsp;anti-ship&nbsp;missile&nbsp;<wbr>system&nbsp;and&nbsp;unmanned&nbsp;surface&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessels to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>first&nbsp;time&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;joint&nbsp;<wbr>training.&nbsp;The&nbsp;missile&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>range&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;over&nbsp;180&nbsp;kilometers&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>mounted&nbsp;on&nbsp;an&nbsp;unmanned&nbsp;<wbr>vehicle.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;exercise&nbsp;comes&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>administration&nbsp;of&nbsp;US&nbsp;<wbr>President&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;steps&nbsp;<wbr>up&nbsp;its&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">efforts&nbsp;to&nbsp;deter&nbsp;China.&nbsp;On&nbsp;<wbr>his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;<wbr>last&nbsp;month,&nbsp;US&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;<wbr>Secretary&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Pete&nbsp;Hegseth&nbsp;warned&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Indo-Pacific&nbsp;region&nbsp;faces&nbsp;<wbr>increasing&nbsp;pressure from&nbsp;China<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;pledged&nbsp;to&nbsp;establish&nbsp;<wbr>necessary&nbsp;deterrence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">NHK&nbsp;World&nbsp;(English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250421_27\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250421_27\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2p4V94KhAacXTyIwh0O_XW\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/<wbr>nhkworld\/en\/news\/20250421_27\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/22<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-167\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;has&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Russian&nbsp;Udaloy&nbsp;I&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;564)&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;one&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Russian&nbsp;Ropucha&nbsp;I&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>landing&nbsp;ship&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;066)<wbr>&nbsp;sailing&nbsp;west&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;waters&nbsp;<wbr>70km&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">northeast&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Cape&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;(<wbr>Hokkaido)&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;22.&nbsp;Then&nbsp;<wbr>these&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;west&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Soya&nbsp;Strait.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"150\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZPN1evRuSuRi0zKZpNSk4kWV2To6OckS0AsE84cdWqU9SixJ1p4TbiKjutcCMo6Yu0Igeb-BnYPF4HXrPXSIMJZk_ISFSwQEwSRKbc8av8zQPpmbp2Mz16_SuTBci_qHxe2sk=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0004-e40a0eea68ea.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-168\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250422_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250422_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1rWhXvykNo16jkLkfBabdb\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250422_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-169\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Admiral&nbsp;Kuznetsov&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft&nbsp;carrier&nbsp;Shandong&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;17)&nbsp;and&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;Renhai&nbsp;class&nbsp;<wbr>destroyer&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;106)&nbsp;<wbr>sailing&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">waters&nbsp;790&nbsp;km&nbsp;south&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;(Okinawa&nbsp;<wbr>Prefecture)&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;23.&nbsp;On&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;same&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">day,&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Shandong&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;17)&nbsp;<wbr>making&nbsp;landings&nbsp;and&nbsp;takeoffs&nbsp;<wbr>by&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">fighter&nbsp;aircrafts&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>helicopters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"150\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYKXuYt7P1J5-eJ3pZjleHLQlekcEvB2NkIlRQ4aH_fi4hZsyzy54hC46bq5N-3n-zfKO1eoqc3e5BrhZJaAtsbxISIajYYhsqBC_vusGoDyaJsA_oce_hBAyZQcuJFzT7G6p8=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0005-7b5cfc0e4314.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-170\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250423_02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250423_02.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1HxSlnp7w2f2MoNcw9vkku\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250423_02.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-171\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Eastern&nbsp;Theater&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Command,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>with&nbsp;jurisdiction&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Taiwan&nbsp;area,&nbsp;announced&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>April&nbsp;24&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;<wbr>missile&nbsp;destroyer&nbsp;William&nbsp;P.&nbsp;<wbr>Lawrence&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">passed&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;<wbr>Strait&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;23. The&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;side&nbsp;blamed the&nbsp;U.S.,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">explaining&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;had&nbsp;<wbr>mobilized&nbsp;sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;air&nbsp;forces&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;conducted&nbsp;&#8220;vigilant&nbsp;<wbr>monitoring&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">entire&nbsp;route\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;military&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>currently&nbsp;conducting&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>Balikatan,\u201d&nbsp;an&nbsp;annual&nbsp;joint&nbsp;<wbr>exercise&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;military&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>northern&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>other&nbsp;areas&nbsp;close&nbsp;to&nbsp;Taiwan.&nbsp;<wbr>The&nbsp;Chinese<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">side&nbsp;strongly&nbsp;opposes&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>exercise,&nbsp;saying&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>destroys&nbsp;regional&nbsp;stability\u201d&nbsp;(<wbr>Foreign&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Ministry&nbsp;spokesman).<br \/><b>J<span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">IJI&nbsp;Press&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/article?k=2025042401067&amp;g=int#goog_rewarded\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/article?k%3D2025042401067%26g%3Dint%23goog_rewarded&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1_RlKxSJKlDBWkzLllNhaT\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.jiji.com\/jc\/<wbr>article?k=2025042401067&amp;g=int#<wbr>goog_rewarded<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-172\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;Staff&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Y-9&nbsp;information&nbsp;<wbr>gathering&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;flying&nbsp;from the<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>area&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;island&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>April&nbsp;24.&nbsp;This&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;flew&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;<wbr>island&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Okinawa,&nbsp;and&nbsp;circled,&nbsp;then&nbsp;<wbr>turned&nbsp;and&nbsp;flew&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>same&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">area.&nbsp;(Purple&nbsp;line&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>below&nbsp;chart)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;<wbr>Staff&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>TB-001 reconnaissance \/&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">attack&nbsp;UAV&nbsp;flying&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;<wbr>Ocean&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;main&nbsp;island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<wbr>UAV&nbsp;flew&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;south&nbsp;<wbr>off&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;main&nbsp;island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;area&nbsp;off&nbsp;Tokunoshima&nbsp;<wbr>Island,&nbsp;then&nbsp;turned&nbsp;and&nbsp;flew&nbsp;<wbr>back&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;same&nbsp;area.&nbsp;(Red&nbsp;line&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;below&nbsp;chart)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;<wbr>Staff&nbsp;also&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;GJ-2&nbsp;reconnaissance&nbsp;\/&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">attack&nbsp;UAV&nbsp;flying&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;<wbr>Ocean&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;main&nbsp;island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Miyakojima&nbsp;Island.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<wbr>UAV&nbsp;flew&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>main&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa,&nbsp;then&nbsp;<wbr>turned&nbsp;and&nbsp;flew&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>same&nbsp;area.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;(Orange&nbsp;line&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;below&nbsp;<wbr>chart)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr>scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"250\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZdPsy2l211Ce0Sife8ugXU_-H5lUAFN4H8T0h1ZJaxi2kMAwn8r3XJv79XCCGpFLSkZ-soJZ4Ybc2zt200owRp5dFVNA_yo_9qtp31aZ8D0fiWfeNVLfaa_b5Oy_uLfnnTagQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0006-7eddf47f5337.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-173\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250424_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250424_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039733000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0fKtbVDYrrH0fQM5LIiPYn\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250424_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/26<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-174\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;From&nbsp;April&nbsp;23&nbsp;to&nbsp;25,&nbsp;JMSDF&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  has&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<wbr>vessels&nbsp;including&nbsp;one&nbsp;Admiral<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Kuznetsov&nbsp;class&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;<wbr>carrier&nbsp;Shandong&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;<wbr>17)&nbsp;navigating&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;<wbr>Ocean<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;the&nbsp;below&nbsp;table&nbsp;and&nbsp;chart.<br \/>&nbsp; &nbsp;During&nbsp;this&nbsp;period,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Shandong&nbsp;(hull&nbsp;number&nbsp;17)&nbsp;was&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;made&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">approximately&nbsp;130&nbsp;landings&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;takeoffs,&nbsp;including&nbsp;<wbr>approximately&nbsp;70&nbsp;by&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft&nbsp;and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">60&nbsp;by&nbsp;helicopters.<br \/>On&nbsp;April&nbsp;25,&nbsp;these&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>naval&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;were&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;have&nbsp;sailed&nbsp;toward&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>South&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">China&nbsp;Sea.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"425\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZtsanlcqVSelmH5U-ZvQrTmI15sbBnXGxfBmR7RCd2qVArHOddipWio_UmarENyX5OAeiJo6oAowZ7N5q3C2Cs4JA6n2C1reQw_KDi6rD0swj_oHU7wIqJh_u75VXdClOP_cs=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0007-f2499d9886bc.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"146\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYWGTfEfGVKgr8r-dKHQtwvo4zz3EOr5EphzM_Wu8UfUOanfMSTnooJw4yGoM-WlKU-xb17XA1_fdh3sGJZ8l3JMGRCW-PCMjB8PZo4Q1p9wZcRfp_UqJn3oFZX3YCRvdChXeY=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0008-f7b4eef45193.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-175\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250426_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250426_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hyH1gSq8LlEWb9HLlz-7n\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250426_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-176\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;27,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Staff&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>UAV&nbsp;(estimated)&nbsp;flying&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Pacific<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Ocean&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<wbr>through&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>Yonagunijim&nbsp;Island&nbsp;and&nbsp;Taiwan.<wbr>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr>scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;this&nbsp;UAV.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"137\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NaLFedMIvrBFOl-OQEZs9DfUFYprjaH8bEhXT116d1bNOchTYCKKD7AYObhTRjWuICtKYIxd7Y1_ydU7Z0Er7UN56I2kgjo61gvjfyCerDqmiNmilymaqPMYlzF8sQhcTTq_tw=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/0009-dc33e6dbbf5c.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-177\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250427_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250427_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw14BZO8yHFlbNby3yC2WBxY\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250427_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-178\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;26,&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Philippine&nbsp;militaries&nbsp;<wbr>conducted&nbsp;an&nbsp;airlift&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>deployment&nbsp;exercise<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;military&#8217;s&nbsp;most&nbsp;<wbr>advanced&nbsp;anti-ship&nbsp;missile&nbsp;<wbr>system,&nbsp;NMESIS,&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Batanes&nbsp;Islands<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&#8217;&nbsp;<wbr>northernmost&nbsp;province&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Batanes,&nbsp;near&nbsp;Taiwan,&nbsp;as&nbsp;part&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;a&nbsp;large-scale&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">joint&nbsp;exercise,&nbsp;&#8220;Balikatan\u201d.&nbsp;<wbr>The&nbsp;two&nbsp;militaries&nbsp;revealed&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;deployment&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;NMESIS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;The&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;military&nbsp;stressed&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;the&nbsp;deployment&nbsp;of&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>system&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201chistoric&nbsp;<wbr>milestone\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">in&nbsp;enhancing&nbsp;joint&nbsp;deterrence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;C-130&nbsp;transport&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft&nbsp;was&nbsp;used&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>transportation.&nbsp;The&nbsp;NMESIS mounted&nbsp;on&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;vehicle&nbsp;was&nbsp;moved&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>create&nbsp;a&nbsp;front&nbsp;line&nbsp;position,&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;training&nbsp;was&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conducted&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;Batanes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile,&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;27th,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;military&nbsp;announced&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;three&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;naval&nbsp;<wbr>vessels<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">appeared&nbsp;during&nbsp;a&nbsp;joint&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;drill&nbsp;conducted&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;26th&nbsp;off&nbsp;the&nbsp;coast&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>province&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;Zambales&nbsp;on&nbsp;Luzon&nbsp;Island.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\"><b>T<\/b><b>okyo&nbsp;Shimbun&nbsp;News&nbsp;(Japanese)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tokyo-np.co.jp\/article\/401383\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.tokyo-np.co.jp\/article\/401383&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3G_06kAyBqbKVyS2vM7ov8\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.tokyo-np.co.jp\/<wbr>article\/401383<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-179\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;state&nbsp;media&nbsp;reported&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  on&nbsp;April&nbsp;26&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;has&nbsp;taken&nbsp;control&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;a&nbsp;disputed&nbsp;reef&nbsp;near&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>major&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>base&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea.<br \/>&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;state&nbsp;<wbr>broadcaster&nbsp;China&nbsp;Central&nbsp;<wbr>Television&nbsp;(CCTV),&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;\u201cimplemented&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;<wbr>control\u201d&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sandy&nbsp;Cay&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;mid-month.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;This&nbsp;small&nbsp;cay&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Spratly&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>located&nbsp;near&nbsp;Pag-asa&nbsp;Island,&nbsp;<wbr>where&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the Philippines&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;military&nbsp;<wbr>base.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;According&nbsp;to&nbsp;CCTV,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;officers&nbsp;<wbr>landed&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Sandy&nbsp;Cay&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201cexercised&nbsp;sovereignty&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>jurisdiction\u201d&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;cay.&nbsp;<wbr>They&nbsp;conducted&nbsp;\u201cinspections\u201d&nbsp;<wbr>and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201ccollected&nbsp;video&nbsp;evidence&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>illegal&nbsp;activities&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;CCTV&nbsp;showed&nbsp;a&nbsp;photo&nbsp;of&nbsp;five&nbsp;<wbr>people&nbsp;dressed&nbsp;in&nbsp;black&nbsp;<wbr>standing&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;uninhabited&nbsp;<wbr>cay.&nbsp;It&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">also&nbsp;showed&nbsp;a&nbsp;photo&nbsp;of&nbsp;four&nbsp;<wbr>members&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<wbr>Guard&nbsp;raising&nbsp;the&nbsp;national&nbsp;<wbr>flag,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">which&nbsp;CCTV&nbsp;described&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;\u201c<wbr>pledge&nbsp;of&nbsp;sovereignty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Financial&nbsp;Times&nbsp;reported&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;an&nbsp;anonymous&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;official&nbsp;said&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Chinese&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;officers&nbsp;<wbr>withdrew&nbsp;after&nbsp;raising&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>flag.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;There&nbsp;are&nbsp;no&nbsp;indications&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;China&nbsp;will&nbsp;permanently&nbsp;<wbr>occupy&nbsp;the&nbsp;cay&nbsp;or&nbsp;build&nbsp;<wbr>structures&nbsp;on&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;China&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;<wbr>continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;confront&nbsp;each&nbsp;<wbr>other&nbsp;in&nbsp;disputed&nbsp;waters.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippines&nbsp;is&nbsp;currently&nbsp;<wbr>participating&nbsp;in&nbsp;large-scale&nbsp;<wbr>joint&nbsp;military&nbsp;exercises with&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">States,&nbsp;which&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;<wbr>government&nbsp;has&nbsp;condemned&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>undermining&nbsp;regional&nbsp;<wbr>stability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-180\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">AFP BB News (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.afpbb.com\/articles\/-\/3575144?pno=0&amp;pid=doc-43M87G2_1_2793815_preview\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.afpbb.com\/articles\/-\/3575144?pno%3D0%26pid%3Ddoc-43M87G2_1_2793815_preview&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3yCOmFI-7lPKxLY9VGx3kE\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.afpbb.com\/<wbr>articles\/-\/3575144?pno=0&amp;pid=<wbr>doc-43M87G2_1_2793815_preview<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-181\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;asserted&nbsp;its&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  sovereignty&nbsp;over&nbsp;Pag-asa&nbsp;Cays&nbsp;<wbr>1,&nbsp;2,&nbsp;3&nbsp;and&nbsp;its surrounding<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;waters&nbsp;through&nbsp;an&nbsp;&#8220;inter-<wbr>agency&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;operation&#8221;&nbsp;(<wbr>IAMO)&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;morning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;This&nbsp;coordinated&nbsp;effort&nbsp;<wbr>involved&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;Navy,&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;Guard,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">National&nbsp;Police-Maritime&nbsp;<wbr>Group,&nbsp;reinforcing&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>authorities\u2019&nbsp;routine&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>lawful&nbsp;exercise<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;domain&nbsp;awareness&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;jurisdiction&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>West&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;Sea,&#8221;&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>National&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Task&nbsp;Force&nbsp;West&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;<wbr>Sea&nbsp;(NTF&nbsp;WPS)&nbsp;said&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>statement&nbsp;late&nbsp;Sunday.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;This&nbsp;came&nbsp;after&nbsp;China&nbsp;<wbr>claimed&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;took&nbsp;<wbr>possession&nbsp;of&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;cays&nbsp;<wbr>over&nbsp;the&nbsp;weekend.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">It&nbsp;added&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;four&nbsp;<wbr>composite&nbsp;teams&nbsp;aboard&nbsp;rubber&nbsp;<wbr>boats&nbsp;were&nbsp;deployed&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>cays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Teams&nbsp;One&nbsp;and&nbsp;Two&nbsp;reached&nbsp;Cay-<wbr>1,&nbsp;Team&nbsp;Three&nbsp;arrived&nbsp;at&nbsp;Cay-<wbr>2,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Team&nbsp;Four&nbsp;landed&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">at&nbsp;Cay-3. &#8220;During&nbsp;the&nbsp;operation,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>teams&nbsp;observed&nbsp;the&nbsp;illegal&nbsp;<wbr>presence&nbsp;of&nbsp;China&nbsp;Coast&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Guard 5102,&nbsp;approximately&nbsp;1,000&nbsp;<wbr>yards&nbsp;east&nbsp;of&nbsp;Cay-2&nbsp;as&nbsp;well&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;seven&nbsp;Chinese Maritime<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;Militia&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;near&nbsp;Cay-2&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Cay-3,&#8221;&nbsp;NTF-WPS&nbsp;said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;agency&nbsp;said&nbsp;this&nbsp;<wbr>operation&nbsp;underscores&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippine&nbsp;government&#8217;s&nbsp;<wbr>unwavering&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">dedication&nbsp;and&nbsp;commitment&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>upholding&nbsp;the&nbsp;country\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr>sovereignty,&nbsp;sovereign&nbsp;rights,<wbr>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">jurisdiction&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;WPS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;&#8220;Moreover,&nbsp;this&nbsp;routine&nbsp;<wbr>inter-agency&nbsp;operation&nbsp;<wbr>reinforces&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines\u2019&nbsp;<wbr>commitment&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">safeguarding&nbsp;its maritime&nbsp;domain,&nbsp;adhering&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>international&nbsp;law,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>ensuring&nbsp;peace<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;stability&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;region,&#8221;&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;NTF-WPS&nbsp;said.&nbsp;<br \/><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Philippine&nbsp;News&nbsp;Agency&nbsp;(<wbr>English)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pna.gov.ph\/articles\/1248868\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.pna.gov.ph\/articles\/1248868&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aMymnp8yF0F3NBNsQ6Nj2\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.pna.gov.ph\/<wbr>articles\/1248868<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-182\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Press&nbsp;Release&nbsp;by&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Viet&nbsp;Nam&nbsp;Summit&nbsp;Meeting&nbsp;<wbr>(excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;28,&nbsp;2025,&nbsp;<wbr>commencing&nbsp;at&nbsp;8:50&nbsp;a.m.&nbsp;(<wbr>local&nbsp;time;10:50&nbsp;AM,&nbsp;JST)&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>approximately<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">110&nbsp;minutes,&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;ISHIBA&nbsp;<wbr>Shigeru,&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>Japan,&nbsp;held&nbsp;a&nbsp;summit&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;<wbr>with&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">H.E.&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;PHAM&nbsp;Minh&nbsp;Chinh,&nbsp;<wbr>Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Socialist&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;Viet&nbsp;<wbr>Nam&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Prime&nbsp;Minister\u2019s&nbsp;office&nbsp;<wbr>during&nbsp;his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Socialist&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;of&nbsp;Viet&nbsp;<wbr>Nam.&nbsp;The&nbsp;overview&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;is&nbsp;as&nbsp;follows.&nbsp;<wbr>Prior&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting,&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;Ishiba&nbsp;laid&nbsp;a&nbsp;wreath&nbsp;<wbr>at&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Monument&nbsp;to&nbsp;Heroic&nbsp;Martyrs&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ho&nbsp;Chi&nbsp;Minh&nbsp;Mausoleum.<wbr>&nbsp;This&nbsp;was&nbsp;followed&nbsp;by&nbsp;a&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">welcome&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;hosted&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr>Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Chinh.&nbsp;After&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;meeting,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">held&nbsp;a&nbsp;document&nbsp;exchange&nbsp;<wbr>ceremony&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;joint&nbsp;press&nbsp;<wbr>conference,&nbsp;and&nbsp;issued&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>joint&nbsp;press<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">release.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">1&nbsp;Introduction<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Chinh&nbsp;<wbr>welcomed&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<wbr>Ishiba&#8217;s&nbsp;visit&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;stated&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">pleasure&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>development&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan-Vietnam&nbsp;<wbr>relations&nbsp;in&nbsp;various&nbsp;fields.&nbsp;<wbr>He&nbsp;conveyed<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">his&nbsp;intention&nbsp;to&nbsp;closely&nbsp;<wbr>cooperate&nbsp;with&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<wbr>Ishiba&nbsp;in&nbsp;further&nbsp;<wbr>strengthening&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">bilateral&nbsp;relations&nbsp;and&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>responding&nbsp;to&nbsp;regional&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>international&nbsp;issues&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\u201cComprehensive&nbsp;Strategic&nbsp;<wbr>Partnership\u201d.&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;minister&nbsp;<wbr>Chinh&nbsp;also&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">congratulations&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>successful&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Osaka-Kansai&nbsp;Expo.\u201d&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;<wbr>Minister Ishiba<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;his&nbsp;heartfelt&nbsp;<wbr>gratitude&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;warm&nbsp;<wbr>hospitality&nbsp;extended&nbsp;during&nbsp;<wbr>his&nbsp;visit&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">emphasized&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;commitment&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>strengthening&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;open&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">international&nbsp;order&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>multilateral&nbsp;free&nbsp;trade&nbsp;<wbr>system.&nbsp;He&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">reaffirmed&nbsp;Japan&#8217;s&nbsp;position&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;Vietnam&#8217;s&nbsp;irreplaceable&nbsp;<wbr>partner&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;&#8220;new&nbsp;era.&#8221;&nbsp;He&nbsp;<wbr>further<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;<wbr>relations&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;rapidly&nbsp;<wbr>growing&nbsp;Viet&nbsp;Nam&nbsp;would&nbsp;<wbr>contribute&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;stability&nbsp;and&nbsp;prosperity&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;both&nbsp;countries&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>region,&nbsp;and&nbsp;expressed&nbsp;a&nbsp;<wbr>desire&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">upgrade&nbsp;Japan-Vietnam&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">2&nbsp;Bilateral&nbsp;relations<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(1) Security<br \/>&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>progress&nbsp;in&nbsp;cooperation,&nbsp;such&nbsp;<wbr>as&nbsp;the&nbsp;completion&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">transfer&nbsp;of&nbsp;transport&nbsp;<wbr>vehicles&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;<wbr>People&#8217;s&nbsp;Army&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;port&nbsp;<wbr>call&nbsp;by&nbsp;escort&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">vessels&nbsp;JS&nbsp;Suzunami&nbsp;to&nbsp;Da&nbsp;<wbr>Nang.&nbsp;They&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>establish&nbsp;a&nbsp;vice-ministerial-<wbr>level&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Policy&nbsp;Dialogue&nbsp;(<wbr>2+2)&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;strategic&nbsp;<wbr>communication.&nbsp;They&nbsp;also&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">discussed&nbsp;the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>specific&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;transfer&nbsp;of&nbsp;defense&nbsp;<wbr>equipment<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">and&nbsp;technology,&nbsp;as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>OSA.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">3&nbsp;Response&nbsp;to&nbsp;regional&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>international&nbsp;issues<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Ishiba&nbsp;stated&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;key&nbsp;partner&nbsp;<wbr>in&nbsp;realizing&nbsp;a&nbsp;free&nbsp;and&nbsp;open&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Indo-Pacific&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law.&nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;<wbr>exchanged&nbsp;views&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;<wbr>range&nbsp;of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">issues&nbsp;and&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;continue&nbsp;<wbr>close&nbsp;cooperation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(1)&nbsp;Situation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;exchanged&nbsp;<wbr>views&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;situation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;China<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;they&nbsp;<wbr>would&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;cooperate&nbsp;<wbr>closely.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/s_sa\/sea1\/vn\/pageite_000001_00926.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/s_sa\/sea1\/vn\/pageite_000001_00926.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ScWw6e9CHv_3ZHIrNvNdO\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/s_sa\/<wbr>sea1\/vn\/pageite_000001_00926.<wbr>html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-183\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Joint&nbsp;Press&nbsp;Release&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  and&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;(excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">3&nbsp;Cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;politics,&nbsp;<wbr>defense,&nbsp;security&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>diplomacy<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(3)&nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;highly&nbsp;<wbr>appreciated&nbsp;the&nbsp;steady&nbsp;<wbr>progress&nbsp;in&nbsp;defense&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;and&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">exchange&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;defense&nbsp;<wbr>authorities&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr>countries&nbsp;and&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>strengthen&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;security&nbsp;<wbr>field,&nbsp;including&nbsp;further&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;forming&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">projects&nbsp;on&nbsp;defense&nbsp;equipment&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;technology&nbsp;cooperation.&nbsp;<wbr>The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">establish&nbsp;a&nbsp;vice-ministerial-<wbr>level&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;and&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;<wbr>Policy&nbsp;Dialogue&nbsp;(2+2) to&nbsp;strengthen<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">strategic&nbsp;communication&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries,&nbsp;<wbr>with&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;<wbr>held&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">in&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;in&nbsp;2025.&nbsp;For&nbsp;Japan\u2019s&nbsp;<wbr>OSA,&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;side&nbsp;will&nbsp;<wbr>actively&nbsp;consider&nbsp;and&nbsp;respond&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;any<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">specific&nbsp;needs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(4)&nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;progress&nbsp;of&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;the&nbsp;authorities&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">field&nbsp;of&nbsp;maritime&nbsp;security&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;promote&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;strengthening&nbsp;<wbr>Vietnam&#8217;s&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">maritime&nbsp;security&nbsp;<wbr>capabilities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japanese)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/files\/100837101.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/files\/100837101.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ePRu9dpFn3ctCICFNrrpb\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/files\/<wbr>100837101.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-184\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Press&nbsp;Release&nbsp;by&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  Ministry&nbsp;of&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Affairs<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Philippines&nbsp;Summit&nbsp;<wbr>Meeting&nbsp;(excerpt)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;April&nbsp;29,&nbsp;from&nbsp;5&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;<wbr>local&nbsp;time&nbsp;(6&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;time)<wbr>&nbsp;for&nbsp;approximately&nbsp;85&nbsp;minutes,<wbr>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Mr.&nbsp;ISHIBA&nbsp;Shigeru,&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan,&nbsp;who&nbsp;is&nbsp;<wbr>visiting&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines,&nbsp;<wbr>held&nbsp;a&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Philippines&nbsp;Summit&nbsp;<wbr>Meeting&nbsp;with&nbsp;H.E.&nbsp;Ferdinand&nbsp;R.<wbr>&nbsp;Marcos,&nbsp;Jr.,&nbsp;President&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Republic of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<wbr>overview&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;is&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>follows&nbsp;(small&nbsp;group&nbsp;meeting:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">for approximately&nbsp;25&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>5&nbsp;p.m.,&nbsp;plenary&nbsp;meeting:&nbsp;for&nbsp;<wbr>approximately&nbsp;60&nbsp;minutes<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">from&nbsp;5:25&nbsp;p.m.).&nbsp;The&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;<wbr>was&nbsp;preceded&nbsp;by&nbsp;a&nbsp;welcome&nbsp;<wbr>ceremony.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">1&nbsp;Introduction<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(1)&nbsp;President&nbsp;Marcos&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;<wbr>Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Ishiba\u2019s&nbsp;visit&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;stated&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">that&nbsp;the&nbsp;relations&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries,&nbsp;which&nbsp;see&nbsp;<wbr>increasing&nbsp;cooperation,&nbsp;are&nbsp;<wbr>now&nbsp;in&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">a&nbsp;golden&nbsp;age.&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<wbr>Ishiba&nbsp;responded&nbsp;by&nbsp;<wbr>expressing&nbsp;his&nbsp;pleasure&nbsp;at&nbsp;<wbr>visiting&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Philippines&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;<wbr>time&nbsp;in&nbsp;25&nbsp;years&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;<wbr>gratitude&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;warm&nbsp;<wbr>hospitality.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(2)&nbsp;Furthermore,&nbsp;Prime&nbsp;<wbr>Minister&nbsp;Ishiba&nbsp;stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;<wbr>both&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Philippines&nbsp;are&nbsp;allies<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">of&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States,&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;<wbr>fundamental&nbsp;values&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>expressed&nbsp;his<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">desire&nbsp;to&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;work&nbsp;<wbr>together&nbsp;to&nbsp;realize&nbsp;a&nbsp;Free&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Indo-Pacific.&nbsp;In&nbsp;<wbr>response,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">President&nbsp;Marcos&nbsp;responded&nbsp;<wbr>that&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;like&nbsp;to&nbsp;promote&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;wide&nbsp;range&nbsp;<wbr>of&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">areas&nbsp;to&nbsp;further&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;strategic&nbsp;partnership&nbsp;<wbr>between&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">2&nbsp;Bilateral&nbsp;Relations<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(1)&nbsp;Security<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">a.&nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;progress&nbsp;made&nbsp;towards&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>implementation&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Japan-Philippines&nbsp;Reciprocal&nbsp;<wbr>Access&nbsp;Agreement&nbsp;(RAA)&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>concurred&nbsp;to&nbsp;commence&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">negotiations&nbsp;on&nbsp;an&nbsp;<wbr>Acquisition&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cross-<wbr>Servicing&nbsp;Agreement&nbsp;(ACSA)&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>reinforce&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">operational&nbsp;collaboration.&nbsp;<wbr>Moreover,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;<wbr>confirmed&nbsp;the&nbsp;importance&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>early&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">conclusion&nbsp;of&nbsp;an&nbsp;Agreement&nbsp;on&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;Security&nbsp;of&nbsp;Information&nbsp;<wbr>promptly&nbsp;and&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>facilitate<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">discussions&nbsp;among&nbsp;governments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">b.&nbsp;In&nbsp;addition,&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;<wbr>leaders&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;that,&nbsp;from&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;perspective&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>strengthening&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">deterrence&nbsp;for&nbsp;regional&nbsp;<wbr>stability,&nbsp;they&nbsp;will&nbsp;continue&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;promote&nbsp;multilayered&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">in&nbsp;the&nbsp;areas&nbsp;of&nbsp;Official&nbsp;<wbr>Security&nbsp;Assistance&nbsp;(OSA)&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>defense&nbsp;equipment&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>technology,&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as&nbsp;deepening&nbsp;<wbr>cooperation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;area&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>maritime&nbsp;safety&nbsp;through&nbsp;base&nbsp;<wbr>development,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">capacity&nbsp;improvement&nbsp;support,&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;joint&nbsp;training&nbsp;between&nbsp;<wbr>Japan,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">U.S.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">3&nbsp;Regional&nbsp;and&nbsp;International&nbsp;<wbr>Situations<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(2)&nbsp;The&nbsp;Situation&nbsp;in&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;discussed&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;situation&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<wbr>and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">confirmed&nbsp;their&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>unilateral&nbsp;attempts&nbsp;to&nbsp;change&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;status&nbsp;quo&nbsp;by&nbsp;force.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">(3)&nbsp;Japan-Philippines-U.S.&nbsp;<wbr>Cooperation<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;The&nbsp;two&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;agreed&nbsp;to&nbsp;<wbr>continue&nbsp;communication&nbsp;in&nbsp;<wbr>order&nbsp;to&nbsp;enhance&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;<wbr>to&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">realize&nbsp;a&nbsp;Free&nbsp;and&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Indo-<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;<wbr>law,&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;engagement,<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">also&nbsp;through&nbsp;deepening&nbsp;Japan-<wbr>Philippines-U.S.&nbsp;cooperation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/s_sa\/sea2\/ph\/pageite_000001_00940.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/s_sa\/sea2\/ph\/pageite_000001_00940.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw03QbuO_-XbFY_Qe1reUVBH\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/s_sa\/<wbr>sea2\/ph\/pageite_000001_00940.<wbr>html<\/span><br \/><span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"border-top: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; background: #a5e9ff; padding: 3.75pt 13.5pt 3.75pt 13.5pt;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"color: #202020;\">4\/29<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; border-top: solid white 1.0pt; background: #eeeeee; padding: 0mm 0mm 0mm 0mm;\">\n<div>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-185\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;Staff&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;<wbr><br \/>\n  one&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;Y-9&nbsp;Patrol&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft&nbsp;flying&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;through&nbsp;<wbr>the&nbsp;area&nbsp;between&nbsp;the&nbsp;main&nbsp;<wbr>island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Okinawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<wbr>Miyakojima<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Island&nbsp;on&nbsp;April&nbsp;29.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<wbr>aircraft&nbsp;then&nbsp;circled,&nbsp;turned&nbsp;<wbr>and&nbsp;flew&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;East&nbsp;<wbr>China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">through&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;area.&nbsp;(Red&nbsp;<wbr>line&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;below&nbsp;chart)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;On&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;day,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Joint&nbsp;<wbr>Staff&nbsp;also&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;one&nbsp;<wbr>Chinese&nbsp;UAV&nbsp;(estimated)&nbsp;<wbr>flying&nbsp;from<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">the&nbsp;East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>Pacific&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>area&nbsp;between&nbsp;Yonagunijim&nbsp;<wbr>Island&nbsp;and<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">Taiwan.&nbsp;(Orange&nbsp;line&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<wbr>below&nbsp;chart)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">&nbsp; &nbsp;Japan&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Self-Defense&nbsp;Force&nbsp;<wbr>scrambled&nbsp;to&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\">\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center;text-align:-webkit-center\"><img width=\"227\" style=\"display:block;margin:0 auto;vertical-align:top;max-width:100%;height:auto;width:auto\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZoLYbJmgL6SE5eVBxqAf8rKclAg7q_35XyHGKjLPBWZU1pp2G9RFZx2YJLffrNsrv23vPP5R6vdWYzuX52ukhVULD7fvD5hlsDm5WT9S75syDlR_Drf3BwyY_caPquxc8kSuA=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/gy53-cdn.asp.cuenote.jp\/0000013c\/202504\/000171e6\/000a-1d9f493b43b8.png\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div id=\"m_-5799875826508485005m_-1304968169857267297fc-id-186\" style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-all;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0px\"><b><span style=\"color:rgb(35,34,228)\">Japan Joint Staff<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table valign=\"top\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%!important;width:100%;table-layout:fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"*\" height=\"*\">\n<div style=\"text-align:left;word-break:break-word;font-family:&quot;Meiryo UI&quot;,Meiryo,&quot;MS PGothic&quot;,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:1.8;\"><a style=\"color:rgb(51,122,183)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250429_01.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=ja&amp;q=https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/2025\/p20250429_01.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746540039734000&amp;usg=AOvVaw32D4a9bmqN98BehVyxM4Go\" rel=\"noopener\"><span><span>https:\/\/www.mod.go.jp\/js\/pdf\/<wbr>2025\/p20250429_01.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Newsletter Registration<\/h3>\n<p>What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, \u201cEast Asian Maritime Security (EAMS)\u201d and updates the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory.<\/p>\n<div class=\"u-mbs is-top mw-400\"><a class=\"c-button\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/CiMT6bWdHrryT8mM6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Registration Form<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vol.20. April 30, 2025 \u00a0 What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan&#8217;s territory. Monthly Column &nbsp; White Hulls, Gray Intentions: China&#8217;s Coast Guard Institutionalization and the Contest for the Senkakus Kentaro Furuya Professor, GRIPS, Keio, and JCG Academy &nbsp; &nbsp; Introduction Over the past decade, the Senkaku Islands have emerged as a significant flashpoint in Japan-China &hellip; <span>More<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2309,"menu_order":25,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vol. 20, April 30, 2025 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u300cVol. 20, April 30, 2025 \u300d\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3054\u7d39\u4ecb\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002- RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security - The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) is Japan\u2019s first nonprofit, private think tank. It was established in October 1978 and has a research history of more than 45 years.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rips.or.jp\/en\/newsletter\/vol-20-april-30-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vol. 20, April 30, 2025 - RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u300cVol. 20, April 30, 2025 \u300d\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3054\u7d39\u4ecb\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002- RIPS - Research Institute for Peace and Security - The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) is Japan\u2019s first nonprofit, private think tank. 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