ABOARD USS LINCOLN, April 23 (Reuters) – Japan’s foreign minister promised his country would bolster its military to help the United States maintain regional security during a visit on Saturday to a U.S. aircraft carrier patrolling Asian waters.
“Today I was able to experience first hand the frontline of national security,” Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in the hangar deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln sailing in waters south of Tokyo. Japan will “significantly strengthen” its defence capabilities and work closely with the United States, he added.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during a joint news conference with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel while they visit U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in waters close to Japan in this photo distributed by Kyodo on April 23, 2022. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Hayashi spoke amid concern in Japan that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it sees as an affront to international diplomatic norms, could encourage neighbouring China to use military muscle to win control of Taiwan and threaten nearby Japanese islands.
Japan has also expressed concern about Beijing’s deepening security ties with Moscow, that have included joint drills in waters surrounding Japan.
China has said its intentions in Asia are peaceful.
Hayashi flew out to the aircraft carrier from Tokyo with U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, who warned that the invasion of Ukraine, which Russian describes as a “special operation”, posed security risks in regions far beyond Europe, including in the Indo Pacific.
The two watched carrier flight operations from the deck of the Lincoln, which had just sailed from the Sea of Japan close to the Korean peninsula where it had conducted naval exercises with Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force following the latest missile launch by North Korea.
Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Christina Fincher
By Tony Capaccio May 13, 2025 (Bloomberg) –A $22 billion frigate project that President Donald Trump once touted as “the most beautiful, they look like yachts” was among the US Navy’s...
A federal judge in Hawaii ordered the U.S. government on Wednesday to pay about $600,000 to six families impacted by a 2021 Red Hill fuel spill that tainted drinking water...
Editorial Note: This article was originally published at Bloomberg before this weekend’s fragile ceasefire was announced. by Admiral James Stavridis (Bloomberg Opinion) Following the killings of two dozen tourists picnicking in a meadow in...
May 11, 2025
Total Views: 2520
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 109,039 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 109,039 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.