Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Over 60% of Japanese support acquiring counterstrike capability

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Nov 2022 20:02
4 Min Read

Japanese are in favor of their country bolstering its defenses and acquiring the ability to launch counterstrikes.

  • x
  • Japanese soldiers during a military parade (Reuters)
    Japanese soldiers during a military parade (Reuters)

Around 60% of the Japanese back the government's bid to acquire counterstrike capabilities against enemy bases, which would mark a step back for Tokyo from its pacifist beliefs, a poll conducted by the Japanese Kyodo news agency said on Sunday.

The survey, conducted over the phone throughout the weekend, found that 60.8% of respondents supported the move, with only 35% opposing it.

The poll interviewed 420 randomly selected households with eligible voters, as well as 615 mobile phone users. However, the total number of respondents is unspecified.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last month that Tokyo would consider every option to ensure the protection of its citizens, including the possibility of retaliatory strikes.

Japan's competent authorities must provide three updated security documents by the end of 2022: the country's National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines, and the Medium Term Defense Program.

This comes amid a time when Japan is going through a rough patch with its neighbors, namely China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

There have been several missile launches from the DPRK over October and November amid heightened tensions between China and the United States, a major ally of Japan's.

Related News

G7 exempts US multinationals from global minimum tax rules

Netanyahu allegedly signals readiness to end Gaza war in first

The recent wave of launches, according to DPRK, is in retaliation for US efforts to strengthen its defense of regional security allies South Korea and Japan.

Meanwhile, Tokyo has been escalating on its end as well. Yamagami Shingo, Japan's ambassador to Australia, said that Tokyo may be hosting the Royal Australian Navy's nuclear-powered submarines which is currently being acquired under the trilateral AUKUS arrangement. 

The AUKUS alliance, formed in September 2021, stipulates that the UK and the US supply Australia with advanced technology to develop nuclear-powered submarines. China is targeted by the pact and has accused the US of running a "nuclear arms race" in the region. 

Under the 1951 mutual defense treaty, Japan already hosts US nuclear-powered submarines. In this context, Shingo has described their acquisition by Canberra as a "critically important point", which enhanced "regional deterrence."

Washington, according to Shingo, is the most core security partner for Japan, and there are over 50,000 US troops in the country: "All this emphasis on alliances, relationships, and agreements shows that any arrangement involving the defense ties between Australia, the US, and the UK is bound to influence Japan’s defense and security sectors – in other words, what matters to you, matters to us too," Shingo stated.

On September 1st, a Chinese official criticized Japan for hyping up the "Chinese threat" and continuously developing its missile programs. Tokyo intends to abolish its pacifist constitution and return to the policy of military expansion. These actions send a concerning signal to the international community that Japan wants to challenge the global order that was established after the end of World War II.

Prior to WWII, Japan had a long history of military interventions in the Pacific. The enormous crimes imperialist Japan committed against the people of China during the second Sino-Japanese war from 1937-1945 cost possibly between 10 and 25 million Chinese civilians' lives.

These crimes have not been forgotten by China, especially since Japan has continuously refused to give any real apology for the crimes, provide compensation to the victims, or take a clear stand against this part of its history.

  • United States
  • Japan
  • DPRK
  • China
  • Australia
  • AUKUS

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS