U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has welcomed Japan's commitment to accelerate its military buildup and defense spending

Japan has designated 14 airports and 26 seaports for use by its military and coast guard during a contingency.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday talked up "high-level exchanges" in a call with Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi, hinting at a potential meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japan's new premier,

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces significant foreign policy challenges just days after taking office

TOKYO: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday (Oct 29) the Japan-US alliance was "critical to deterring Chinese military aggression", as his Japanese counterpart confirmed plans to accelerate a defence spending target.

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's newly elected first female prime minister, is an unabashedly conservative icon of Japanese politics. Her election is set to change East Asia.

Even while warning about national security and human rights abuse, the U.S. government across five Republican and Democratic administrations has repeatedly allowed and even actively helped American firms to sell technology to Chinese police,

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Japan's new administration to take a constructive "first step" in engaging with Beijing and to properly address sensitive issues such as Taiwan and wartime history.

Ahead of the outcome of the FOMC meeting later today, the US dollar is firm. Europe's STOXX 600 (STOXX) is little changed, while US index futures (SPX) are trading mostly firmer.

China has called on its neighbours Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN countries to make greater efforts in science and technology, including carrying out joint scientific and technological research, according to the official Xinhua.