Israel and Japan strike new defence deal as they mark 70 years of relations
The deal comes amid rising tensions in East Asia, in particular in the Taiwan Strait
Israel and Japan signed a defence agreement allowing for greater military equipment and technology cooperation on Tuesday in a sign of closeness as they mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
Israel Defence Minister Benny Gantz’s Japan trip comes at the tail end of a visit to the United States, where he discussed Iran’s nuclear program and other security issues with top officials, and as Japan faces heightened tensions in the Pacific following Nancy Pelosi’s August visit to Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that Beijing claims as its own.
Since Pelosi’s visit, China has escalated military exercises around Taiwan and launched missiles in waters close to Japan, worrying officials in the region that China could continue behaviour that threatens the status quo and stability of the region.
Japan announced plans on Wednesday to increase its defence budget and develop longer-range missiles to counter threats from China and Russia.
The agreement, officially an expansion of an earlier defence agreement signed with Israel in 2019, helps Japan push its goal of achieving a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada, according to the Associated Press.
Gantz said the new agreement “will strengthen the defence capability of each country as well as our joint contribution to peace and stability in our regions and all over the world.”
The agreement is significant for Israel as it continues to weigh how to strike the right balance in its relationships between China, the United States and other Western allies.
China has firmly backed Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and in June threatened to start a diplomatic spat after the Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post published an interview with Taiwan’s foreign minister.
But China was also Israel’s largest source of imports last year, surpassing the United States.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
