#defense officials

[mystlnewsonline]

TOKYO | Japan to spend more on defense, refit first aircraft carrier

TOKYO | Japan to spend more on defense, refit first aircraft carrier

TOKYO  — Japan plans its first aircraft carrier and big increases in defense spending and weapons capability in the coming years, according to new defense guidelines approved Tuesday that cite its need to counter potential threats from North Korea and China and other vulnerabilities.

The guidelines approved at a meeting of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet call for refitting an existing…

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[mystlnewsonline]

TOKYO | Japan to spend more on defense, refit 1st aircraft carrier

TOKYO | Japan to spend more on defense, refit 1st aircraft carrier

TOKYO— Japan plans its first aircraft carrier and big increases in defense spending and weapons capability in the coming years, according to new defense guidelines approved Tuesday that cite the need to counter potential threats from North Korea and China and other vulnerabilities.

The guidelines approved at a meeting of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet call for refitting an existing…

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[mystlnewsonline]

MANILA, Philippines | US returns 3 war bells seized from Philippines a century ago

MANILA, Philippines | US returns 3 war bells seized from Philippines a century ago

MANILA, Philippines— Three church bells seized by American troops as war trophies more than a century ago were returned to the Philippines on Tuesday in a move long demanded by Filipino leaders, including the current president, who is critical of Washington and has moved closer to China.

U.S. defense officials and the American ambassador handed back the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippine…

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[mystlnewsonline]

WASHINGTON | Pentagon chief drops planned China visit amid tensions

WASHINGTON | Pentagon chief drops planned China visit amid tensions

WASHINGTON — U.S. defense officials say Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has dropped plans to visit China amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Although the trip was never publicly announced, Mattis had planned to visit Beijing in October for so-called 2-plus-2 security talks with his Chinese counterpart as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Pompeo’s counterpart.

The Pentagon…

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[newsdock]

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Defense officials in Ukraine say there has been no letup in efforts by pro-Russia separatist fighters in the east to capture the airport in the main rebel-held city of Donetsk. Source: Associated Press

[newsdock]

The US military has secretly maintained forces in Somalia since 2007, despite earlier public statements claiming it had no presence in the country until last October, defense officials said Thursday. The United States has deployed up to 120 troops in the African nation and hopes to bolster its security ties to Somalia's government as it battles Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militants, a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. The US troops operating in Somalia have been mainly Green Beret special forces, who specialize in training and advising local armies, the official said. In October last year, the Pentagon had portrayed the arrival of a handful of military advisers in Somalia as the first deployment of American forces to the country since 1993. Source: AFP

[newsdock]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel began moving troop reinforcements to its border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday, defense officials said, raising the possibility of an expanded military operation in the Palestinian territory in response to intensifying rocket barrages. Source: Associated Press

[newsdock]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel is recommending shrinking the Army to its smallest size in decades in an effort to balance defense needs with budget realities, according to defense officials. Source: Associated Press