Japan in February 2026: the most important developments in security
Japan's security agenda in February 2026 was dominated by tension with China at sea. Japan seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain in Japanese waters on 13 February. Earlier in the month Japan reportedly asked its fishermen to avoid waters near disputed islands, citing fears of a clash with China. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese officials criticised what they called Japan's accelerated remilitarisation, with Lavrov saying it threatens stability in the Asia-Pacific. A former top Japanese general described China's recent military purges as dangerous, and reports indicated Japan plans to install missiles near Taiwan.
Arms control and defence cooperation also featured. The last US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty, New START, expired, and Japan called on the United States, Russia and China to join arms control efforts; survivors of the atomic bombings expressed deep concern. Britain and Japan agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation, and Japan and Bangladesh signed an agreement on transferring defence equipment and technology.
Other cases involved Japanese nationals abroad and US forces at home. Japan demanded the early release of a Japanese national detained in Tehran, and fifteen Japanese nationals were detained in Phnom Penh. A US service member in Okinawa lost his appeal against a conviction for sexually assaulting an underage local girl, and US forces resumed parachute training at Kadena Air Base.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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