News

The foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea will meet in Tokyo on March 22 for the first time in nearly a year and a half, discussing regional issues and coordinating a trilateral summit later this year. Additionally, Japan and China will hold a high-level economic dialogue on the same day, focusing on trade and economic cooperation.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will re-examine the origins of World War II to shape his message to the public on the 80th anniversary of the war's end. He will establish a panel of experts to study the circumstances leading up to the conflict, but will not issue an official "postwar statement" due to opposition from conservative factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The Japanese government is considering introducing human challenge trials for infectious diseases, a move aimed at accelerating vaccine development and bringing Japan's clinical trials in line with international standards. This initiative follows concerns that Japan's approval of domestically developed COVID-19 vaccines lagged behind foreign-made ones.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Japan's role in deterring Chinese aggression and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan military partnership during his visit to Tokyo in March 2025. Hegseth's visit followed a trip to the Philippines and included attending a memorial service on Iwo Jima.

Japan's auto industry is bracing for potential US tariffs on imported vehicles, emphasizing their significant contributions to the US economy and expressing confidence in their ability to adapt. The surge in US-bound exports suggests a rush in demand before the potential implementation of the tariffs.