DM Koizumi held a meeting on Jul 13 and a luncheon meeting on Jul 15 with Gen. Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam. The Ministers agreed to work together to promote regional peace and stability🇯🇵🤝🇻🇳 Summary:

China News Service: Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said at an online program last Friday that Japan should discuss nuclear weapon policy “without any taboos.” This has triggered strong concern from both Japan and the international community. In response to opposition party’s questioning on the three non-nuclear principles and nuclear submarines at the Diet, Shinjiro Koizumi said, “The idea of protecting what we have had until now seems to take precedence over truly protecting Japan.” Do you have any comment on that? Lin Jian: It is extremely rare, provocative and dangerous after WWII for a sitting Japanese defense chief to make such remarks. Those running the Japanese government no longer hide the wild ambition to end the three non-nuclear principles and challenge the postwar international order. The incumbent leader of Japan has advocated revising the principles as a member of the Diet. After taking office, she has accelerated Japan’s remilitarization and taken a string of dangerous moves on nuclear weapon policy—strengthening cooperation on co-called “extended deterrence,” promoting the development of nuclear-powered submarines, seeking “nuclear sharing,” and introducing medium-range missile systems. Senior officials of the prime minister’s office and coalition party have publicly advocated revising the three non-nuclear principles to challenge the bottom line of Japan and the international community. The defense minister you mentioned has at various international fora affirmed Japan’s commitment to the exclusively defense-oriented policy, peaceful development and three non-nuclear principles. However, back in Japan, he is clamoring for discussing nuclear weapon policy “without any taboos.” What “commitment” is there to speak of? These self-contradictory moves once again reveal how Japan has disguised itself and deceived the international community. Japan is an internationally recognized nuclear threshold state. It has long been deliberately maintaining the capability for a rapid nuclear breakout, stockpiling approximately 44.4 metric tons of separated plutonium—enough to produce a large number of nuclear warheads. Japanese right-wing forces, citing so-called “external threats” and “self-defense,” have been breaking free from Japan’s Constitution, international law and domestic law, and challenging the postwar international order and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Speeding down a dangerous path, they have posed a real threat to regional peace and stability. Should the international community allow Japanese right-wing forces to have their way and push for the development of powerful offensive weapons or the possession of nuclear weapons, Japan will once again wreak havoc on the world with catastrophic consequences. Japan’s neo-militarism has already reared its head. The international community must be highly vigilant and firmly oppose it.

QUANTS--WE ARE IN A KOIZUMI TYPE RALLY: Nikko quants differentiate current Japan rally from dotcom rally, pointing to concomitant strength in Topix (bank-heavy) and momentum (growth names) in current (7/25-present) and Koizumi ('05-'06) rallies. Earnings-driven rallies are characterized by shallower drawdowns whereas multiple-expansion driven rallies have historically collapsed more rapidly and unpredictably.

On Jul 22, DM Koizumi visited Paris and held a meeting with 🇫🇷 Minister Vautrin. They confirmed their commitment to continue working closely together, in accordance with the Japan-France Defense Roadmap, to enhance deterrence in the region🇯🇵🤝🇫🇷 Summary:

On Jul 21, DM Koizumi held the Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting with 🇬🇧 SecDef Streetings and 🇮🇹 DM Crosetto to discuss #GCAP#. The Ministers welcome the conclusion of the GIGO-JV contract and reaffirmed their commitment to further accelerate the programme🇯🇵🇬🇧🇮🇹

On Jul 21, DM Koizumi, alongside 🇬🇧 SecDef Streeting, 🇮🇹 DM Crosetto and 🇨🇦 DM McGuinty, announced Canada’s participation to Global Combat Air Programme (#GCAP#) as an Observer🇯🇵🇬🇧🇮🇹🇨🇦

On Jul 20, DM Koizumi visited HMNB Portsmouth, which is the home port for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The Royal Navy's project, "Beehive" is equipped with a Japanese-made engine and controller!

On Jul 21, DM Koizumi held a meeting with 🇮🇹 Minister Crosetto. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to closely advancing defense cooperation, ensuring the success of GCAP, and looked forward to the 🇯🇵🇬🇧🇮🇹 meeting later that day. Summary:

On Jul 20, DM Koizumi visited the @FIAFarnborough International Airshow, one of the world's largest aerospace and defense exhibitions. He toured the GCAP pavilion and 🇯🇵 booths, highlighting the strengths of 🇯🇵’s defense industry and advanced technology to a global audience.