Jesse Johnson
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Jesse Johnson
@jljzen.bsky.social
Covering defense and diplomacy for @japantimes.co.jp • Signal: jljzen.18 • views my own • Japan resident since 2002 • グリーン車 aficionado
Trump’s unapologetically ‘America First’ National Security Strategy www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
Trump’s unapologetically ‘America First’ National Security Strategy
The U.S. stands taller, yet smaller, in the new National Security Strategy.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
Japan and China trade barbs over radar lock-on as row shows no signs of abating
Japan and China trade barbs over radar lock-on as row shows no signs of abating
The government’s top spokesman said it “will continue to respond calmly and resolutely” after the “dangerous” incident Saturday that Beijing has said was triggered by Tokyo.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 9, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
As Beijing continues military threats and political warfare against Taiwan, PRC Ambassador Xiao Qian warns Australia about "appeasement" of Japan, following PM Takaichi's comments that a PRC war against the Taiwanese would threaten Japan's security.
December 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
“It was pretty clearly intentional ... It seemed calibrated to send a strong signal to Tokyo. I think the PLA was itching to do something provocative, like the radar lock-on, to escalate an already-tense time between Beijing and Tokyo.”

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japan and China trade barbs over radar lock-on as row shows no signs of abating
The government’s top spokesman said it “will continue to respond calmly and resolutely” after the “dangerous” incident Saturday that Beijing has said was triggered by Tokyo.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 8, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Japan and China trade barbs over radar lock-on as row shows no signs of abating www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japan and China trade barbs over radar lock-on as row shows no signs of abating
The government’s top spokesman said it “will continue to respond calmly and resolutely” after the “dangerous” incident Saturday that Beijing has said was triggered by Tokyo.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 8, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Japan calls Chinese allegations of harassment during radar lock-on ‘unfounded’ www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japan calls Chinese allegations of harassment during radar lock-on ‘unfounded’
The government’s top spokesman said it “will continue to respond calmly and resolutely” after the “dangerous” incident Saturday that Beijing has said was triggered by Tokyo.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 8, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
US folks: Did anyone get a form like this in their mailbox who ISN'T a new customer? We've been in our home forever. The paranoid part of my brain thinks this is ICE using the USPS for data collection and I'm not interested in helping them. Happy to be wrong though.
December 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
‘Free-riding’ U.S. allies that don’t step up ‘will face consequences,’ Hegseth warns www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
‘Free-riding’ U.S. allies that don’t step up ‘will face consequences,’ Hegseth warns
In an apparent jab at Japan, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is “optimistic” that Indo-Pacific allies will ramp up defense spending “in a few years.”
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Japan and Australia launch new ‘strategic defense’ framework www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japan and Australia launch new ‘strategic defense’ framework
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the move will help ensure the quasi-allies can work together more effectively and with greater strategic alignment.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 7, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Chinese military fighter jets twice locked their fire radar on SDF aircraft over international waters southeast of Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday, according to the Defense Ministry in Tokyo, as ties between the neighbors continue to plunge to fresh lows.

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Chinese fighters target SDF jets with radar lock-on, Defense Ministry says
The incident, which saw the Chinese side twice lock its fire radar onto SDF aircraft, comes as ties between the neighbors continue to plunge to fresh lows.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Trump security strategy demands more from Japan while unveiling ‘burden-sharing network’ www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Trump security strategy demands more from Japan while unveiling ‘burden-sharing network’
The strategy, the first of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, reflects his longstanding view that the American system of alliances is “one-sided” in favor of allies.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 6, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
December 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
The Trump National Security Strategy is an act of vandalism against the things that actually make our country strong, safe, and prosperous.
December 5, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
I used to have to teach the NSS: What's in it, what it means, how it was produced.
In this administration, documents mean nothing. Our national policy is whatever stray voltage is crossing Donald Trump's brain pan at any given moment. The NSS and other such documents are meaningless.
The Trump administration has quietly released its National Security Strategy — apparently late on Thursday. Usually there's a rollout and fanfare for these things: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM
NSS drops as I’m three とっくり into the 熱燗
December 5, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
Bigger picture, goes even stronger than expected identifying Western Hemisphere / Latin America as our #1 priority -- yes, above East Asia -- even implying significant reposturing of US military forces. Is not outright insulting to Asian allies like it is to the Europeans.
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY DROPPED

There is a LOT here, but omg NATO allies are going to seethe at this paragraph

www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Annual Christmas karaoke w/ wife coming in hot!
December 5, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Hegseth doubles down on the strikes and appears to make light of the latest in exchange with Talking Points USA fife
December 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Trump's National Defense Strategy to hail South Korea as 'model ally' asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/tr... via @NikkeiAsia
Trump's National Defense Strategy to hail South Korea as 'model ally'
Seoul's 3.5% defense budget, shipyards pledge suit 'partners' over 'dependents' US vision
asia.nikkei.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
The New York Times sued the Pentagon on Thursday, arguing that the Defense Department infringed on the constitutional rights of its journalists by imposing a set of new restrictions on reporting about the military. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/b...
New York Times Sues Pentagon Over First Amendment Rights
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:22 AM
China massing military ships across region in show of maritime force, sources say www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
China massing military ships across region in show of maritime force, sources say
The country is in the middle of a traditionally busy season for military exercises, though its army hasn’t made announcements of large-scale officially named drills.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM