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Hong Kong's outspoken Cardinal Joseph Zen, center, and other religious protesters hold placards with "Respects religious freedom" written on them during a demonstration outside the China Liaison Office in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Reports say a Roman Catholic cardinal and three others have been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger Chinese national security. U.K.-based human rights group Hong Kong Watch said Cardinal Joseph Zen, lawyer Margaret Ng, singer Denise Ho and scholar Hui Po-keung were detained Wednesday, May 11, 2022, by Hong Kong's National Security Police. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Religious freedom under threat; summit highlights actions by China, developments in Japan

By Mark A. Kellner and Guy Taylor - The Washington Times

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg delivers a speech to personnel of Japan Self-Defense Forces at Iruma Air Base in Sayama, northwest of Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

NATO chief urges closer ties with Japan to defend democracy

By Mari Yamaguchi and Haruka Nuga - Associated Press

An H2A rocket lifts off from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, southern Japan Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Japan on Thursday successfully launched the rocket carrying a government intelligence-gathering satellite on a mission to watch movements at military sites in North Korea and to improve natural disaster response as part of Tokyo's effort to buildup its military capability citing growing threat in the East Asia. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan launches intel satellite to watch N. Korea, disasters

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) ** FILE **

Japanese PM Kishida tells parliament: Low birthrate requires expanded programs to reverse trends

By Brad Matthews - The Washington Times

A new high-fire, five-barrel machine gun can fire up to 2,500 rounds a minute in what its manufacturer calls the most lethal weapon in the world. (Bill Gertz/The Washington Times)

Global militaries go on shopping spree at U.S. arms expo, spurred by threats from China and Russia

By Bill Gertz - The Washington Times

Commuters wear masks outside Tokyo Station in Tokyo Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday announced plans to start preparations for downgrading legal status of COVID-19 to an equivalent of seasonal influenza in the spring, a move that would further relax mask wearing and other preventive measures as the country seeks an exit plan. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan to lower COVID-19 to flu status, further easing rules

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Japanese Ground-Self Defense Force (JGDDF) Type 90 tank fires its gun at a target during an annual drill exercise at the Minami Eniwa Camp in Eniwa, Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Dec. 7, 2021. Japan warned of escalating national security threats stemming from Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s tensions with Taiwan in an annual defense paper issued Friday, July 22, 2022, as Japan tries to bolster its military capability and spending. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) **FILE**

Regional defense partnerships rise with China’s power

By Andrew Salmon - The Washington Times

Tetsuya Yamagami, bottom, is detained near the site of gunshots in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on July 8, 2022. Japanese prosecutors formally charged the suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder, Japan's NHK public television reported Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (Katsuhiko Hirano/The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP, File)

Suspect charged with murder in assassination of Japan’s Abe

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida walks down the steps as he arrives, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Biden and Kishida discuss Japan ‘stepping up’ security

By Aamer Madhani - Associated Press

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. In a major break from its strictly self-defense-only postwar principle, Japan adopted a national security strategy Friday declaring plans to possess preemptive strike capability and cruise missiles within years to give itself more offensive footing against threats from neighboring China and North Korea. (David Mareuil/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida proves surprise warrior ahead of Biden meeting

By Andrew Salmon - The Washington Times

Members of a civic group seeking compensation from Japanese firms over forced labor during World War II and opposition lawmakers stage a rally to oppose the government's reported resolution to the issue outside the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. The banners read "Apology and compensation from Japanese war criminal companies and condemn the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea plans fund to compensate forced labor victims

By Kim Tong-Hyung - Associated Press

A person holds a piece of white paper during a protest gathering at the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. On Tuesday, about a dozen people gathered at the University of Hong Kong, chanting against virus restrictions and holding up sheets of paper with critical slogans. Most were from the mainland, which has a separate legal system from the Chinese territory of Hong Kong, and some spectators joined in their chants. (AP Photo/Bertha Wang)

Japan, South Korea protest China visa stoppage in COVID spat

By Mari Yamaguchi and Kim Tong-Hyung - Associated Press

Passengers arriving from China pass by a COVID-19 testing center at the Incheon International Airport In Incheon, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Chinese embassies stopped issuing new visas for South Koreans and Japanese on Tuesday in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 measures recently imposed by those countries on travelers from China. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Japan, South Korea protest China visa stoppage amid COVID spat

By Mari Yamaguchi and Kim Tong-hyung - Associated Press

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. In a major break from its strictly self-defense-only postwar principle, Japan adopted a national security strategy Friday declaring plans to possess preemptive strike capability and cruise missiles within years to give itself more offensive footing against threats from neighboring China and North Korea. (David Mareuil/Pool Photo via AP)

New role, relevance for Tokyo as allies confront challenge from China

By Andrew Salmon - The Washington Times

Residents wearing face masks walk by a large screen showing the Chinese People's Liberation Army Airforce outside a mall in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The Chinese military held large-scale joint combat strike drills starting Sunday, sending war planes and navy vessels toward Taiwan, both the Chinese and Taiwanese defense ministries said. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

U.S. defeats China in simulated war over Taiwan, but costs are high, says new study on risks

By Bill Gertz - The Washington Times

FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, central Japan on Jan. 4, 2023. Japan and the United States will hold security talks between their foreign and defense ministers in Washington the day before Japanese Prime Minister Kishida lands in the U.S. capital next week wrapping up his tour of Group of Seven nations as Tokyo expands its military and deepen alliance with America amid China's growing influence.(Kyodo News via AP, File)

Japan, U.S. to hold security talks before Kishida meets Biden

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during his New Year's press conference in Ise, central Japan Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vows deeper alliance with US on defense

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Travelers crowd at a departure lobby of Haneda airport in Tokyo Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. Japan on Thursday reported a record 420 single-day coronavirus deaths, one day after reaching an earlier record of 425 deaths, according to the Health Ministry. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan tests all China arrivals for COVID as cases surge

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Masked commuters walk through a walkway in between two subway stations as they head to work during the morning rush hour in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2022. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Tuesday, Dec. 27, that Japan will tighten border controls against COVID-19 by requiring tests for all visitors from China starting Friday as a temporary emergency measure against the surging infections there. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Japan to require COVID-19 tests for all visitors from China

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

This aerial photo shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, north of Tokyo, on March 17, 2022. Japan on Thursday, Dec. 22, adopted a new policy promoting greater use of nuclear energy to ensure a stable power supply amid global fuel shortages and reduce carbon emissions - a major reversal of its phase-out plan since the Fukushima crisis. (Shohei Miyano/Kyodo News via AP, File)

Japan adopts plan to maximize nuclear energy, in major shift

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press