Reports: Trump requests National Security Council meeting
The US President has decided to cut short his trip to the Group of Seven summit in Canada. As NHK World's Sarah Aoyagi explains, Donald Trump has reportedly asked US security officials to meet amid the ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran.
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The Mainichi
23 minutes ago
- The Mainichi
US reportedly asked Japan to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has asked Japan to raise its defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product, a request that angered Tokyo and led it to put off a planned high-level meeting with Washington, the Financial Times reported Friday. The request was made recently by Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, the newspaper said, citing three people familiar with the matter, including two officials in Tokyo. Colby, a seasoned strategist, had previously pressed Japan to increase its defense spending to 3 percent of its GDP. The higher demand prompted Japan to cancel a meeting involving foreign and defense chiefs from the two countries, which the paper said was due to take place in Washington on July 1. The meeting would have been the first since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump took office in October and January, respectively. Kyodo News reported in late May that Japan and the United States were considering holding the so-called two-plus-two security talks in Washington this summer. Japan and the United States had not formally said such talks, as held in July last year in Tokyo, would take place. Citing one of the officials, the newspaper said the decision to cancel the July 1 talks was also influenced by the timing of Japan's upper house election, set for July 20. In 2022, after Trump's first term, Japan decided to double its annual defense budget to 2 percent of GDP by 2027, a dramatic move in postwar security policy under the country's war-renouncing Constitution. But Trump continues to complain that the U.S.-Japan security treaty is one-sided, with his administration apparently planning to ask Tokyo to pay more for American troops based in the Japanese archipelago once bilateral negotiations over his tariffs proceed.
Japan Times
37 minutes ago
- Japan Times
U.S. may target Samsung, Hynix and TSMC operations in China
The U.S. Department of Commerce is considering revoking authorizations granted in recent years to global chipmakers Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC, making it more difficult for them to receive U.S. goods and technology at their plants in China, according to people familiar with the matter. The chances of the United States withdrawing the authorizations are unclear. But with such a move, it would be harder for foreign chipmakers to operate in China, where they produce semiconductors used in a wide range of industries. A White House official said the United States was "just laying the groundwork" in case the truce reached between the two countries fell apart. But the official expressed confidence that the trade agreement would go forward and that rare earths would flow from China, as agreed. "There is currently no intention of deploying this tactic," the official said. "It's another tool we want in our toolbox in case either this agreement falls through or any other catalyst throws a wrench in bilateral relations." Shares of U.S. chip equipment makers that supply plants in China fell when the Wall Street Journal first reported the news earlier on Friday. KLA Corp dropped 2.4%, Lam Research fell 1.9% and Applied Materials sank 2%. Shares of Micron, a major competitor to Samsung and SK Hynix in the memory chip sector, rose 1.5%. A TSMC spokesman declined comment. Samsung and Hynix did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials did not immediately respond, either. In October 2022, after the United States placed sweeping restrictions on U.S. chipmaking equipment to China, it gave foreign manufacturers like Samsung and Hynix letters authorizing them to receive goods. In 2023 and 2024, the companies received what is known as Validated End User status in order to continue the trade. A company with VEU status is able to receive designated goods from a U.S. company without the supplier obtaining multiple export licenses to ship to them. VEU status enables entities to receive U.S.-controlled products and technologies "more easily, quickly and reliably," as the Commerce Department website puts it. The VEU authorizations come with conditions, a person familiar with the matter said, including prohibitions on certain equipment and reporting requirements. "Chipmakers will still be able to operate in China," a Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement when asked about the possible revocations. "The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the United States has an equal and reciprocal process.' Industry sources said that if it became more difficult for U.S. semiconductor equipment companies to ship to foreign multinationals, it would only help domestic Chinese competitors. "It's a gift," one said.
NHK
2 hours ago
- NHK
Israel, Iran conduct fresh strikes
Israel and Iran have continued carrying out attacks despite diplomatic efforts by leaders across the world. The Israel Defense Forces said on Friday that they conducted operations in western and northwestern Iran, destroying missile storage and launch facilities. Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to launch attacks against the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij volunteer militia. Tasnim, the news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, said on Friday their forces hit back with ballistic missiles and drones. Those attacks reportedly hurt 23 people in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. People in Tehran took to the streets after Friday prayers to protest the Israeli strikes. They carried pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while chanting "Death to Israel." Israeli leaders have said their remaining goal is to wipe out the uranium enrichment site at Fordow in central Iran. The facility is believed to be located deep underground. Steve Ganyard, a former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State who previously served as a Marine Corps fighter pilot, said taking the facility out would be challenging. He said if the US decides to get involved, the military would have to deploy bombs known as "bunker busters." Ganyard said it is unclear how many of the bombs it would take to destroy the facility, adding that indications point to it being an enormous complex. He said, "That's a big area underneath there, and those halls are massive." Ganyard added that multiple B2 stealth bombers would be needed to carry the payloads and that they would need to conduct a series of attacks, not just a one-time operation.
