The three-day visit to Washington was originally expected to focus on trade and strengthening the U.S.-Japanese alliance as China’s influence grows in Asia. It is now expected to be overshadowed by the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran on Feb.

Any decision to dispatch Japanese military vessels to the Middle East to escort ships would face “high hurdles,” a senior official said, after President Donald Trump expressed hopes that Tokyo would join the US to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and safe.

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — A Japanese warship is on the way to the United States to be fitted with Tomahawk cruise missiles, the latest move by Washington and its Asian allies to beef up firepower as adversaries like China and North Korea expand theirs.

This comes after US President Trump urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, UK to send warships to secure Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions - Anadolu Ajansı

By Tim Kelly TOKYO, March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's call for allies to send warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has revived questions about how far pacifist Japan can go to support its closest ally in a conflict.

Japan is taking a major step to strengthen its defense amid growing regional tensions. A Japanese guided-missile destroyer, the JS Chokai, is on its way to the United States to be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles. These advanced missiles can travel ...

Japan is arming a warship with missiles that can hit targets up to 1,000 miles away as Pacific arms race heats up Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — A Japanese warship is on the way to the United States to be fitted with Tomahawk cruise missiles, the latest move by Washington and its Asian allies to beef up firepower as adversaries like China and North Korea expand theirs.