Rintaro Tobita

Staff Writer at Nikkei Asia

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Articles

New U.S. Okinawa unit to counter 'China aggression': Marine chief

Jun 22, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, told Nikkei on Friday that a new unit established in November on the Japanese island of Okinawa is designed to "counter PRC [the People's Republic of China] aggression" in order to protect Japan and others in geopolitically sensitive areas.
China's drills appear to be 'rehearsal' for Taiwan invasion: U.S. admiral

May 29, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Ryo Nakamura |Rintaro Tobita

TOKYO -- China's recent military exercises surrounding Taiwan "looked like a rehearsal" for an invasion, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo told Nikkei on Wednesday, stressing the importance of solidarity among the U.S., Japan and their partners to enhance deterrence against Beijing. Adm. Paparo became the top military official in the Indo-Pacific Command in early May and oversees day-to-day operations of U.S. joint forces in the region.
Trump VP contender Ramaswamy urges 'strategic clarity' on Taiwan

May 24, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Tamami Shimizuishi |Rintaro Tobita

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The U.S. should adopt "strategic clarity" on its response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and "say we would defend Taiwan, at least for the foreseeable future," former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy told Nikkei. Ramaswamy is seen as in the running to become Republican Donald Trump's running mate in November as the former U.S. president seeks a return to the White House.
U.S. and China resume military talks to avoid accidental clashes

Apr 5, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and China held maritime military talks this week in Hawaii, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said, as the countries revive efforts to prevent an accidental clash. The dialogue, known as the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement talks, ended Thursday and is designed to improve operational safety and reduce risks between the two militaries. It was last held online in December 2021.
Japan's Sky Perfect JSAT in talks with U.S. military on space monitoring

Mar 21, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- Japanese satellite broadcaster Sky Perfect JSAT aims to collaborate with the U.S. military in monitoring space, President Eiichi Yonekura told Nikkei, looking to turn security-related applications into a major revenue source. Yonekura met with a U.S. official in charge of space policy at the White House on Tuesday, where the two sides discussed collaboration in space situational awareness.
Biden says U.S. Steel should remain American-owned

Mar 14, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Ken Moriyasu |Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his desire that steelmaker U.S. Steel remains American-owned in a statement Thursday. "It is important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers," the president said in the statement shared with Nikkei.
On U.S. Steel's home turf, Nippon Steel deal draws backlash and hope

Mar 12, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- Nippon Steel's proposed $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel has emerged as a political flashpoint in the latter's home of Pennsylvania, a swing state that could sway the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November. Visiting a community home to one of the steelmaker's iconic plants reveals widespread opposition to the takeover, but also some unexpected support.
U.S. urges Japan and Netherlands to tighten China chip tech curbs

Mar 8, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. is pushing Japan and the Netherlands to expand their restrictions on semiconductor-related exports to China, seeking to cover equipment for older-generation chips as well as chipmaking chemicals. The U.S. imposed sweeping export curbs in October 2022 to limit China's access to semiconductors seen as key for technologies such as artificial intelligence and self-driving vehicles, as well as high-tech weapons.
Eyeing China, Biden limits personal data transfers to U.S. rivals

Feb 28, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Joe Biden will issue an executive order Wednesday that aims to prevent large transfers of sensitive personal data to "countries of concern," a move that could further the American decoupling from China. The executive order applies to the sale and transfer of genomic, biometric and financial data, among other personal information of U.S. citizens. China is expected to be named a country of concern, along with Russia, North Korea and Iran.
Trump talks of massive tariff hikes on China in two steps

Feb 20, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rintaro Tobita

WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump will likely consider a two-step plan to sharply increase duties on Chinese goods if he is elected president again in November and may threaten Japan and Europe with higher tariffs to force them to open up their markets more to American products. Trump said in early February that he is weighing duties of more than 60% targeting China.