Japan and US launch new space cooperation to counter China's satellite expansion

Japan and the U.S. are enhancing space cooperation to address China's growing satellite capabilities. A new Space Force headquarters will launch in December at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo. Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani announced the plan during a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Australia. The headquarters will initially have 10 personnel to coordinate with Japan's Self-Defence Forces. This development follows the establishment of a similar unit in South Korea in December 2022. Discussions about the Japan facility began in February.