Kihara Minoru | |
---|---|
木原 稔 | |
25th Minister of Defense | |
Assumed office 13 September 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Fumio Kishida |
Preceded by | Yasukazu Hamada |
Member of the House of Representatives | |
Assumed office 11 September 2005 - 21 July 2009 18 December 2012 | |
Preceded by | Yorihisa Matsuno |
Constituency |
Kyushu PR block (2005-2009) Kumamoto 1st district (2012-present) |
Personal details | |
Born | Kumamoto, Japan | 12 August 1969
Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
Alma mater | Waseda University |
Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru, born August 12, 1969) is a Japanese politician who has served as the Minister of Defense since September 2023. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.
A native of Kumamoto and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at Japan Airlines until 2004. [1] Kihara served as the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Security Affairs from 2019 to 2021, for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga. [2]
Kihara is considered a pro-Taiwan MP. [3] [4] [5] In August 2022, Kihara was part of an unofficial Japanese delegation to Taiwan which met with Taiwanese officials, Premier Su Tseng-chang, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. [6] An agreement was reached between the delegation and the Taiwanese government, to hold talks over evacuation plans for the 20,000 Japanese citizens living in Taiwan, in the event of a Chinese invasion. [6]
In July 2023, Kihara participated in a war game conducted by the think tank, Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, the war game simulated a Chinese attack on Taiwan. In the war game, Kihara played the role of Japan's defense minister and proposed using "counterattack capabilities" against China to resist the invasion. [5]
Following a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense. [7] Kihara announced on September 15, 2023 that he resigned from a cross-party group that enhances Japan-Taiwan relations. [8]
On October 3, 2023 Kihara visited the United States, where he met with U.S. officials to reaffirm commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and advance new areas of cooperation. [9] To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits. [10]
Kihara received criticism for his remarks on October 2023 at a political rally to support the LDP in a by-election, where he stated that "Supporting the LDP candidate will repay the efforts of the Self-Defense Forces and their families.” [11] Critics claimed that Kihara had used the SDF for political purposes, and had violated its political neutrality. [11] [12] Kihara later retracted his remarks for causing a "misunderstanding". [11] [13]
On May 2, 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii. [14] In a series of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral talks Kihara alongside his counterparts reaffirmed commitments to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. [15]
Kihara Minoru | |
---|---|
木原 稔 | |
25th Minister of Defense | |
Assumed office 13 September 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Fumio Kishida |
Preceded by | Yasukazu Hamada |
Member of the House of Representatives | |
Assumed office 11 September 2005 - 21 July 2009 18 December 2012 | |
Preceded by | Yorihisa Matsuno |
Constituency |
Kyushu PR block (2005-2009) Kumamoto 1st district (2012-present) |
Personal details | |
Born | Kumamoto, Japan | 12 August 1969
Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
Alma mater | Waseda University |
Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru, born August 12, 1969) is a Japanese politician who has served as the Minister of Defense since September 2023. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.
A native of Kumamoto and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at Japan Airlines until 2004. [1] Kihara served as the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Security Affairs from 2019 to 2021, for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga. [2]
Kihara is considered a pro-Taiwan MP. [3] [4] [5] In August 2022, Kihara was part of an unofficial Japanese delegation to Taiwan which met with Taiwanese officials, Premier Su Tseng-chang, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. [6] An agreement was reached between the delegation and the Taiwanese government, to hold talks over evacuation plans for the 20,000 Japanese citizens living in Taiwan, in the event of a Chinese invasion. [6]
In July 2023, Kihara participated in a war game conducted by the think tank, Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, the war game simulated a Chinese attack on Taiwan. In the war game, Kihara played the role of Japan's defense minister and proposed using "counterattack capabilities" against China to resist the invasion. [5]
Following a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense. [7] Kihara announced on September 15, 2023 that he resigned from a cross-party group that enhances Japan-Taiwan relations. [8]
On October 3, 2023 Kihara visited the United States, where he met with U.S. officials to reaffirm commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and advance new areas of cooperation. [9] To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits. [10]
Kihara received criticism for his remarks on October 2023 at a political rally to support the LDP in a by-election, where he stated that "Supporting the LDP candidate will repay the efforts of the Self-Defense Forces and their families.” [11] Critics claimed that Kihara had used the SDF for political purposes, and had violated its political neutrality. [11] [12] Kihara later retracted his remarks for causing a "misunderstanding". [11] [13]
On May 2, 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii. [14] In a series of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral talks Kihara alongside his counterparts reaffirmed commitments to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. [15]