Japan held a ceremony on Wednesday marking its planned donation of about 100 military vehicles to Ukraine, as Tokyo seeks to provide equipment that can be of broader military use than its earlier shipments of helmets and hazmat suits.
In a ceremony at the Defense Ministry at which two half-ton trucks were on display, Japanese Vice Defense Minister Toshiro Ino handed a document to Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky listing the three types of vehicles included in the donation.
“We hope the invasion ends as soon as possible and peaceful daily lives return," Ino said. “We will provide as much support as we can.”
The donation, which also includes 30,000 food rations, comes as Japan’s government is seeking to ease its military equipment transfer policy under a new national security policy that allows its military a greater offensive role, in a major break from its post-World War II self-defense-only principle.
While other countries have provided Ukraine with tanks, missiles and fighter jets, Japan has limited its donations to non-lethal equipment because the transfer policy prohibits the provision of lethal weapons to countries at war.
Japan has provided Ukraine with bulletproof vests, helmets, gas masks, hazmat suits, small drones and food rations since Russia's invasion began last year.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged the trucks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when they met in Hiroshima on Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit. Japan has also offered to treat injured Ukrainian soldiers at a Japanese military hospital.
The vehicles consist of half-ton trucks, high mobility vehicles and material handling vehicles, the government said. The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency said the details, including the exact number of vehicles and timing of their shipment, are being finalized.
Tokyo has joined the United States and European nations in sanctioning Russia over its invasion and in providing humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine.
Japan was quick to react because of fears of a possible impact from the war on East Asia, where China’s military has grown increasingly assertive and has escalated tensions around self-governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Japan has contributed more than $7 billion to Ukraine. It has also accepted more than 2,000 displaced Ukrainians and helped them with housing and support for jobs and education, a rare move in a country known for its strict immigration policy.
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TaiwanIsNotChina
I'm sure these are very useful but Japan should be providing ammunition as well.
JeffLee
SDF vehicles always look brand new and pristine when I see them on the streets. I have wondered if they simply discard them after only a few years, which would be a huge waste. Giving them to Ukraine seems like a very sustainable practice.
buffalo
About time. And yes send ammo and every other resource that it takes to drive out the scourge
Jtsnose
Is it wise for Japan to make such contributions public . . . especially considering its other foreign relations?
TaiwanIsNotChina
If Russia wants to throw a fit over food and trucks, there was never going to be any dealing with them anyways. Most countries want credit for helping Ukraine, too.
Fighto!
Good on the Japanese government for providing these military vehicles which will certainly be of use.
All the material help given to the brave Ukrainians as they fight to reclaim THEIR sovereign, beloved land from the fascists is encouraging.
Yrral
Japan is a ATM, depositing directly into Ukraine moneypit
Samit Basu
This is kinda disappointing.
Korea is supplying armored medevac vehicles plus tank based mine-clearing vehicles, not unarmored trucks and SUVs.
https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230521000143
Michael Machida
How long did this take?
maxjapank
Always late to the show.
Mr Kipling
Soft skinned Mitsubishi pick ups.... Wow... More "game changers"?
Well, at least Mitsubishi get some much needed sales. And some Polish or Moldovan farmers will get a cheap truck after they have been sold on by corrupt Ukrainian generals.
What ol' Jack Burton always says
Don't lecture Japan on what it should be doing.
Personally iam relieved Japan isn't providing any lethal support to Ukraine.
It's not Japan's fight.
What ol' Jack Burton always says
What the heck are yew blathering about ?
Japan is most certainly still doing trade and business and dealings with Russia in a big way.
ie: tobacco , minerals ,fossil fuels etc etc...
crowbag
first thing I thought is...what side is the steering wheel on though lol
Michael Machida
@What ol' Jack Burton always says
Historically, when it is Japans' fight, you hear: Why doesn't America protect us?
Hervé L'Eisa
Foolish choice by the Japanese govt.
Eastman
its easy to throw away taxpayers money for nothing.
Fumio...how abt young families with kids?no word but yes UA needs our help....
Grilledham&cheese
Japanese government has to follow the orders of their master America and give the Nazi regime in Ukraine something
Sven Asai
It’s surely more a small political gesture and humanitarian aid than a useful military one. Maybe they can now evacuate a few more children or seniors from the villages in frontline areas into safer inner-Ukrainian areas and provide a few meals during those evacuation attempts. Not more, but also not less.
Cogito Ergo Sum
The NATO Alliance and its side-kicks are simply clearing their dead stockpile of weapons... with hopes that Putin will exhaust his new weaponry and men.
Much of the arms to Ukraine come with caveats, can’t be used to strike deep inside Russia. Some need logistics, infrastructure and acquity well beyond Ukraine’s ( the F-16) .
What has Ukraine been doing with the Billions of $$ and equipment so far received ? For the past several months , there’s been a lull in fighting , apart from Bakhmut, it’s Russia missiles that have been pounding Ukraine’s infrastructure at will. ..while waiting for Ukraine’s spring counter-offence which, I know, will amount to zilch.
Do these Nato allies have any empathy for Ukraine as a country ? Or its people? The Belgodorov insurgency is a diversion meant to fool people that Ukraine has a chance , that something is happening within Russia.. but Russia can stop this war devastatingly, if it so chooses.
It’s time for people to tell their leaders to stop fanning the war. The share-holding rights in re-building Ukraine is not worth the life, limb and blood being lost. Japan has been here before... so much for Hiroshima “ peace” ...how myopic .
JJE
The vehicles in the background are Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck (Shin) (73式小型トラック (新), 73-shiki kogata torakku (shin)).
These are light skinned, unarmoured, open top vehicles - note the canvas collapsible canopy.
Driving around in one of these on a modern symmetric battlefield is a craziness - you'd have to have a deathwish.
Fighto!
Bizarre comment. You do realize the aim of the Ukrainians is not to "strike deep inside Russia"? The aim is to kick the fascist Russians out of Ukrainian sovereign territory. To send the rubbish back where it came from.
Every bit of assistance the brave Ukrainians receive from their many friends - including Japan - helps.
Clay
Given massive widespread Ukrainian corruption exposed in recent CIA Ukraine leaked intel, must try to ensure assets provided to UA NOT LIQUID in nature or easy to sell.
Used military vehicles = OK
1glenn
Well done Japan!
JJE
Imagine driving up to Donetsk city in an open topped Mitsubishi Type 73 with a little blue and yellow flag.
You wouldn't make it out alive. These vehicles are completely inappropriate for a symmetric battlefield - much heavier western armoured vehicles are getting greased and swiss-cheesed daily, including heavy tracked vehicles.
They may as well send some Kei-cars. Surely they can't be serious. And an open topped vehicle is complete madness in a conflict in which tens of thousands of shells are being fired daily.
xin xin
well done japan. good job given the legal restraints, which ought to be struc down now in the face of chinese threats. yes, even kei cars are needed in uraine. not all of ukraine is a battlefront.
Eastman
Japan just took position of one side of conflict have nothing to do with and not related to at all.
Japans position as peace loving country should be one chinese took right now-to be a peace negotiator.
bring to table both sides for talk and stop meaningless killings at both sides.
this conflict have clearly no military solution.
wallace
Japan took the side of the defender, Ukraine. Mr Putin go home.
JJE
The LPR and DPR are also defenders. Will they get some Type 73 too?
Eastman
wallace
Mr Putin is at home no doubt.you may call him or send him email to verify.
Japan just did what get ordered from whitehouse.
as expected.
TaiwanIsNotChina
No because these are insurgents. If they could win something without the aid of Russian criminality, maybe they would be worth something.
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's empathy that causes us to listen to their pleas for ammo rather than cynically pushing for a surrender that will never be wanted.
Not without straight up losing this pathetic invasion of theirs by NATO involvement.
Abe234
What ol' Jack Burton always saysToday 08:35 am JST
I guess you're just thinking of the here and now with an I'm alright Jack.
It is absolutely in Japan's interest to see Ukraine liberated, and Russia defeated.
why? Well, first there is China which has its eyes on a few Japanese islands. And I guess if China wants to take them, I guess they can, because it's NOT the rest of the worlds FIGHT!. Second Russia also lays claims to some Northern Islands. With your geopolitical understanding, Russia could take them, and again it's NOT IN THE REST of the world's fight. Thirdly, China can see if the world allows the aggression to stand, similar to the 1930s policy of appeasement, then China can and will take Taiwan. If it is not the rest of the world's fight, why not take those small Japanese islands along with Russia to the north working together? Of course, if you think it is not Japan's fight, then it would not be the US, UK, Australia or any other democracies fight, to help Japan. But deep down it shows hypocrisy, you accept the protection of the US and the tacit agreement that NATO and others will somehow HELP Japan in its time of need. You live in the comfort of group protection, and treaties, closer military ties, while sitting back, watching others do the work accepting the protection of a US nuclear umbrella. This is most definitely in japans interest.
Roy Sophveason
Japan is not Europe. Can you take this fact at face value or do I need to use a map?
Abe234
JJEToday 10:20 am JST
I agree but these aren't for the "battlefield" these are for the other parts of the echelon. EG supplies, moving commanders around, communication, but they can be modified to carry things that go BANG, depending on the vehicle! Similar to the Humvee. Certainly not what I want to see, but I guess the Ukrainians will need everything to keep the military working. Sometimes its the MBT, Artillery, and APC that get all the glory, press, and reporters standing next to but a lot of what keeps it all going are the boring trucks, food supplies, ammo supplies, and logistics.
La vie douce
I think this is appropriate kind of support from Japan together with treating Ukranian wounded in J military hospital.
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
Congratulations to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and related suppliers.
May your profits flow ever upwards to your board members, who like all of us are affected by inflation.
Good job to the sales team on securing this lucrative contract.
CruisinJapan
Just about 15 months into the conflict. Better late than never, though.
Kumagaijin
This is small potatoes compared to what Japan has sold or given to other countries involved in conflict. Think about all those white Toyota pick-ups used in Africa, Mid-East and Afghanistan. They just don't qualify as "military vehicles" in some parts of the world, but strap on some machine guns, RPGs, and a few mujas and they're good to go.
Yoshikawa079
Japan held a ceremony on Wednesday marking its planned donation of about 100 military vehicles to Ukraine.
Japanese Vice Defense Minister Ino said that “We hope the invasion ends as soon as possible and peaceful daily lives return. We will provide as much support as we can.”
We thought that Japan should take this opportunity to change its attitude toward war. Because Japan is only allowed to protect its own country, it is naturally prohibited to have nuclear weapons, and even support to fellow countries is restricted. I felt that this has good and bad sides for Japan. Despite receiving a lot of support from the United States and others after World War II, Japan can only help with food and equipment when fellow countries are in danger. I don't think this fact is fair. If we are a fellow country like the G7, I believe that our position should be fair in any situation, not just war. Even if it is restricted by law or constitution. Therefore, I believe that Japan should take this opportunity to change its laws, constitution, and thoughts on war.
Peter14
According to Russia itself, there is no war but only a "special military operation" so with that in mind Japan can give Ukraine any military weaponry it wants without breaking its constitution.
JJE
Unmentioned in the article is the logistics of transporting these vehicles there or ongoing sustainment.
Most likely via sea to somewhere in Europe then onwards by rail or road - which will take months.
A commercial airlift would be prohibitively expensive considering the pedestrian nature of the cargo.
Either way this is shaping up as a hyper-exorbitant, symbolic photo op; a token gesture to please the home crowd and fly the flag.
Roy Sophveason
Germany is not Japan.
The difference between 47% in April and 45% in May is not 20%. Not even close.
Try again.
TokyoLiving
Sooner or later, Japan will regret this..
Spitfire
And there goes the Northern Territories.
Putin won't forget this.
Japan is used to playing both sides every time in order to sell its products, but now the time to stand up and be counted as actually arrived.......Japan might be left I n the lurch.
Nibek32
I hope they’re not those tiny pick up trucks.
OssanAmerica
Putin will no longer be in power by the time Russia returms the 4 stolen islands to Japan. Putin has never intended to return them anyway so nothing lost.
OssanAmerica
Ukraine is already using Toyota Hi-Lux trucks.
https://en.ukrmilitary.com/2021/09/ukrainian-armor-offers-toyota-hilux-to.html
ReasonandWisdomNippon
South Korea had to be pushed to do the bare minimum. Many countries complain to S.Korea before you did anything. A country with no military restrictions, yet unwilling to do nothing. No article 9, not pacifist.
Did Yoon visit Ukraine?? South Korea selling alot of weapons for profit to Europe, yet unwilling to give more to Ukraine for free.
South Korea unwilling to join Quad Alliance.
South Korean emergency is not a Taiwanese emergency, Koreans only care about Korea peninsula.
Do more before complaining about Japan. Pacifist Japan is taking more responsibilities, then half of Korea will ever do in it's existence.
Desert Tortoise
The same coalition of nations now assisting Ukraine my likewise assist Japan if / when China finally decides to extract revenge for WWII. In fact the determination of the western powers to unify behind Ukraine might be what prevents China from attacking Taiwan and Japan. That unity has proven to be the second major surprise of this war, with the first and biggest being Ukraine's ability to resist.