Sulfur Island in the Pacific, a volcanic outpost and World War II battleground
China’s Luyang III-class destroyer has conducted live-fire drills within Japan’s EEZ near Okinotori, while Russia’s presence and joint patrols with China are drawing concern from Tokyo. Officials say the drills, observed during a China-Russia exercise, underscore deepening military cooperation in the region. Authorities are monitoring moves around Japan’s waters and airspace.
Japan has bolstered its military capabilities, prioritizing domestic drone development and long-range missiles as deterrence against China. Cabinet defence paper stresses speed, expanded arms production, and a shift toward homemade unmanned weapons to offset a shrinking workforce.
Multiple storms have triggered record rainfall across parts of South Korea, the Philippines and China, causing evacuations, power outages and injuries. Geoje and nearby areas have seen rescues and ongoing emergency responses as the deluge continues.