China has expanded its military presence —particularly its navy—across the Western Pacific in recent years, raising alarms among the U.S. and its regional allies. It has also built up a large missile arsenal capable of striking Japan, including U.S. military bases located there.

Japan has published its Defence of Japan 2025 white paper, which details escalating threats from a more united bloc of authoritarian countries, specifically China, Russia, and North Korea, as reported by the Eurasian Times.

Japan has launched an anti-dumping investigation into nickel-based stainless cold-rolled steel sheets and strips imported from China and Taiwan, its trade and finance ministries said on Tuesday. The move follows a petition filed on May 12 by Nippon Steel and other domestic manufacturers,

The ship, one of seven Canadian icebreakers scheduled to deploy for the Coast Guard's Arctic summer operations between June and November, was tracked near Nome, Alaska, on July 19, as it shifted its mission to icebreaking and scientific support in the Arctic.

The new agreement will expand bilateral trade ties, promote business cooperation and explore ways to diversify critical mineral supply chains.

* Wall Street now switches back to earnings season, with two of its so-called "Magnificent Seven" megacap firms - Alphabet and Tesla - reporting after the bell on Wednesday. The performance of the former, in particular, will test the durability of the artificial intelligence theme that's still having profound effects on the whole economy.

Japan has warned of escalating military threats from China in a new defense report. The report highlights China's growing military activity near Japan’s southwestern coasts and the Pacific as a major strategic challenge.

A Japanese government official called on China to expand a program allowing certain mainland investors to put more money abroad, citing “strong enthusiasm” for Japanese stocks.

Progress in relations between China and Japan could lose some steam if embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba steps down following a crushing electoral loss. Ishiba, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has come under intense pressure since the ruling coalition’s defeat in upper house elections on Sunday.