Shangri-La Dialogue: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the Singapore forum to press Asian allies to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, warning of “rightful alarm” over China’s military buildup and arguing a “Pacific dominated by any hegemon” would destabilize the region. China’s Absence: The same summit spotlighted Beijing’s continued snub of top-level attendance, with China’s defense minister Dong Jun skipping again and the program dropping his speech, while U.S. and others called it a missed chance for direct talks. Japan-NATO Ukraine Support: Japan said it will send four SDF personnel to NATO’s Ukraine training hub in Germany for the first time, and separately pledged about $14.7 million to NATO’s PURL for non-lethal Ukraine assistance. Japan-Philippines Security Upgrade: President Ferdinand Marcos wrapped up a “highly productive” Japan visit, with ties elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deeper cooperation on defense and maritime security. Tokyo Anti-War Politics: About 10,000 rallied outside the Diet against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s policies, linking concerns over constitutional revision and anti-espionage moves to fears of militarization. Immigration Clampdown Fallout: A report on Japan’s tighter visa rules shows small businesses struggling to comply, highlighting the domestic political pressure behind the crackdown. Yen Intervention: Japan confirmed record currency-market intervention spending of 11.73 trillion yen over April-May to stem yen weakness.