Nikkei Asia:

Japan and the U.S. affirmed that Washington will extend its security umbrella to its treaty ally into space, a move that would seek to protect Japanese satellites as China and Russia ramp up military activity in the arena.

The foreign and defense ministers of the two countries issued a joint statement Wednesday saying that Article 5 of their security treaty, which obligates the U.S. to defend Japan if it comes under attack, could be applied to space.

“The ministers consider that attacks to, from or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the alliance, and affirmed such attacks, in certain circumstances, could lead to the invocation of Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty,” the statement said.

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