Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies says the Chinese military is rapidly promoting development of core technologies in cooperation with the private sector, to boost its capabilities in cyberspace and outer space.

The institute on Friday released its annual report on China's military development, focusing on the country's military-civil fusion strategy.

Defense Minister Kono Taro says the US military in Japan will begin releasing details about the number of people infected with the coronavirus at military facilities in the country.

Infection cases have been confirmed among US military personnel in Okinawa Prefecture and elsewhere. But the cases had only been reported to some municipal governments.

Japan's Defense Minister Kono Taro says the country has asked the United States to conduct coronavirus tests on all of its military personnel who come to Japan.

Kono told reporters on Friday that the ministry requested two tests, one before such personnel leave the US and the other after they enter Japan, regardless of whether they have fevers or other suspected symptoms.

A top official at the US Embassy in Tokyo says the US military "remains ready and capable to deal with any kind of aggressive acts," even though coronavirus cases have been found on a US aircraft carrier and bases in Japan.

Charge d'Affaires ad interim Joseph Young gave a video interview to NHK on Friday. He said the US forces have taken "proactive measures to minimize the risk of infection and spread," and the US is ready to respond to any actor that might want to take advantage while the East Asian region is focused on the coronavirus.