Tag: Japan

US, Japan share concerns about China’s ‘disruptive’ actions in Indo-Pacific region
16Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

US, Japan share concerns about China’s ‘disruptive’ actions in Indo-Pacific region

In high-level security talks on Tuesday, the United States and Japan shared concerns over China’s “disruptive” activities in the Indo-Pacific region and committed to opposing coercion behaviour toward others in the region.This came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin met in Tokyo with their Japanese counterparts Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.“The United States and Japan acknowledged that China’s behaviour, were inconsistent with the existing international order, presents political, economic, military, and technological challenges to the Alliance and to the international community,” a joint statement said.The ministers from the two countries committed to opposing coercion and destabilising behaviour toward ot
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Japan to closely monitor China’s increased defense spending
7Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

Japan to closely monitor China’s increased defense spending

Amid China’s incessant attempts to change the status quo of east and south China seas, defense officials in Japan on Sunday said that they intend to closely monitor how China will increase its defense spending this year.As per 2021’s draft budget at the annual session of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese government increased its defense budget by 6.8 per cent from last year to about 209 billion dollars. That’s around four times Japan’s defense budget for fiscal 2021, starting in April.China has been claiming the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and there have been many incidents of incursions of Chinese ships in Japanese territorial waters.Japan controls the islands but China and Taiwan also lay their claim. Japan maintains the islands as an inherent part of its territory, i
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Japan braces for moves in East China Sea after China Coast Guard law
2Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

Japan braces for moves in East China Sea after China Coast Guard law

Expressing alarm over China’s new law that allows the China Coast Guard to use force against foreign parties, many leaders of Japan, including Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said that China “must not apply the law in a way that goes against international law”.The new law, which entered into force on Monday, “could shake the order based on international law,” a Defense Ministry executive warns.Tokyo is braced for possible Chinese military actions in the East China Sea, where tensions are running high over the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, claimed by Beijing.Some leaders in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party say that the Self-Defense Forces should play a bigger role in dealing with the situation.The new law allows the coast guard to take all necessary measures, including the us
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Japan eyes US-style law to sanction Uighur human rights abuses
13Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Business, China, World

Japan eyes US-style law to sanction Uighur human rights abuses

Amid growing criticism, against China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims, Japan is weighing a legal foundation for sanctions similar to those imposed by the United States and Europe.The Japanese government has asked the local companies that operate in China whether functioning in Xinjiang province could get them into trouble.This comes after a report in March by the Australian Global Policy Institute indicated that around 11 Japanese companies were among the 82 well-known global brands which relied on factories that use forced Uighur laborers.The report indicated that more than 80,000 Uighur workers were transferred out of the Xinjiang region, where China's Uighur population is concentrated, to around 30 factories across the country.Companies in the report, including Fast Retailing, maker...
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India, Japan ink major military logistics support agreement amid tensions in LAC
4Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Singapore, World

India, Japan ink major military logistics support agreement amid tensions in LAC

In their annual summit on September 9, India and Japan inked a landmark agreement that will allow their militaries to access each other's bases for logistics support at a time when Chinese military is flexing its muscle in the Indo-Pacific region.On 9 September, India and Japan in their annual summit inked mutual logistics support arrangement (MLSA).The mutual logistics support arrangement (MLSA) was signed by defence secretary Ajay Kumar and the Japanese ambassador to India Suzuki Satoshi, a defence ministry spokesperson said.Japanese ambassador Satoshi also tweeted “Great pleasure to sign the agreement concerning reciprocal provision of supplies and services between #JSDF and the #IndianArmedForces. Hope the agreement will further promote cooperation between them. #JapanIndia.”The MLSA a
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Japanese report receiving mysterious seed parcels from China
21Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Japanese report receiving mysterious seed parcels from China

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, some Japanese nationals have complained that they have received unsolicited mysterious seed parcels that appear to be coming from China.Plant quarantine officials in Japan have had a number of inquiries about unsolicited packages of seeds apparently sent from China. The authorities have urged people not to plant such seeds.A man in Miura City in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo received a silver packet containing a bag of dozens of seed-like objects, each measuring about 2 millimeters. The shipping label suggests it came from China, national media reported.Officials at the Yokohama Plant Protection Station say they have been contacted by people across the country about suspicious seed shipments since late July.Similar incidents have been reported in more than 2...
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AUSMIN 2020: US-Australia reaffirm commitment to Quad consultation with India, counter China
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

AUSMIN 2020: US-Australia reaffirm commitment to Quad consultation with India, counter China

At the 30th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2020, both the countries reaffirmed their commitment to trilateral dialogues with Japan and Quad consultations with Japan and India."The Secretaries and Ministers reaffirmed that the Indo-Pacific is the focus of the Alliance and that the United States and Australia are working side-by-side, including with ASEAN, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Five Eyes partners, to strengthen our networked structure of alliances and partnerships to maintain a region that is secure, prosperous, inclusive, and rules-based," a joint statement released on the occasion said.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper hosted Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds o...
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Tokyo demonstrators protest repression of minorities in China
28Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Tokyo demonstrators protest repression of minorities in China

 Hundreds of Uyghur, Tibetan and Hong Kong demonstrators took to the streets of Tokyo on July 12, denouncing China and its policies in their respective regions.Shouting slogans and carrying banners, Uyghurs and Tibetan minorities called for independence from what they term “Chinese repression.”The Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic group in the region of Xinjiang, said they wanted their territory to be named Eastern Turkmenistan. Protestors said minorities have been subjected to repression and forced labor in camps, making them pledge allegiance to the Chinese government.Hong Kong exiles also expressed concern about the new national security law passed on June 30, threatening the “one country, two systems” policy. The new law allows the extradition of Hong Kong nationals to China and threatens those
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Japanese lawmakers move to protect Hongkongers from China’s national security law
27Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Japanese lawmakers move to protect Hongkongers from China’s national security law

With the enactment of Hong Kong security law by mainland China, Japan has come forward to assist Hong Kongers wanting to flee the city to save their lives and for the purpose, lawmakers in Japan are formulating plans to form a nonpartisan group.Former defense minister Nakatani Gen of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, Lower House member Yamao Shiori of the Democratic Party for the People, and others will launch the group on July 29.They will be urging the government to extend the period of stay of Hong Kongers in Japan without visas, and also ease the requirement for obtaining working visas.The new group seeks to protect the freedom and rights of Hong Kong citizens.They will also pursue the enactment of legislation that would allow the government or the Diet to investigate possible ca...
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China pushing territorial claims during pandemic, alleges Japan
23Jul By Nectar GanNo Comments
Conflict

China pushing territorial claims during pandemic, alleges Japan

In its annual defense review, Japan has accused China of Taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic and push its territorial claims in the East China Sea.China “is continuing to attempt to alter the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea,” Japan said in the defense white paper approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government on July 14.The report further said that there have been "relentless" intrusions in the areas around the Senkaku islands as called by Japan or Diaoyu in China.Besides, in recent days, China has been asserting its claims in the South China Sea by establishing administrative districts around disputed islands while the neighbouring countries have been busy with dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.Chinese intrusions in the South China Sea have not only be
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