Tokyo, 15 April, /AJMEDIA
Japan plans to send SDF plane for Ukraine refugee aid this month
TOKYO – Japan plans to dispatch a Self-Defense Forces airplane possibly later this month to help countries receiving Ukrainian refugees transport relief items, in a mission expected to last until the end of June, government sources said Thursday.
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in its second month and some 4 million people having fled their homes, the sources said the SDF plane will pick up supplies, such as blankets and sleeping mats, stockpiled in Dubai and India’s Mumbai, and transport them to Poland and Romania, countries neighboring Ukraine.
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Pentagon warns China-Solomons security pact could be destabilizing
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Defense Department on Thursday expressed concern over a possible security pact between China and the Solomon Islands, saying it leaves the door open for deployment of Chinese military forces to the Pacific nation.
“We believe that signing such an agreement could actually increase destabilization within the Solomon Islands and could set a concerning precedent for the wider Pacific Island region,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told a press conference.
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Japan aims to ensure chip-use rare gases procurement amid Ukraine war
TOKYO – Japan’s industry ministry said Thursday it aims to ensure the procurement of rare gases necessary for chip production, as supply from major exporter Ukraine may be disrupted by Russian’s invasion and the chip supply crunch remains a major issue.
Officials of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said at a panel meeting that it seeks to take measures to encourage domestic manufacturers to ramp up production capacity of those gases and bolster cooperation with other countries to enhance supply chains by 2025.
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Japan to continue subsidy program for oil wholesalers in May
TOKYO – The Japanese government decided Thursday to continue its subsidy program for oil wholesalers in May and further raise the payment from the current 25 yen (20 cents) per liter to prevent a sharp increase in fuel prices as oil supply concerns persist due to a cut in Russian oil exports, sources familiar with the matter said.
The government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering using 2 trillion yen of the 5.5 trillion yen reserve fund from the fiscal 2022 budget to finance the subsidy program and other measures to cushion the impact of rising prices on the economy, the sources said.
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U.S. congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan, draws China rebuke
TAIPEI – A delegation of six senior members of the U.S. Congress arrived in Taiwan Thursday, drawing a rebuke from China.
The delegation is being led by Sen. Lindsey Graham and includes Bob Menendez, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They plan to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said, adding the visit by the delegation amid the Ukraine crisis demonstrates the United States’ “rock solid” support and commitment to Taiwan.
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Singapore PM Lee says finance minister Wong will be his successor
SINGAPORE – Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday that ministers of his cabinet have chosen Finance Minister Lawrence Wong as his future successor.
The 49-year-old Wong, once Lee’s principal private secretary, is seen assuming the post after Singapore’s next general election, expected in 2025.
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Hong Kong’s former No. 2 becomes sole candidate in leadership race
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong government’s former No. 2, John Lee, has been confirmed as the sole candidate running in the city’s leadership election slated for May 8 as the government on Thursday closed candidacy applications and received only Lee’s bid.
The chief executive election would be a confidence vote on Lee, a security hard-liner and the only candidate favored by Beijing. But he is seen as sure to be elected given his majority support in the Election Committee that will vote for the leader.
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Husband of Japanese ex-princess not on N.Y. bar exam pass list again
TOKYO – The name of the husband of Japanese former princess Mako Komuro did not appear on the pass list of the New York state bar examination released Thursday local time by its organizer.
Having previously failed the New York state bar exam last July, Kei Komuro took the test again in February this year.
