Tokyo, 10 December, /AJMEDIA/
Japan will vow “counterstrike capability” in key security documents
TOKYO – The Japanese government will vow in key security documents to be revised this month to acquire “counterstrike capability” but exclusively for defense purposes under the war-renouncing Constitution, a government source said Friday.
The revision to Japan’s National Security Strategy and two other documents, including the controversial idea of allowing the country to fire upon and disable enemy missiles before they are launched from foreign territory, comes as North Korea launches ballistic missiles and China increases its military buildup.
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Figure skating: Miura, Kihara win Japan’s 1st GP Final pairs title
TURIN, Italy – Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara became the first Japanese figure skaters to win the Grand Prix Final pairs title on Friday, beating the winners of the latest world championships from the United States.
Miura and Kihara came out on top in both the short and free programs, earning 214.58 points at the competition in Turin, while runners-up Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier finished with 213.28.
Japan, Australia vow to bolster security ties amid China threat
TOKYO – Japan and Australia pledged Friday to beef up defense cooperation as the regional security environment has worsened amid China’s rapid military buildup in the Indo-Pacific.
During a gathering in Tokyo, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also agreed with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong that the two U.S. security allies will deepen cooperation in the fields of natural resources and energy.
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“Tokyo Vice” author to release podcast on Japan’s “evaporated people”
TOKYO – A podcast exploring the curious phenomena of “johatsu,” or “evaporated people,” in Japan will be released Monday by Jake Adelstein, an American investigative journalist whose bold coverage on the Japanese underworld inspired the television series “Tokyo Vice.”
“The Evaporated: Gone With The Gods,” co-hosted by Shoko Plambeck, a reporter and producer for podcast company Campside Media, is a nine-episode journey into an intriguing topic sometimes regarded as taboo in Japan, but that hits close to home for both hosts.
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Biden to call for African Union to become G-20 permanent member
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden intends to announce his support for the African Union to join the Group of 20 major economies as a permanent member during next week’s U.S.-Africa summit in Washington, the White House said Friday.
“We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health and security,” National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby told reporters, referring to a continent where China is deepening its engagement.
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U.S. sanctions hit China’s illegal fishing, N. Korea border agency
WASHINGTON – The United States on Friday slapped sanctions on Chinese firms involved in illegal fishing and North Korea’s border security agency as part of actions against a broad range of countries to tackle corruption and human rights abuses.
The administration of President Joe Biden also used the occasion to double down on criticism of Russia, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying in a statement that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is a “stark reminder that corrupt regimes are among the worst perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses.”
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Japan to enact law to prohibit malicious donation solicitations
TOKYO – Japan is set Saturday to enact a bill to ban organizations from maliciously soliciting donations following controversy over the fundraising practices of the Unification Church, after the Cabinet made concessions on key issues with the opposition camp.
Aiming to avoid creating new victims of controversial religious groups, the House of Councillors, or upper house, is expected to pass the bill with the support of the ruling bloc and most of the opposition parties on the final day of the 69-day extraordinary parliamentary session.
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Over 30 U.N. members rap N. Korea over ongoing rights abuses
NEW YORK – A group of 31 U.N. member states including the United States, Japan and South Korea criticized North Korea on Friday for neglecting its people’s needs to pursue weapons development and persisting in alleged human rights abuses.
In a joint statement, the members also urged Pyongyang to resolve the issue of people who were abducted from Japan and South Korea to North Korea.
