Tokyo, 17 December, /AJMEDIA/
U.S. hails Japan’s new security strategy as “bold and historic
WASHINGTON – The U.S. government on Friday welcomed Japan’s new security policy as a “bold and historic” step to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the key Asian ally forging ahead with its biggest defense buildup since World War II.
Japan’s National Security Strategy and other related documents have been adopted amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region and North Korea’s continued test-firing of ballistic missiles and other provocative actions.
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Japan OKs enemy base strike capability in major defense policy shift
TOKYO – Japan decided Friday to acquire the capability to strike enemy bases and double defense spending in a dramatic shift in its postwar security policy under the nation’s war-renouncing Constitution, provoking a harsh backlash from China.
With the security environment surrounding Japan becoming unstable amid threats from China, North Korea and Russia, Tokyo, which has rejected warfare for the past 77 years, will be able to directly attack another country’s territory in case of an emergency.
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China firmly opposed to Japan’s updated defense documents
BEIJING – China said Friday it was “firmly opposed” to and “strongly dissatisfied” with Japan’s newly updated key defense-related documents, which describe Beijing as “the greatest strategic challenge” ever for Tokyo and lodged solemn representations with its neighbor.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said Japan’s move “seriously deviates from the basic facts” and “provokes regional tension and confrontation.” It urged Japan not to be obsessed with using the so-called China threat to indulge in its own military expansion.
China to focus on stable growth in 2023 by prioritizing spending
BEIJING – The Chinese leadership has decided to focus on ensuring stable economic growth in 2023 by prioritizing the recovery and expansion of consumption, state-run media said Friday, as the world’s second-largest economy has been slowing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
An annual meeting to craft economic plans for next year pointed out that, at present, the foundation for China’s economic recovery is “not yet solid” and vowed to implement support measures, such as “a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy,” according to China Central Television.
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Mourners mark 1st anniversary of deadly fire at Osaka clinic
OSAKA – Mourners laid flowers Saturday on the first anniversary of a deadly fire at an Osaka mental health clinic that claimed the lives of 26 people and the suspected arsonist.
The victims of the fire on the morning of Dec. 17, 2021, in Osaka’s Kita Ward included regular visitors to the facility and its director, Kotaro Nishizawa, 49. The fire occurred on a Friday, when the clinic would hold a scheduled group therapy session for people on absence from work.
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Protesters lambast Japan defense policy shift outside PM office
TOKYO – Protesters on Friday lambasted Japan’s decision to acquire an enemy base strike capability in a major shift in defense policy, shouting slogans including calling the move “unconstitutional” while gathered outside the prime minister’s office.
“Military power does not create peace” were among chants that rang out from the morning in Tokyo’s Nagatacho district, as were those claiming the move goes against Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution, which renounces war.
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Japan New Year domestic trips forecast at 72% of pre-pandemic levels
TOKYO – The number of holidaymakers in Japan making domestic trips during the New Year vacation period is expected to rise by 3 million from a year earlier but remain at 71.8 percent of pre-pandemic levels, or 21 million people, according to travel agency projections released this month.
Major Japanese travel agency JTB Corp. partially attributed the expected increase from the 2021/2022 holiday period to people having a lower psychological barrier to travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Speed skating: Japan’s Miho Takagi wins 500m silver at World Cup in Calgary
CALGARY, Canada – Japan’s Miho Takagi took silver in the women’s 500-meter race won by South Korea’s Kim Min Sun at the speed skating World Cup in Calgary on Friday.
Takagi, the silver medalist over the distance at this year’s Beijing Winter Olympics, clocked 37.26 seconds to finish 0.30 behind Kim at the Calgary Olympic Oval.
