Tokyo, 28 December, /AJMEDIA/
FOCUS: G-7 chair Japan should urge more nations to impose Russian sanctions
TOKYO – As the Ukraine war drags on, Japan, which will chair the Group of Seven industrialized nations in 2023, should increase efforts to urge more nations to impose sanctions on Russia and add pressure on Moscow to enter negotiations with Ukraine for a cease-fire, international relations experts say.
An effective way to do so is for the G-7, whose leaders are gathering for an annual summit in Hiroshima in May, to form a united front with countries that have so far resisted taking action against Russia.
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PM Kishida hints at general election before tax hikes for defense
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hinted Tuesday that he could call a general election before raising taxes in 2024 or later to finance a defense buildup.
Speaking on a TV program, Kishida said the government will decide on the exact timing of corporate, income and tobacco tax rises for increased defense spending but “there will be an election before that.”
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Japan logs record 438 COVID deaths during 8th wave of infections
TOKYO – Japan posted a record 438 daily COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday in the midst of the eighth wave of infections.
The number exceeded the previous high of 371 daily deaths marked last Friday.
Japan reported either double digits or around 100-200 COVID-19 deaths a day in November. But the daily figure rose to the 200- to 300-level in December.
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Japan signs new deal with Oman to buy 2.3 mil. tons of LNG per year
TOKYO – Japanese trading houses Mitsui & Co., Itochu Corp. and electricity firm Jera Co. agreed Tuesday with Oman to purchase about 2.35 million tons of liquefied natural gas a year from the Middle East country, the Japanese industry ministry said.
Against the backdrop of energy supply disruptions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp. also announced the same day it has signed a 20-year agreement with Venture Global LNG to purchase 1 million tons per annum of LNG from the United States, one of the world’s leading LNG exporters.
U.S. intelligence included in state secrets leaked by MSDF captain
TOKYO – Intelligence gathered by U.S. forces, believed to be related to the movements of foreign militaries, was included in state secrets leaked by a Maritime Self-Defense Force captain recently dismissed for the breach, government sources said Tuesday.
The revelation that the captain gave classified information to a retired MSDF admiral has drawn criticism from the United States over lax information management by the Self-Defense Forces, causing concern within the Japanese government about the two countries’ cooperation in the future, the sources said.
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Japan to tighten border controls for travelers from China
TOKYO – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that Japan will temporarily tighten border controls against travelers from China later this week as the number of new coronavirus cases has rapidly increased in the neighboring country.
Starting Friday, Japan will require all travelers from mainland China and those who visited it within seven days to test for COVID-19 upon arrival, Kishida told reporters.
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Japanese foreign minister to postpone China visit this year
TOKYO – Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will postpone a visit to China that had been arranged for the end of this month due to a schedule conflict on the Chinese side, Japanese Foreign Ministry sources said Tuesday.
Hayashi’s trip was agreed upon by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping when they held their first in-person meeting last month in Bangkok, with the aim of stabilizing bilateral relations that have often been strained over issues including a territorial row.
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Scandal-hit reconstruction minister dismissed in blow to Japan PM Kishida
TOKYO – Japan’s scandal-hit reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba stepped down on Tuesday, effectively dismissed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over scandals in a fresh blow to his Cabinet that has seen four of its members forced to leave their ministerial posts within around two months.
Kishida has tapped Hiromichi Watanabe, who served as reconstruction minister between 2018 and 2019, as Akiba’s successor, the prime minister told reporters after Akiba handed in his resignation.
