Tokyo, 16 February, /AJMEDIA/
Japan’s ruling bloc OKs easing weapon use against flying objects
TOKYO – Japan’s ruling bloc on Thursday approved the government’s plan of relaxing the requirements for weapon use against flying objects violating the nation’s airspace, amid concerns over how to respond to territorial incursions by Chinese spy balloons.
The plan, explained by government officials during a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party, would enable the Self-Defense Forces to fire weapons to secure the safety of air traffic and protect the lives and properties of people on the ground, LDP lawmakers said.
———-
Ukraine president eager to join G-7 online summit on Feb. 24: source
TOKYO – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is eager to participate in a Group of Seven summit online on Feb. 24, the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country, a Japanese government source said Thursday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited Zelenskyy to the video summit, the source said. During the gathering, the G-7 leaders are expected to confirm their unity in tackling Russia’s aggression against its neighbor.
———-
Gov’t revises PM’s pledge to double Japan’s budget for children
TOKYO – The government on Thursday modified Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s pledge of doubling the Japanese government’s childcare budget from the current 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product to counter the declining birthrate.
The revision came a day after Kishida said during a parliamentary session that Japan’s expenditures to support children and families reached 2 percent of GDP in the fiscal year ending March 2021, and that the government is aiming to “double the amount.”
———-
Japan Jan. trade deficit at record 3.5 tril. yen on energy imports
TOKYO – Japan posted its largest-ever trade deficit of 3.5 trillion yen ($26 billion) in January after energy import prices jumped and export growth slowed, with record red ink logged with major trading partner China, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
The deficit, roughly a 1.6-fold increase from a year earlier, exceeded the previous record of 2.82 trillion yen in August last year, highlighting the vulnerability of the resource-poor country that relies on other nations for energy.
———-
GSDF, U.S. Marines start large-scale joint drills in southwest Japan
TOKYO – The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marine Corps on Thursday kicked off monthlong, large-scale joint drills in southwestern Japan, demonstrating the response capabilities of the bilateral alliance amid China’s growing military presence in nearby waters.
The annual exercise is being held outside the U.S. state of California for the first time since its launch in 2006, with around 1,700 personnel in total set to participate in the latest drills, according to the GSDF.
———-
Japan chipmaker Rapidus mulls building factory in Hokkaido
TOKYO – State-backed chipmaker Rapidus Corp. said Thursday it is considering building a factory on the northern main island of Hokkaido, as the new company aims to revive Japan’s semiconductor industry through homemade next-generation chip production.
Hokkaido is one of a number of locations that are eager to host the factory and Rapidus plans to make a decision by the end of March.
———-
S. Korea calls N. Korea “enemy” in defense paper, 1st in 6 yrs
SEOUL – South Korea labeled North Korea’s regime and military an “enemy” for the first time in six years in a biennial defense policy paper released on Thursday, as Pyongyang continues to develop its missile and nuclear weapon capabilities.
In the latest Defense White Paper, South Korea called Japan, by contrast, a “close neighboring country” for the first time since the 2018 edition, reflecting the country’s willingness to improve relations with Tokyo.
———-
FEATURE: Japan’s rural post offices host unmanned shops to help seniors
MIYAZAKI, Japan – As Japan continues to experience a population drain in rural areas, many post offices have begun hosting unmanned retail spaces inside their facilities to support seniors who cannot travel long distances to shop.
Some 3,000 of the about 24,000 post offices nationwide have embraced the service, stocking vegetables, daily necessities and other items.
