Tokyo, 2 June, /AJMEDIA/
Japan expresses continued support for Ukraine as defense chiefs meet
SINGAPORE – Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Sunday expressed Tokyo’s continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia as he met with his Ukrainian counterpart on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore.
In his opening remarks, Kihara told Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov that Moscow’s “outrageous act is utterly unacceptable” and vowed Japan will cooperate with the international community in assisting Kyiv with “a strong sense of crisis” as what happened in Ukraine could also occur in East Asia.
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G7 leaders to vow to promote responsible use of AI in military field
TOKYO – The Group of Seven industrialized nations will pledge to promote the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence in the military field in a joint statement at their upcoming summit, a diplomatic source said Sunday.
The source cited a draft communique expected to be issued at the G7 leaders’ gathering slated for three days from June 13 in Fasano, southern Italy. The draft calls for the wider use of AI but also underscores the need to address disinformation and other risks.
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China raps U.S. for aiding Taiwan, escalating tensions
SINGAPORE – Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun criticized the United States at a security forum in Singapore on Sunday, claiming Washington supports Taiwan independence and is escalating regional tensions by forming “small circles” with its allies and like-minded countries.
Reiterating that the self-ruled island is at “the core of China’s core interests,” Dong said at the Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the prospect of peaceful unification is “increasingly being eroded by separatists for Taiwan independence and foreign forces,” referring to the United States.
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46% in Japan have issues interacting with foreign co-workers: survey
TOKYO – Some 45.8 percent of Japanese who have worked with foreign colleagues experienced communication difficulties, a private firm’s survey results showed Sunday, with language issues blamed in the majority of cases.
The figures underscore that Japanese companies may need to make more efforts in creating better environments to integrate foreign staff, as increasing numbers are employed amid labor shortages triggered by an aging population and falling birthrates at home.
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Japan, U.S., South Korea defense chiefs discuss joint drills, North Korea
SINGAPORE – The defense chiefs of Japan, the United States and South Korea held talks Sunday on the fringes of a security forum in Singapore, with their agenda items focusing on expansion of their joint exercises and North Korea’s missile program.
The three countries are expected to further deepen their cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region following an accord Saturday between Tokyo and Seoul to resume high-level exchanges between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean military.
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Chinese spacecraft lands on far side of Moon to collect samples
BEIJING – A Chinese unmanned spacecraft successfully landed on the far side of the Moon on Sunday, state-run media reported, in the world’s first attempt to bring back samples from the rarely explored area.
The project is part of China’s efforts to become a space power and take the lead in space development, amid intensifying competition with countries such as the United States and India.
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Japan service-sector staff set to get protection from abusive customers
TOKYO – In Japan, the customer has long been regarded as akin to royalty, but the tradition appears to have found its limits, with both authorities and service-sector firms recognizing the need to start protecting staff from overbearing or abusive behavior from members of the public.
“Kasu-hara” has become Japanese slang for “customer harassment,” with some victims ending up leaving their jobs or suffering from mental illness as a result of behavior ranging from verbal abuse to being forced to apologize by kneeling and prostrating themselves.
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Osaka Expo seeks to tap into youth power to drum up support for event
OSAKA – The organizer of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, western Japan, is tapping into the power of young people to drum up public support and enthusiasm for the global event, which has been mired in controversy over its hefty infrastructure costs.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is rallying universities and teachers at primary and secondary schools to participate in the expo, which begins in April next year, and is making use of social media to get its message out.
