Tokyo, 30 November, /AJMEDIA/
China likely to possess 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035: Pentagon
WASHINGTON – China is on course to more than triple its stockpile of nuclear warheads to 1,500 by 2035, when it aims to complete the modernization of its military, the U.S. Defense Department said Tuesday in an annual report on the Asian country’s military power.
The Pentagon also warned that Beijing aims to make the People’s Liberation Army “a more credible military tool” by 2027 as it pursues unification with Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing views as its own.
———-
FOCUS: 1 month after Itaewon crush blamed on gov’t, families demand truth
SEOUL – One month after the crowd crush that killed 158 people in central Seoul, bereaved families are still demanding the truth of the tragedy, which has been widely blamed on inadequate measures by the authorities.
The deadly crush occurred at around 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 29 in a narrow street in the Itaewon entertainment district, where tens of thousands of people had reportedly gathered to join the first Halloween revelry since COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
———-
Sociologist Shinji Miyadai seriously hurt in Tokyo blade attack
TOKYO – Shinji Miyadai, a Japanese sociologist known for his thoughts on girls dating for money and the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult, was seriously wounded Tuesday in a suspected knife attack on a Tokyo university campus, police said.
Miyadai, a professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, was found at the institution’s Minami-Osawa campus in Hachioji with what appeared to be multiple slash wounds to his neck, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
———-
U.S. to host 2nd democracy summit with S. Korea, others in March
WASHINGTON – The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden said Tuesday it will host with South Korea and other countries a second “Summit for Democracy” in late March to promote democratic values over the authoritarianism of countries such as Russia and China.
The first such summit was held in December last year in virtual format, with Taiwan’s invitation fueling tensions between the United States and China as Beijing views the self-ruled democratic island as its own territory.
———-
China launches manned spaceship to complete space station
JIUQUAN, China – China successfully launched a spaceship Tuesday night carrying three astronauts on a mission to complete the nation’s first space station and begin its operations, with President Xi Jinping pledging to make the Asian country a space power.
A rocket carrying the Shenzhou-15 spaceship lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China’s northwest province of Gansu at 11:08 p.m.
———-
Japan crown prince says need for accurate updates on imperial family
TOKYO – Crown Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, stressed on the occasion of his 57th birthday Wednesday the need for the imperial family to provide “accurate information in a timely manner,” and the importance of making trustworthy sources better known to the public.
The comments, made at a press conference in Tokyo ahead of his birthday, came after the controversial marriage of his eldest daughter former princess Mako Komuro resulted in a slew of news articles that could be considered libelous.
———-
Singapore repeals law criminalizing sex between men
SINGAPORE – Singapore’s parliament on Tuesday repealed a colonial-era law criminalizing sex between men but stopped short of approving same-sex marriage, amending its Constitution to safeguard the traditional concept of marriage from a future court challenge.
The majority of the members of parliament agreed to repeal section 377A of the penal code provision, though two legislators from the city-state’s largest opposition party, the Workers’ Party, voted against the repeal.
———-
Football: Olympic heartbreak gives Japan’s Doan confidence at World Cup
DOHA – Japan’s Ritsu Doan enters Thursday’s do-or-die World Cup game against Spain with intimate knowledge of his opponents and a moment of inspiration from which to draw confidence.
Doan and nine of his teammates in Qatar played against Spain in last year’s Olympic soccer semifinal. They suffered a 1-0 defeat that saw their gold medal aspirations dashed.
