#29 Taiwan-friendly Japan, Anti-nuke resolution, Winter Olympics in China, Emotet, Japan-U.S. bilateral talks, increased budget under host nation support.
Here is a brief on the biweekly (1st- 15th, Dec.).
The Japan sponsored anti-nuke resolution was adopted in the U.N.
Japan to decide on participation in Winter Olympics in China based on its national interest
The U.S. military dumped two fuel tanks in Aomori prefecture, Japan
Japan to increase its spending under host-nation support
Emotet, a dangerous malware resurfaced in Japan
Foreign Affairs.
1 . Japan’s support to Taiwan offends China:
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe considered Taiwan-friendly Japanese PM participated in an online event conducted by a Taiwanese think tank. Abe supported Taiwan to join the World Health Organization and Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. "A Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan. In other words, it is also a contingency for the Japan-U.S. alliance. People in Beijing, particularly President Xi Jinping, should not misjudge that," Abe said. The Chinese side has called an emergency meeting, infuriated by Abe's remarks. Bejing considers Taiwan, the self-ruled island, a renegade province to be reunified with China.
Furthermore, in a parliamentary session, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida supported the participation of Taiwan at the meetings of the World Health Organisation. "We have consistently insisted at the WHO that there should not be a geographical void in dealing with international health issues and have consistently supported Taiwan's attendance as an observer," said Kishida.
2. Anti-nuke resolution:
The anti-nuke resolution sponsored by Japan was adopted in the U.N. General Assembly. However, the voting response was divided amongst the five permanent members of the U.N Security Council. Britain, the U.S. and France voted for the resolution while China and Russia opposed it.
The resolution included phrases such as "bearing in mind" the fact that "various approaches exist towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons and that confidence-building among all States is essential to this end". It also had and the word "recognizing", referring to the "catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons."
3 . Japan to decide on participation at Winter Olympics in China:
The 2022 winter Olympics are to be held in Bejing. However, the U.S. has already boycotted the event quoting concerns over humanitarian issues in China. At the same time, Britain and Australia are also considering a diplomatic boycott. In contrast, Japan will decide on its participation in the winter Olympics considering its national interest. "We would like to make our own decision from the standpoint of our national interests" by considering the potential impact on Japan's diplomacy and the Olympics", said Japanese Prime Minister Kishida. "Taking account of various factors comprehensively, we'll make a decision on the government's response to the games at the right point," said Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
4. Japan-U.S. bilateral talks:
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida participated in the two-day virtual event held by U.S. President Joe Biden. The meeting focused on bringing together leaders from over 100 countries to counter authoritarianism. The tough stance taken by the U.S. on China in recent times has put Japan in a difficult situation in balancing its diplomatic interests. Speaking at the summit, Kishida called for like-minded countries that share the universal value of democracy to address powers that threaten democracy jointly.
"Kishida vowed to provide $14 million to international organizations to ramp up efforts to respect human rights in the corporate sector". "Investors have been stepping up their scrutiny of how companies address environmental, social and governance issues and whether their supply chains are free of human rights abuses, particularly amid the alleged repression of Uyghur Muslims in the Chinese far-western region of Xinjiang."
Meanwhile, since Hayashi took office, the first in-person talks were held between Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken. They agreed to work closely towards countering China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
Defence.
1. US military dumps fuel tanks in Japan:
An F-16 fighter jet belonging to the U.S. military dumped two fuel tanks close to Mt. Iwaki, Aomori prefecture in Japan. The fighter jet belonging to the Misawa Air Base had experienced technical problems during its flight. The Misawa base houses the U.S. military and also Japan's Self-Defense forces. Following this incident, the defence chiefs Nobuo Kishi of Japan and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin held telephonic talks. Kishi expressed his concern over the incident threatening the safety of the people in nearby areas, while Austin assured sufficient investigation on the matter. "According to Misawa city officials, the U.S. base said the pilot dropped the tanks to reduce the weight of the jet after receiving an alert that oil pressure was dropping."
2. Japan to increase budget under Host nation support:
In Washington, a working-level negotiation was conducted between Japan and the U.S. related to the "host nation support". As a result, a new agreement is to be signed by the countries' defence and foreign ministers in a meeting held in December. By the agreement, Japan will be spending an increased amount for hosting the U.S military.
It is believed that the Japanese government has consented to the request of the U.S, keeping in mind to boost its security alliance amidst the rising Chinese military expansion. As a result, the budget for host nation support will exceed 210 billion yen ($1.9 billion) from fiscal 2022.
201.7 billion yen ($1.79 billion) is allocated for the current fiscal year.
Technology.
1. Dangerous malware detected in Japan:
Emotet is considered to be the world's most dangerous malware. It has was recently detected in Japan, affecting some computers. It can steal passwords and install remotely controlled programs by delivering malware through disguised mails. It first appeared in 2014 and infected over 1.7 million computers worldwide. In addition, it had affected Tokyo Metropolitan University and the Japan Medical Association in Japan.
2. JAXA & developments:
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced that it plans to publish a paper on a "major discovery" in the field of asteroids. The research was based on soil samples brought from an asteroid by the Hayabusa2 probe. According to Tomohiro Usui, manager of the Astromaterials Science Research Group, who leads the research, the samples provide "information about the exact conditions in space", which usually lacks in meteorites samples that get contaminated on entering the earth.
JAXA has collaborated for joint research with automakers like Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co. Recently, Nissan revealed that it had developed a lunar rover prototype implementing the automaker's motor control technology to manoeuvre across the Moon's loose terrain.
"The automaker said it aims to make the rover capable of traversing the undulating Moon surface smoothly by applying technology developed for use in its roadgoing electric vehicles such as the Leaf and Ariya."
Tidbit:
The recent Economist article titled " what the world can learn from Japan "has highlighted how natural disasters have transformed Japan into a resilient society setting it as an example for the world. Moreover, the way Japan grapples with critical issues like population decline, natural catastrophes, changing Prime Ministers, offsetting diplomatic balance between the U.S. and China offers lessons for the coming era. However, in contradiction, the economist article " Japan has a chequered record on climate change" mentions though natural disasters have shaped Japan, it has failed to prioritise climate change.
I recently found this documentary on Netflix titled "Japan sinks: people of hope". It discusses the science behind impending catastrophe and the political warfare that ensues.
The news are really simplified and effective. I am reading them like a student who wants to prepare for Indian foreign service to be posted in Japan! Japan is doing great in all front. They agreed to go to olympics in China where as they are against authoritarianism of china and boldly supporting the Taiwan, a small nation and also talking against usa dumping the f16 fuel in the ocean near to them are really laudable. It is a pity that the hackers and the malware creators are spoiling the whole economy and glad to know the Nissan and Toyota motors making some wagons to roam around lunar sands! We can definitely learn many things from Japanese tolerance and great efforts and like Phoenix spring back to life after the great tragedy and many calamities. No wonder they oppose the nuke and bringing resolution into UN against this! But we don’t know whether UN is really capable of controlling the monster minds! All the best Divya to give the juice every now and then to learn more about Japan! Keep going