🇨🇳🇯🇵 Japan reports wave of Chinese phone harassment after Fukushima discharge

Tokyo has urged Beijing to “ensure the safety of Japanese residents in China” after a wave of telephone harassment targeting businesses in Japan sparked by the controversial discharge of Fukushima waste water.

Calls from China began flooding Japanese businesses from Thursday. Japanese businesses and groups, ranging from a concert hall in Tokyo to an aquarium in northern Iwate, reported that they had started receiving so many calls from Chinese speakers that they had difficulty conducting normal operations.

Fukushima city mayor Hiroshi Kohata said in a Facebook post that the city hall had received around 200 similar calls in two days, while local schools, restaurants and hotels also became targets.

#China #Japan

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🇺🇸🇰🇷🇯🇵🇰🇵 US holds drills with allies off Korean peninsula, Pyongyang vows to bolster navy

The United States, South Korea and Japan staged joint naval missile defense drills off the Korean peninsula on Tuesday, as North Korea accused Washington and its allies of creating "the most unstable waters with the danger of a nuclear war."

The three nations staged exercises in international waters off South Korea's southern Jeju island to improve their ability to detect and track targets.

The drills come as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for "radically" modernizing the weapons and equipment of its naval forces, criticizing an increased presence of US strategic assets in the region.

#USA #SouthKorea #Japan #NorthKorea

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🇯🇵🇨🇳 Japan may take China to WTO over Fukushima-driven seafood import ban

Japan threatened to take China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to seek a reversal of Beijing's ban on all of its seafood imports after the release of treated radioactive water.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan would take "necessary action (on China's aquatic product ban) under various routes including the WTO framework".

Filing a WTO complaint might become an option if protesting to China through diplomatic routes is ineffective, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi said separately.

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🇯🇵🇺🇦 Japan foreign minister discusses reconstruction, security with Ukraine's Zelenskiy

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met on Saturday and agreed to begin discussions on security guarantees and cooperate on reconstructing Ukraine's economy, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

The security guarantee discussions come after the G7 group of countries, of which Japan is a member, said in July that its members would begin bilateral security guarantee talks with Ukraine.

Hayashi also pledged support from both the public and private sectors in Japan to reconstruct Ukraine's economy in the surprise visit to Ukraine.

#Japan #Ukraine

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🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷 South Korea to hold talks with Japan, China

Senior officials of China, Japan and South Korea will hold talks in Seoul on September 26, working to stage the first summit of their leaders in four years.

The meeting will be led by Jung Byung-won, South Korea's deputy foreign minister for political affairs, Japan's Funakoshi Takehiro and China's Nong Rong.

Although the countries had agreed to hold an annual summit since 2008, their leaders last met in December 2019.

#China #Japan #SouthKorea

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🇯🇵🇺🇸🇦🇺🇮🇳 Quad ministers urge UN members not to trade weapons with North Korea

The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India on Friday urged all UN members not to trade weapons with North Korea.

At their talks on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the ministers from the four-way grouping, known as the Quad, also agreed to enhance cooperation toward achieving their vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The ministers shared the view that their countries will oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo by force.

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🇯🇵🇺🇸🇺🇦 Japan is currently going through a significant change in its pacifist policy. According to the Nikkei publication, which is following the American newspaper WP, the government is in the final stages of planning to supply Patriot missiles to the United States. These missiles are produced locally in Japan under license.

If these rumors turn out to be true, it would be a historic decision for Tokyo. Since 2014, Japanese manufacturers have not supplied finished weapons to other countries. Japan has had strict restrictions on the transfer of any military products abroad since the second half of the 20th century. Although these restrictions still exist today, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eased the policy during his second term.

With the rise of Fumio Kishida to power, the course set by the late political leader continues. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is actively advocating for a revision of these restrictions. The Ukrainian conflict aligns with the LDP's position, as they argue that all G7 countries supply weapons while Japan only provides body armor and helmets, which is seen as less prestigious.

The media rumors about the transfer of Patriot missiles are also linked to the conflict. The United States needs to replenish its reserves in order to continue supplying weapons to Kyiv, and Tokyo can play a significant role in this.
📌 Why can't Japan send missiles directly to Ukraine? This is due to the aforementioned restrictions that prohibit the export of lethal weapons to countries in an armed conflict.

The Nikkei article, by the way, seems to emphasize that the Japanese government will not permit the missiles to enter the conflict zone. One possible reason for this is that the Japanese population does not support sending lethal weapons to Kyiv. Nobody wants to anger the citizens at a time when the LDP and Kishida's cabinet have very low approval ratings due to a financial scandal. Therefore, the focus is on indirectly sending the missiles.

🔻The situation is reminiscent of the case of another American ally in the Asia-Pacific region - South Korea. The country stated that lethal South Korean weapons would not be used in the Ukrainian conflict. However, after pressure from the United States, South Korea became one of the main sponsors of artillery shells for the AFU, albeit unofficially. This made it clear that Japan's abandonment of its pacifist principles was only a matter of time.
#Japan #USA #Ukraine
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🇰 🇷🇺 🇸🇯🇵🇰🇵🇨🇳 The United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region are continuing to carry out military exercises near potential adversaries North Korea and China.

For instance, South Korea has announced the testing of missiles produced domestically. Although the specific type of rockets launched this time has not been disclosed, it is possible that they are related to space technology.

▪️ A significant drill, Freedom Shield,, involving military personnel from South Korea and the US has been announced. The armed forces of the two countries are planning to conduct 48 field events from March 4 to 14 across the South - twice as many as last year.

Closer to home, naval exercises between the United States and Japan are set to commence tomorrow in the Korean Strait under the name Minex-2024/2. These exercises will engage the mine-sweeping forces of both countries, aiming to enhance their mine-laying capabilities for a hypothetical blockade of the water area.

🔻Japan is also actively participating, having recently conducted training for air defense and missile defense forces stationed on the island of Kyushu. Moreover, crews of four batteries of Patriot air defense systems on the Ryukyu Islands are being readied to intercept debris from North Korean missiles.

Against this backdrop, the statements by the South Korean Defense Minister regarding North Korea's intention to launch a second spy satellite by the end of March are noteworthy. Japan, through the alert status of its air defense systems, is preparing for this launch.

All of this, of course, does not imply the onset of a new phase of tension in this part of the Asia-Pacific region - the escalation of the situation through military activities is common there and is not seen as something critically perilous.

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🇨🇳🇺🇸 Chinese Air Force Activity in the Asia-Pacific Region

Over the past few weeks, the Chinese command has significantly increased its activity in the Asia-Pacific region in response to provocative actions by American troops and their allies in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Australia.

🔻In response to regular exercises, bomber flights, and various movements of US Air Force aircraft, the Chinese have become more active in several areas.

–Near the border with Mongolia, Chinese pilots practiced scenarios of a full-scale conflict, likely involving Taiwan. This training area previously featured a full-scale model of the Taiwanese city Taipei, indicating the nature of the exercises. Additionally, the Taiwanese Air Force possesses aviation capabilities that make them a formidable adversary.

–Prior to this, Chinese N-6K bombers conducted a series of flights near the shores of South Korea, practicing simulated guided bomb attacks on American bases. Takeoffs were conducted from multiple air bases, and the bombers changed locations several times, likely simulating attacks on various air bases.

–The PLA Air Force has resumed tactical aviation flights around Taiwan. Taiwan has expressed concern about the increased PLA activity along the Taiwan Strait, where the Chinese conducted training in air combat and striking air defense positions.

–In the South China Sea, naval aviation activities continue, along with the operation of KJ-500 AWACS aircraft and drones in the vicinity of the disputed islands. The number of aircraft involved has notably increased. Furthermore, the same Wuzhen-7 or WZ-7 UAVs are now regularly patrolling the Philippine coast, a new development.

❗️The PLA Air Force's recent activity can be described as unprecedented, with numerous trainings conducted in different areas almost simultaneously. Chinese pilots are actively preparing, recognizing the importance of readiness despite the lack of real combat experience.

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#China #Republic of Korea #USA #Philippines #Japan
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🇦🇺🇬🇧🇨🇳🇺🇸🇯🇵 On Monday, the defense ministers of Australia, Great Britain, and the United States announced plans to cooperate with Japan within the framework of the AUKUS bloc. This marks the first major initiative of the alliance. They intend to involve Japan in collaboration on the development of high technologies.

However, Japan is not becoming a direct member of AUKUS. As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explained, the plan is to engage with Tokyo authorities on a project basis, as outlined in the document itself.

This precision is crucial. Beijing has valid concerns that AUKUS is aimed at countering its influence and strategic plans in the region. Japan's full integration into the alliance could further strain Japanese-Chinese relations, which is not in the interest of either party.

🔻So, why is cooperation with Japan important for the bloc? It all comes down to technology: the Japanese possess specific expertise that could be beneficial, especially in the construction of nuclear submarines for Australia. This aligns well with the interests of the United States and sets a strong foundation for collaboration.

The exact nature of this cooperation is yet to be determined, with further details expected in discussions between Japanese and American leaders. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable trend in the West towards forming multiple alliances, ostensibly in response to China's growing influence, to expand their reach in the Asia-Pacific region.
#Australia #UK #China #USA #Japan
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🇺🇸 🇯🇵🇵🇭🇨🇳

This year, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region risks becoming even more tense. The United States plans to deploy missile systems in the region capable of launching medium-range Tomahawk missiles and SM-6 missiles. This plan was recently announced by the commander of US ground forces in the Pacific, Charles Flynn.

This marks Flynn's second announcement since last November regarding the deployment of these missiles. However, the specifics of where and when the Americans will deploy them remain unclear.

As previously mentioned, the United States may deploy missiles and missile systems in various countries, including Japan and the Philippines, where American soldiers have access to military bases.

Moreover, one potential location for the deployment of equipment and missiles is Guam, one of the American territories in the Pacific Ocean. Many commentators now speculate that the Americans will opt for this location. However, the first two territories are not yet ruled out.

For instance, this week the United States brought the Typhon missile system to the Philippines, capable of launching Tomahawks and SM-6s. This equipment will be utilized as part of the bilateral exercises “Salaknib 2024”, providing an opportunity to assess the suitability of the likely missile deployment site. Similar evaluations are expected for Japan.

The deployment of missiles and missile systems in the Asia-Pacific region serves both as a deterrent and a political signal aimed at containing China. This intention becomes particularly pronounced if the United States selects the Philippines or Japan.

The introduction of new equipment could potentially spark a new arms race, benefiting major industrialists who stand to receive increased funding under the guise of countering the Chinese threat.

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🇨🇳🇺🇸🇯🇵 On New American Fighters in Japan

The topic of American bases on Japanese territory is continuing: in early July, the US presented a plan worth $10 billion to modernize military aircraft stationed on the Japanese islands.

📌According to the announcement, significant changes will affect the Kadena air base - the nearest American military facility to Taiwan. The 48 F-15 aircraft currently stationed at the base will be replaced by 36 F-15EX fighters.

In addition, instead of 36 F-16 aircraft, 48 F-35A units will arrive at the Misawa air base. And at the military facility in the city of Iwakuni, where the US Marine Corps is stationed, the Pentagon plans to "adjust" the number of F-35B fighters. Washington has not yet provided other details.

🔻In announcing these plans, the Pentagon did not directly mention Beijing. However, the hint is clear - the US is deploying modern fighters in areas that will be affected by a hypothetical conflict with China.

It is important that the changes concerning American aviation may also be a response to the modernization of the Chinese air force. For example, six modern J-20 fighters recently arrived at the Chinese Wuxi base, replacing the outdated J-6W. This military facility, by the way, is relatively close to Kadena.

And although the increase in the presence of US and Chinese air forces in the region is necessary to pursue a policy of deterring threats, there is no doubt that the parties are developing scenarios for a hypothetical conflict. The mere mock-ups of American fighters at Chinese training grounds are worth something. However, this does not mean that the differences between the players will still lead to an armed conflict.

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🇦🇺🇮🇳🇺🇸🇯🇵 On the recent QUAD summit in the US

On August 21, the leaders of the QUAD, which includes the US, Australia, India and Japan, held a summit, the main theme of which was cooperation in the field of maritime security. Thus, all the previous insider information that we wrote about recently has been confirmed.

One of the first points of the statement by QUAD was cooperation in the field of healthcare. So, the authorities of the participating countries want to show that the bloc is focusing on the development of humanitarian ties, and not on containing any particular country - China, by the way, is not even mentioned in the document.

🔻However, the most interesting part comes next. In the field of security, the parties agreed to conduct patrols in the Indo-Pacific region - the first one will take place as early as 2025.

The patrol areas were not disclosed. But we can assume that the QUAD coast guard services will be present in the South China Sea, some parts of the Indian Ocean where Chinese research vessels sail, and Oceania - a lot of attention is paid to the countries located in this region in the statement.

▪️Australia, the US, Japan and India will continue to work on providing information to the countries of the region about what is happening in their coastal waters. This is done under the pretext of fighting crime, but the tracking of Chinese ships in this case is not forgotten either.

In general, the summit was rich in various agreements, the result of which we should see in the near future, despite the possible change of administration in the US. Even in the event of a victory in the elections of Donald Trump, QUAD will most likely continue to exist - it was under the former president that the four-party dialogue was revived with the aim of containing China and counteracting its influence in the region.
#Australia #India #USA #Japan
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🇰🇵🇰🇷🇺🇸🇯🇵 North Korea says US, Japan, South Korea drills justify its nuclear reinforcement

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said military drills by the United States, Japan and South Korea justify North Korea's nuclear reinforcement, state media KCNA said.

Kim criticized the air drill they conducted after North Korea tested a huge new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile dubbed Hwasong-19 last week, as well as "more than 20" military drills the allies have conducted this year.

Given such threats, North Korea will not be swayed from the path of strengthening its nuclear deterrent, KCNA said.

#NorthKorea #SouthKorea #USA #Japan

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