🇯🇵🇨🇳 Japan scrambles jets to monitor Chinese bombers

Japan's defense ministry on Friday said it scrambled jet fighters to monitor two Chinese air force bombers flying between Okinawa and Miyako islands in the morning.

The Chinese H-6 bombers were spotted flying through the strait between southwest Japan's Okinawa and Miyako islands, the ministry said. Okinawa is home to one of the major US military bases in Asia-Pacific.

This may be a part of the drills, that China conducted today.

#Japan #China

@asianomics

🇯🇵 Japan begins releasing Fukushima treated radioactive water into sea

Japan started discharging treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.

The water discharge commenced around 1 p.m. Japanese time.

The water will be diluted with seawater to one-40th of the concentration permitted under Japanese safety standards before being discharged via an underwater tunnel 1 kilometer from the plant.

#Japan

@asianomics

🇺🇸🇯🇵 US reaffirms support for Japan's release of treated water

The United States reaffirmed its support for the release of treated radioactive water from Japan's destroyed nuclear power plant in Fukushima, calling it safe and transparent.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the Department of State, also said the US is happy with the level of transparency Japan has shown in the lead up to the release.

The statement, however, comes amid concerns and opposition from Japan's neighboring countries, as well as its own fishing population, that the release of treated water into the Pacific Ocean may have a long-term, irreversible impact on the environment and people.

#USA #Japan

@asianomics

#Indonesia 🇮🇩 / #WestPapua: A recently-posted photo of a West Papua National Liberation Army (#TPNPB) fighter displays a noteable machine gun.

The fighter is posing with a historic Type 92 (九二式重機関銃) heavy machine gun; made by #Japan 🇯🇵 and chambered in 7.7x58mm.

It was very likely taken from the old Indonesian Army stocks.

https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1696155263907103086

🇯🇵🇨🇳 China's Fukushima-linked seafood ban is unacceptable, Japan tells WTO

Japan has told the World Trade Organization (WTO) that China's ban on Japanese seafood after the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant was "totally unacceptable", the Japanese foreign ministry said.

In a counterargument to China's August 31 notification to WTO on its measures to suspend Japanese aquatic imports, which started last month, Japan said it would explain its positions in relevant WTO committees and urged China to immediately repeal the action.

Some Japanese officials have signaled the country may file a WTO complaint, which the US ambassador to Japan said last week the United States would support.

#Japan #China

@asianomics

🇯🇵🇨🇳 China rejects Japan's suggestion of joining Fukushima water framework

China has rejected Japan's proposal that it join an international verification framework for assessing the results of radiation level monitoring in treated water being released into the sea from Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Under the framework, participating countries will compare, analyze and evaluate the results of the monitoring carried out respectively by the Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency on seawater off Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

Since early this year, Tokyo has repeatedly asked Beijing through diplomatic channels to participate in the monitoring efforts, but has had its requests rejected by China under the argument that the framework "does not guarantee" independent analysis of the released water.

#Japan #China

@asianomics

🇯🇵🇨🇳 Japan PM speaks to China's Li about radioactive water release

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he explained Japan's stance on the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant to Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Indonesia.

Kishida told reporters he spoke briefly with Li ahead of a session at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta.

Kishida avoided commenting directly on whether he had sought the ban on aquatic imports to be lifted during his talk with Li, repeating that he had explained Japan's position. He added nothing had been decided on whether he would talk with Li again on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit later this week.

#Japan #China

@asianomics

🇺🇸🇵🇭🇯🇵 About US military exercises with partner countries in the Pacific zone

Two weeks after the incident in the South China Sea, which prompted the Philippine government to distance itself from the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, and with Joe Biden issuing a military threat to China, two large-scale exercises have commenced in the region.

🔻Yesterday, the Kamandag-7 exercise began on several Philippine islands and in the South China Sea, with the participation of American Marines, as well as military personnel from the Philippines, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The primary objective is to test the joint combat capabilities of the navy and marines in the event of a regional escalation. Approximately 2,000 individuals and around 70 units of various equipment will take part in this event.

🔻Today, the Annualex-2023 exercise started off the east coast of Japan and will continue until November 20. It involves up to 6,000 people, 32 ships, and 35 aircraft from the US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, and Philippine navies. This exercise is more comprehensive in terms of strength, with the involvement of an aircraft carrier strike group led by the Carl Vinson and the possibility of a flight of B-52H strategic bombers from Andersen Air Base on Guam.

🔻It is interesting to note that these simultaneous exercises near the border with China began immediately after the Chinese aircraft carrier group, led by the flagship Shandong, concluded its training in the Philippine Sea and sailed back to China through the Taiwan Strait with 16 warships. However, the US Armed Forces exercises are conducted annually, and there is no indication of any significant escalation. Nevertheless, the White House supports the narrative of the "Chinese threat," justifying the substantial costs of maintaining forces in the region while simultaneously demonstrating support for its allies.

You can find a high-resolution map and an English version here. #China #USA #Philippines #Japan @rybar

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🇯🇵 Japan PM Kishida set to resign as ruling party faction leader

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to step down as chief of his faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party amid a political funds scandal, according to Kyodo sources.

The LDP has recently faced criticism amid allegations that five factions, including Kishida's, underreported their revenue from political fundraising parties, from which the extra income may have been returned to some lawmakers as kickbacks.

In the wake of the political funds scandal, Kishida instructed LDP executives on Wednesday to refrain from hosting fundraising parties, but there have been increasing calls for him to leave his faction to regain public trust for the ruling party.

#Japan

@asianomics

Follow NHK TV live the approach of the tsunami following magnitude-7.5 earthquake.

Live English translation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0lYkdA-Gtw