TV Asahi, Kyodo, and Jiji reported on a speech by Ambassador Emanuel in Tokyo on Friday during which he criticized China’s response to the Fukushima water release, including the blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports. He pointed out that Chinese fishing boats are still operating in waters around Japan, saying that if the embargo is a public health problem, “Why….Read more

A group formed by Japanese economic and political leaders dedicated to maintaining good relations between Japan and China is planning to hold a reception in Tokyo next month to commemorate 45 years since the enactment of a bilateral treaty of peace and friendship, diplomatic sources said Thursday.   Although it is not clear whether Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will attend….Read more

Nikkei wrote that Foreign Minister Kamikawa and her South Korean counterpart Park held talks in New York on Thursday and affirmed closer coordination to resume three-way governmental talks with China and to possibly convene a trilateral summit later this year.  

Yomiuri reported from Beijing that the Chinese maritime authorities decided yesterday not to go ahead with an initial plan to relocate an existing offshore natural gas drilling platform to a different location in the East China Sea, noting that the about-face was apparently made in response to Japan’s protest. The envisaged relocation site was allegedly on the Japanese side of the….Read more

Mainichi editorial writer Sawada took up the rapidly improving ties between Japan and South Korea as evidenced by the prospect that President Yoon will become the foreign leader with whom Prime Minister Kishida held the most talks this year, noting that perhaps because the pace of reconciliation is so fast that Japanese officials are worried about whether it will last….Read more

NHK reported that Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno commented on the Japanese pharmaceutical executive who had been under “house arrest” in China since March and has now been placed under “criminal detention” on espionage charges since early this month. “From the standpoint of protecting Japanese nationals, we have been providing the individual in question with as much support as possible, such….Read more

Have the dictator who invaded Ukraine and the dictator who repeatedly launched missiles toward Japan entered into a Russia-North Korea “devils’ bargain”? That is how one United States senator has characterized it. Their behavior only exposes the world to a greater degree of threats.   North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East….Read more

Yomiuri reported that Foreign Minister Kamikawa held talks with her Australian counterpart Wong in New York on Tuesday. The two ministers reportedly agreed to promote security cooperation in a wide range of areas in view of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that took effect in August. The paper said Kamikawa also held separate talks with her French and Indonesian counterparts….Read more

Mainichi, Yomiuri, and Sankei said they learned on Wednesday that a Japanese employee of Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma who was detained in March in Beijing on espionage charges has been placed under criminal detention in China. According to GOJ sources, the Chinese authorities informed the Japanese Embassy of this in mid-September. NHK ran a similar report, saying it is believed….Read more