Politics
Diet begins examining bill to release asylum seekers
The Diet started deliberations Friday on a bill to resolve the long-term detention of foreign nationals facing deportation orders that would allow asylum seekers to be released and protect those who do not qualify for refugee status under the country's strict standards. The proposed amendment comes amid growing criticism that… Read
China tops agenda as Biden hosts Suga for first White House summit
U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday sought to present a united front with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to counter an increasingly assertive China as the U.S. leader held his first face-to-face White House summit since taking office. Biden hosted Suga for talks that offered the Democratic president, inaugurated in… Read
Beijing warns U.S., Japan against collusion against China
China said Friday it has expressed “serious concerns” to the United States and Japan over what it calls negative moves and collusion between the two countries against China. The statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian came just before President Joe Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the… Read
White House mum on whether Biden plans to attend Tokyo Olympics
The White House on Friday remained mum on whether President Joe Biden has plans to attend the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, as Japan continues to make preparations to hold the events amid the coronavirus pandemic. "I don't have any plans to announce as it relates to travel or any international… Read
Suga to hold phone talks with Pfizer executive
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga plans to hold phone talks with an executive of U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc during his visit to Washington, Japan's COVID-19 vaccine minister said Friday. In their talks, Suga may seek additional supplies of coronavirus vaccines, though Taro Kono declined to provide details of their… Read
Aso repeats claim that treated Fukushima water is good to drink
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso repeated his claim Friday that it is safe to drink treated radioactive water accumulating at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after China asked him to personally prove it. "I'm sure that the water will be diluted so that (the tritium concentration) is… Read
Suga arrives in Washington for talks with Biden; China topping agenda
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga arrived in Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden meant to show the strength of the two nations' security alliance at a time when both are concerned with China’s growing economic and military clout. Friday's talks will be Biden's first face-to-face meeting… Read
Japan backpedals on cooperation with China in Beijing Olympics
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi backpedaled on a previous pledge to cooperate in making the Beijing Winter Olympics a success during a telephone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi earlier this month, government sources said Thursday. The change in stance comes as the United States and other countries have… Read
Suga sidesteps Nikai's comments on canceling Olympics being an option
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday the government would do "everything possible" to prevent the spread of coronavirus ahead of the Olympics, after a ruling party official said cancelling the event remained an option. "There's no change to the government's stance, to do everything possible to prevent the… Read
'Please drink' treated Fukushima water, China asks Aso
China on Wednesday asked Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso to drink treated radioactive water accumulated at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, after he said it is safe to drink it. "A Japanese official said it is okay if we drink this water, so then please drink it,"… Read
