Politics
Brazilian president, on state visit, welcomed by emperor, empress
Visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met Tuesday with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako as Japan hosts its first state guest in six years to underline the importance of its ties with Brazil. Lula attended a welcoming ceremony at the Imperial Palace, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba participating… Read
Japan protests Chinese gov't statement it says misquoted PM Ishiba
Japan has lodged a protest with China about a statement that misquoted Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's remarks during Friday's meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japan's top government spokesperson said on Monday. An announcement by China's foreign ministry on Friday said Ishiba had said Japan "respects" the positions of… Read
Chinese activities near Senkakus escalating, Iwaya says
The amount of activity by Chinese vessels near the Senkaku Islands is "clearly escalating," Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Monday, expressing concern over the continued presence of two such ships in waters surrounding the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed islets in the East China Sea. Iwaya told a Diet committee session that… Read
Brazil's Lula, 100-strong business delegation begin Japan visit
Brazil's president starts a four-day state visit to Japan on Monday, accompanied by a 100-strong business delegation as U.S. tariffs push the countries to nurture trade ties elsewhere. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are also expected to discuss the joint development of biofuels ahead of… Read
Ishiba cabinet support rate dives to 27%; lowest since taking office
The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet plunged to 27.6 percent, the lowest since he took office in October, following revelations that he handed out gift vouchers to rookie ruling party lawmakers, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. The weekend telephone poll also found that 71.6 percent… Read
Japan, China agree to push mutually beneficial, practical cooperation
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Saturday that he agreed with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi to promote "mutually beneficial and practical" cooperation in areas such as decarbonization and addressing low birthrates. After talks with Wang in Tokyo, Iwaya told reporters that he conveyed concerns over intensifying Chinese military activities… Read
Hegseth to visit Philippines and Japan in first visit to Asian treaty allies at odds with China
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines, the first stop in his first trip to Asia this week, for talks that will include increasing deterrence against aggression in the disputed South China Sea, a Philippine official said. Hegseth will be in Manila on March 28-29 to… Read
Japan, China and S Korea agree to promote peace, cooperation
Japan, South Korea and China agreed Saturday that peace on the Korean peninsula was a shared responsibility, Seoul's foreign minister said, in a meeting of the three countries' top diplomats in which they pledged to promote cooperation. The talks followed a rare trilateral summit in May in Seoul where the… Read
Ishiba calls for finding common ground ahead of key meeting with China and South Korea
Japan's prime minister on Friday urged foreign ministers from China, South Korea and Japan to focus on finding common ground ahead of a key joint meeting of the three Asian power houses that starts Saturday. The meeting will see Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi… Read
Former Japan SDF chief Iwasaki appointed adviser to Taiwan cabinet
Taiwan's cabinet has appointed Shigeru Iwasaki, a former chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, as a political consultant, sources familiar with the matter said Friday, triggering a rebuke from China, which views the self-ruled island as its own. The appointment marks the second time that a… Read
