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The Mainichi
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan urges China to ease export curbs on critical minerals
KUALA LUMPUR (Kyodo) -- Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya urged his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday to ease Beijing's export restrictions on critical minerals, including rare earth elements used in semiconductors, expressing "strong concern" over the negative impact of the curbs on Japanese firms. Iwaya, who met with Wang on the fringes of regional gatherings in Malaysia, also called on China to remove the remaining import ban on Japanese food items imposed in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. The talks followed the lifting in late June of Beijing's blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports, which Tokyo had repeatedly called for since it was imposed in 2023 in response to the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Even after removing the seafood ban, China continues to restrict food imports from 10 Japanese prefectures including Fukushima and Tokyo. Iwaya and Wang also discussed steps to resume China's imports of Japanese beef, suspended since 2001 due to an outbreak of mad cow disease, by putting into force a bilateral accord on animal health and quarantine measures at an early date, the ministry said. China, which mines about 70 percent of the world's rare earths used in the production of smartphones, personal computers and vehicles, has tightened its control over the materials as part of retaliatory measures in a tit-for-tat tariff war with the United States. Japanese businesses have complained about the slow approval of rare-earth export licenses. Wang told Iwaya that China will meet Japanese companies' "normal demand" for critical minerals if they observe Chinese regulations and follow necessary procedures, according to the ministry. During the talks, Iwaya and Wang, who last met in Tokyo in March, affirmed the need to promote stable ties. The Japanese minister said he welcomes the "progress on some contentious issues" made by the two Asian neighbors and hopes further bilateral cooperation will advance a "strategic and mutually beneficial" relationship. "Amid major changes in the international situation, Japan and China, which share responsibilities to the international community, are expected to deepen communication and fulfill their respective roles," Iwaya said. Wang called on Japan to have "an objective and correct understanding of China" and "adhere to a positive and rational policy" toward its neighbor, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. On the security front, Iwaya aired his "serious concern" over recent Chinese military and coast guard activities near Japan including the expanded operations of aircraft carriers in nearby waters. The activities also included the intrusion into Japanese airspace by a Chinese helicopter near the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea in May. In June, a Chinese military aircraft flew close to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane over international waters in the Pacific. On Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own, Iwaya warned China against conducting further large-scale military drills near the self-ruled island, stressing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Japanese minister also showed concern over Beijing's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, where it has been engaged in territorial disputes with neighboring countries, the Japanese ministry said.
The Mainichi
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan Diet OKs defense cooperation pact with Philippines
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's parliament on Friday approved legislation for a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines, as the two countries step up security ties with an eye on China's maritime assertiveness in nearby waters. The reciprocal access agreement eases restrictions on the movement of personnel between the two forces to facilitate joint drills and disaster relief operations, making the Philippines Japan's third RAA partner after Australia and Britain. The House of Councillors, Japan's upper chamber, approved the pact after the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, endorsed it last month. The two Asian countries signed the deal in July last year during two-plus-two ministerial security talks in Manila. Tokyo and Manila share concerns over Beijing's maritime activities, as Chinese vessels have clashed with Philippine ships near disputed shoals in the South China Sea and repeatedly entered waters around the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. On Friday, Japan's upper house also approved an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement with Italy to streamline procedures for providing supplies and services such as food, fuel, ammunition and repair work between their forces.
The Mainichi
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan eyes closer ties with Philippines, Cambodia via security aid
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed eagerness to enhance ties with the Philippines and Cambodia through security aid as he met separately with their top diplomats in Tokyo on Wednesday, in the face of China's growing influence in Southeast Asia. On the economic front, Iwaya agreed with Enrique Manalo from the Philippines to further cooperate in infrastructure development, while he underscored the importance of enhancing the multilateral free trade system with Cambodia's Prak Sokhonn, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. Reflecting the rapidly advancing ties with the Philippines, Iwaya said the partnership between Tokyo and Manila has evolved into a "near-alliance status" and called for joint efforts to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific." Iwaya and Manalo also agreed to hold maritime talks involving senior officials and a vice-minister-level strategic dialogue later this year, the ministry said. The two countries share concerns over Beijing's maritime assertiveness, with Chinese vessels acting aggressively against Philippine ships near disputed shoals in the South China Sea and repeatedly entering waters around the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Japan has already decided to provide the Philippine military with coastal surveillance radar under the Official Security Assistance program launched in 2023 aimed at deepening security ties with like-minded partners. Cambodia, which has been deepening its ties with China economically and militarily, is not among the selected recipients under the program. But Iwaya conveyed to Sokhonn Japan's desire to advance discussion on the provision of defense equipment, according to the ministry. Touching on the China-funded Ream Naval Base in southwestern Cambodia, which Japanese defense force ships docked at in April, Iwaya said he would like to see port calls of vessels from various countries in the future leading it to become a "more open base." The Japanese foreign minister also confirmed that Tokyo will work with Cambodia to try and diversify its trading partners amid U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff measures, which have roiled global trade. Cambodia currently relies heavily on the United States and China.
Nikkei Asia
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
China escalates tactics targeting Japan's control over Senkaku islands
TOKYO -- China has initiated a potentially dangerous escalation of activities around the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands, entering the area around the chain -- which Beijing claims as the Diaoyu -- for the apparent reason of territorial defense. On May 3, a helicopter took off from a China Coast Guard vessel that had entered Japanese territorial waters. A Japan Coast Guard patrol boat confirmed the sighting and issued a warning. Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets scrambled from Naha Air Base in Okinawa prefecture.
