Singaporean travel app Traveloka enters Japan market
The Singapore-headquartered company, which now operates in eight countries in the region, said that growing numbers of Southeast Asians want to travel to Japan, just as more Japanese people are traveling to Southeast Asia.
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Yomiuri Shimbun
44 minutes ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Koizumi Takes Diplomatic Step through Visit to S. Korea; Eyes Strengthening Position in Next LDP Presidential Election
INCHEON, South Korea — Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited South Korea from Saturday to Monday on his first overseas trip since taking up the position, and he skillfully asserted Japan's stances at gatherings such as international conferences and conducted effective diplomacy. Having an increased sense of stability and the ability to debate, as well as solid communication skills, Koizumi is believed to be solidifying his position as a candidate for the next Liberal Democratic Party president. Koizumi attended a meeting of the agriculture ministers of Japan, China and South Korea, held for the first time in seven years, and a gathering of food security ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. At these gatherings, Koizumi introduced Japan's cutting-edge agricultural technology and confirmed cooperation between Japan, China and South Korea on the management of Japanese eel species. The European Union has proposed making all 19 eel species subject to trade regulations. 'We have different views on some issues, but it is necessary to find common ground and build a relationship in which we work together in unity. I think the content of the meeting was realistic,' Koizumi told reporters Monday, regarding the trilateral relations. Koizumi also had talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and urged him to lift restrictions on Japanese seafood imports from eight prefectures including Fukushima. It was unusual for a Japanese agriculture minister to meet with another country's foreign minister. According to multiple Japanese and South Korean government sources, Koizumi proposed a meeting with Cho to request that the country scrap the restrictions, and Cho agreed to have talks with him. Quoting analysts, South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper reported Tuesday that Koizumi's holding the meeting with Cho was 'aimed at proving diplomatic qualifications as the 'next prime minister.'' When he was the environment minister, Koizumi caused controversy by saying he would tackle a climate change issue in a 'cool and sexy' manner. In last year's LDP presidential election, he advocated radical reforms, but finished in third place in the race. Since then, he has focused on practical duties. He engaged in heated debates with the opposition as an LDP strategist over the review of political donations by companies and organizations during a regular session of the Diet earlier this year. After becoming agriculture minister in May, he revised the method of sale and delivery of the government's stockpiled rice from public bidding to no-bid contracts and laid the groundwork for a policy to increase rice production. A senior LDP member praised Koizumi by saying that he has become more assertive and resilient, and there are growing expectations within the party for his potential candidacy in the next LDP presidential election, which is likely to take place earlier than scheduled. However, a mid-career LDP member noted that because Koizumi prioritizes the clarity and speed of realizing policies, he often neglects careful coordination and consensus-building.
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Japan Times
Indonesia says it will continue talks with Malaysia over disputed sea
Indonesia will continue diplomatic talks with Malaysia over the oil-rich blocks in disputed waters instead of pursuing legal action, according to a senior official. "There's a territorial border between Germany and the Dutch that hasn't been settled in 300 years. If the Dutch and the Germans couldn't finish in 300 years, why should we finish in 10?' Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno said in an interview on Friday. If the talks between the Southeast Asian nations "take a long time, so be it.' The dispute involves overlapping claims to the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone off the eastern coast of Borneo — known as Ambalat in Indonesia and Sulawesi Sea in Malaysia. A military standoff in 2005, sparked by Malaysia's decision to grant oil exploration rights to Shell PLC in the contested zone, marked the last major escalation. Jakarta prefers to keep the matter at the negotiating table rather than seek international arbitration. The stance reflects Indonesia's broader approach to maritime disputes — such as those in the Natuna Sea with China — which prioritizes stability and bilateral engagement over fast, binding settlements that could carry political and economic risks. The Indonesian official's comments came as Malaysia's foreign ministry stressed that discussions for a possible joint development remain at an early stage and have yet to produce a final agreement. Malaysia's clarification underscored lingering caution between the two sides, despite the leaders' public statements. In late June, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed in principle to explore a joint development plan as a pragmatic alternative to a full legal settlement. "There is goodwill from both sides,' Prabowo said, when asked for comment on Aug. 7. "The point is, we want a good resolution.' Before recent pronouncements, the two countries have opted for quiet, twice-yearly negotiations covering both land and maritime boundaries. Oegroseno, who then led the talks, said personal ties between the chief negotiators on both sides have helped keep communications smooth. Indonesia bases its maritime claims on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, while Malaysia relies on its 1979 maritime map and a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling that granted it sovereignty over Sipadan and Ligitan islands, without settling the maritime boundary. "Boundary negotiations are the most complicated ones because once an agreement is reached, it cannot be changed,' said Oegroseno. "We need to have legal certainty.'
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan provides 'military asset protection' to Britain for 1st time
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday it provided "military asset protection" to the British military for the first time earlier this month, in another show of deepening bilateral defense ties amid growing global security challenges. The ministry said the Maritime Self-Defense Force carrier Kaga and destroyer Teruzuki guarded Britain's Prince of Wales aircraft carrier strike group during nine-day multilateral drills from Aug. 4 in the western Pacific. Britain is the third country to receive such support from the Self-Defense Forces, after the United States and Australia, the ministry said, adding there were no actual offensive acts against the British vessels during the exercises. Japanese security legislation enacted in 2016 allows defense personnel to guard foreign vessels, aircraft and weapons engaged in activities that help to defend Japan, loosening constraints on SDF operations under the war-renouncing Constitution. Tokyo and London, both close U.S. allies, have been stepping up security cooperation in response to China's growing military activities in the East and South China seas. The Prince of Wales strike group is visiting Japan from Tuesday, making a port call at Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo.
