Latest news with #HayashiYoshimasa
NHK
2 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan to partially lift sanctions on Syria
The Japanese government has decided to partially lift sanctions it had imposed on Syria. In Syria, an interim government is working to rebuild the country after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December last year. The authoritarian rule of the Assad family spanned more than half a century over two generations. The Japanese Cabinet agreed on the move at its meeting on Friday. Four banks will be removed from the list of targets whose assets are frozen. The Syrian interim government has repeatedly asked other countries to lift sanctions to help rebuild the war-torn nation. The European Union has already decided to ease its sanctions in stages. The US government under President Donald Trump has also announced sanctions relief. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters that the decision came after the government studied the matter comprehensively. He said it is based on the view that Japan should support positive efforts in Syria and help improve the lives of its people, who have been worn down by years of crisis, while remaining in step with the international community. He said Japan will continue coordinating with the Group of Seven countries and others in the international community to pursue effective measures for achieving peace and stability in Syria.
NHK
2 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japan, China agree on requirements for resuming Japanese seafood imports
Japan's top government spokesperson says Japan and China have agreed on the requirements for resuming imports of Japanese seafood. China suspended the imports after Japan began releasing treated and diluted water that was accumulating at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told a Cabinet meeting on Friday that Japan and China have reached an agreement on the technical requirements for resuming seafood exports to China. Hayashi said the exports will resume as soon as procedures are completed for re-registering export-related facilities. But China's import ban on beef, as well as food products from 10 Japanese prefectures including Fukushima, Miyagi and Tokyo, will still be in place. Hayashi asked the relevant Cabinet ministers to continue making efforts so that China may lift the ban. The two governments have been holding working-level talks for an early resumption of Japanese seafood exports. Last September, China said it would resume imports of Japanese marine products that meet regulatory requirements and standards. Water used to cool molten fuel at the Fukushima plant has been mixing with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is being treated to remove most radioactive substances, but it still contains tritium. Before releasing the treated water into the ocean, the plant's operator dilutes it to reduce the tritium level to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidance level for drinking water.
NHK
3 days ago
- General
- NHK
Japanese govt. confirms China has removed last buoy from Japan's EEZ
The Japanese government has confirmed that China has removed its last remaining buoy from Japan's exclusive economic zone off Okinawa. The buoy was detected to the south of Okinawa Prefecture's Yonaguni Island last December. The Japanese government had demanded its immediate removal from Japan's EEZ and has been monitoring the situation around the waters. The Japanese government said in February that a Chinese buoy in the waters around Okinawa Prefecture's Senkaku Islands had been removed. China explained that it had moved the buoy. Japan controls the Senkaku Islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters on Thursday that he understands that the buoy south of Yonaguni Island is no longer an issue. He said China has not offered an external explanation and he will refrain from answering questions about its intentions. Hayashi said the Japanese government has been routinely patrolling the waters under its jurisdiction and the relevant government agencies will continue to cooperate in vigilance and surveillance activities.
NHK
4 days ago
- General
- NHK
Japan govt. reacts to US move to pause screenings of student visa applications
Japan's top government spokesperson has commented on the US government's decision to temporarily stop screening new applications for student visas. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters on Wednesday that he will refrain from commenting on the matter, as Washington has not made an official announcement. Hayashi said he is aware that people planning to travel to the US have raised concerns. He added that the Japanese government intends to respond to the situation after it gains a full understanding of the matter by communicating closely with the US.
NHK
5 days ago
- General
- NHK
Beijing rejects Tokyo's protest over survey ship activities in Japan's EEZ
China has rejected Japan's protest over a Chinese vessel's activities in Japan's exclusive economic zone near its southernmost island. The Japan Coast Guard says it detected a Chinese maritime research ship conducting activities near Okinotorishima in the Pacific on Monday without prior consent from Tokyo. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said Tuesday that the government lodged a protest with the Chinese side. He said maritime scientific surveys without Japan's consent are not allowed and should be stopped immediately. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Tuesday that Okinotorishima is a reef, not an island. She added that an EEZ or a continental shelf cannot be established around it. She reiterated China's previous argument, saying that Japan's claim violates international law. The spokesperson also maintained that China's activities are an exercise of freedom of the high seas, and Japan has no right to interfere.
