Politics
Philippines eyes expansion of Squad group to India, South Korea
The Philippines and its allies are trying to expand the Squad grouping of nations to include India and South Korea to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, the Philippines' Armed Forces chief General Romeo S. Brawner said on Wednesday. The Squad is an informal multilateral grouping made up of Australia,… Read
Japan ruling camp tweaks budget plan after Ishiba's about-face
In a rare move, Japan's ruling coalition on Tuesday endorsed a revision to the draft budget for the next fiscal year that will require fresh lower house approval, as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shelved a hike in medical costs due to opposition and patient resistance. The ruling camp wants the… Read
Foreign ministers of S Korea, China and Japan to meet in Tokyo
The foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan and China will hold a meeting in Tokyo on Saturday in the first such talks since 2023, the governments of the three East Asian nations said on Tuesday. The trilateral talks come as Seoul and Tokyo, both key U.S. allies, face growing uncertainties… Read
Brazilian president to be awarded one of Japan's highest decorations
Japan said Tuesday it will award Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, one of its highest decorations, during his visit as a state guest next week. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference the decision was… Read
Ishiba cabinet approval hits record low: poll
Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government dropped to a record low after he handed out gift vouchers to some ruling party lawmakers, a poll conducted by the Asahi newspaper showed on Monday. The approval rating slid 14 percentage points to 26% from the previous survey done in… Read
Japan requests Taiwan pavilion at Osaka Expo be labeled as privately operated
Japan has requested that Taiwan explicitly state its pavilion at the upcoming World Exposition in Osaka is run by a private firm, sources close to Japan-Taiwan ties said Sunday. The Foreign Ministry is believed to have made the request after determining that a statement by the Taiwanese government suggested the… Read
Ishiba apologizes for giving out gifts, clouding budget prospects
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba apologised on Friday for giving gift certificates to some ruling party lawmakers, a move that could hurt his administration's already low approval ratings and risk delaying passage of next fiscal year's budget. The political uncertainty could cast doubt on Ishiba's leadership ahead of an upper… Read
U.S. ambassador nominee to Japan says Tokyo will have to pay more
President Donald Trump's nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, said on Thursday that Washington will "undoubtedly" have to ask Japan for an increase in its financial contribution for the upkeep of U.S. forces there, referring to an agreement due to be renegotiated in 2027. President Donald… Read
Japan's trade minister fails to win U.S. assurance on tariff exemptions
Japan’s trade minister said Tuesday that he has failed to win assurances from U.S. officials that the key U.S. ally will be exempt from tariffs, some of which go onto effect on Wednesday. Yoji Muto was in Washington for last ditch negotiations over the tariffs on a range of Japanese… Read
Ishiba says Japan will decide its defense budget, not other nations
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Wednesday that other nations do not decide its defense budget after U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for a top Pentagon policy role called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China. "Japan decides its defense budget by itself," Ishiba said in the Diet.… Read
