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Japan
Will Japan and South Korea Issue a New Joint Declaration?
By Takahashi Kosuke
In comments to The Diplomat, Prime Minister Kishida refrained from predictions about a second joint declaration to update one issued a quarter of a century ago.
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Edges Closer to Discharging Treated Wastewater Into Pacific
By Thisanka Siripala
The controversial release of treated wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is moving forward despite opposition.
This Week in Asia: June 30, 2023
The Diplomat’s weekly video round-up of Asia news.
Japan’s Victims of Forced Sterilizations Fight For State Compensation
By Thisanka Siripala
The government is taking a tough stance against compensating victims of the erstwhile Eugenic Protection Law.
Regulators Begin Final Safety Inspection Before Treated Fukushima Wastewater Is Released Into Sea
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan’s plan to release the radioactive wastewater has drawn fierce opposition from local fishing groups, as well as neighboring South Korea, China, and some Pacific Island nations.
Japan Will Reinstate South Korea as Preferred Trade Nation as Two Sides Improve Ties
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan’s tightening of trade controls against Seoul in 2019 was widely seen as retaliation for a South Korean court ruling on World War II-era forced labor.
The Philippines Is Leveraging Its Strategic Value to Become an Indo-Pacific Power
By Gavril Torrijos
Manila is embracing its alliance with the United States and building closer ties to Japan and Australia to become a strong, equal partner that can uphold a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Victims of J-pop Talent Agency Speak Out About Sexual Abuse
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan has been rocked by allegations that the late J-pop music mogul Johnny Kitagawa was a serial sexual predator.
This Week in Asia: June 16, 2023
The Diplomat’s weekly video round-up of Asia news.
A NATO Office in Japan: Much Ado About Not Much
By Jean-Loup Samaan
Speculations surrounding the impact of the proposed NATO office in Tokyo are wildly overhyped.
Palau Leader Stresses Need for US Help to Deter China in the Pacific
By Mari Yamaguchi
Speaking from Japan, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. said that three Chinese boats have made “uninvited” entries into his country’s waters since he took office in 2021.
Abe’s Unfinished Business: Japan’s Agriculture Reform
By Zhuoran Li
Abe Shinzo is often considered Japan’s most powerful prime minister. But he faced steep political opposition in one of his primary goals.