Putin and Aso sign energy and nuclear cooperation deals; Singapore urges Japan to play a more active role in Southeast Asia; Japanese Coast Guard: North Korea has ordered a ban on ships off its northeast coast
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso in Tokyo during the week. Both countries signed energy deals to jointly develop oil and gas fields in Siberia and pledged to resolve outstanding territorial disputes between them, especially over the islands known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils. They also signed an agreement to cooperate in civilian nuclear energy1.

    Singapore's President S.R. Nathan meanwhile urged Japan to play a more active role in Southeast Asia. During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, Nathan pointed out Japan's legacy in the region through out the 60s and 70s and urged Japan to play a more active role despite the difficult economic situation it was currently facing2.

    Japanese Coast Guard reported that North Korea had ordered a ban on ships from waters off its northeast coast, within a 130-kilometre radius from Kimchaek in its northeastern region, till the end of this month. This has led to speculation about a possible military drill or activity by Pyongyang3.

    As North Korea continues its saber-rattling, reports indicated that Washington has so far been reluctant to allow Tokyo to purchase America's most advanced fighter aircraft, the F-22 Raptor4. Other factors weighing against the purchase included the high cost of the aircraft which if bought could push Japanese defence expenditure above the 1 per cent of the GDP mark, US Congress regulations which prevent the sale of this aircraft to even allies, among other factors.

    In other developments, Japan and Canada have signed an agreement which permits Canadian military planes to stop at a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force base in Hokkaido for refueling and other activities before heading to disaster-hit areas in other Asian countries for relief operations5.

    Top