Japan voices grave concerns over South Ossetia and Abkhazia; Govt. announces an economic stimulus package worth more than $100 billion; MSDF and IN conduct exercises
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • Japan voiced grave concerns over Russia's action in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia1. Controversy also erupted over the disputed islands of Dokdo (Takeshima for Japan) following Japan's announcement that it would recommend that a government teaching manual refer to its claim to the area, which are mostly uninhabited but rich in marine resources2.

    In domestic developments, the Japanese government also announced an economic stimulus package worth more than $100 billion to tackle the rising inflation and the looming threat of a recession3. Prospects also increased that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda may dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election in January after submitting to the Diet a bill on a newly adopted flat-sum tax cut4. A new political front was launched by four members of the House of Councillors, including two defectors from the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Reports noted that the group would take a favourable stance to the ruling coalition5.

    Reports noted that Japan would introduce the third-country refugee resettlement program as early as 2010 in a bid to accept more foreign refugees6. The body of kidnapped aid worker Kazuya Ito was found in a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, according to Ichita Yamamoto, senior vice minister of the Foreign Ministry7.

    In other developments, two guided missile destroyers and one training ship of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) took part in an exercise with the Indian Navy (IN) from August 23-26 on India’s western seaboard8.

    Top