Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide speaks at the National Assembly. (Photo: Kyodo) Congress Japan on May 12 passed a law that will create a new government agency next September, with the function of promoting digital apps . The new agency will have about 500 people, of which 120 include information technology engineers. Under the new law, the government will remove personal seals (also known as hanko) from official documents and allow the use of digital data instead of paper documents. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide’s government hopes that with this agency, Japan will increase the application of digital at central and local agencies to improve service quality. Under the new law, Japan will upgrade computer systems at central and local agencies, and enact a nationwide general law to protect personal information. Increased exchange of personal information can cause data leaks and other risks, so the digital application law will also provide privacy protections. Prime Minister Suga’s government has given high priority to digital reform as Japan seeks to strengthen administrative reform through the use of information technology.

Sheet South China Morning Post Taiwan announced on April 22 that it would protect its own security, after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that Tokyo would not engage in the military if Taiwan was attacked. Ms. Au Giang An (Joanne Ou) – spokesperson for Taiwan External Relations – said on April 22: “Self-protection of security is an unshakeable task for us and Taiwan will take on your own responsibility to protect people’s homes and protect this island ”. Ms. Au Giang An (Joanne Ou) – the spokesperson of the Taiwan External Relations Agency. Photo: TAIWAN NEWS Earlier, speaking at the National Assembly on April 20, Prime Minister Suga emphasized that although the US-Japan Joint Declaration, issued after the summit between Mr. Suga and US President Joe Biden, mentioned the issue. But Japanese forces will not engage in any military situation around the island. In response to a question from an opposition politician in the National Assembly on April 20 about the details of Japan’s commitment to Taiwan, Mr. Suga stated “no military participation is expected”. According to the SCMP Analysts say Japan’s constitution will not allow the military to enter the war in the event that China tries to capture Taiwan by force, but Tokyo can provide the United States with logistical and rear-end support. In the statement, Mr. Biden and Mr. Suga called for “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. This is the first time the US and Japan have mentioned the Taiwan issue in a joint statement in more than 50 years. The two sides also said they would counter China’s “threat” in the Asia-Pacific region. The US-Japan statement has aroused strong protests from China, when it warned that Tokyo and Washington should stay away from “internal affairs” related to Taiwan. Over the weekend, the Chinese military’s Eastern Zone, which oversees the Taiwan Strait, deployed dozens of H-6K strategic bombers to participate in a nine-hour live-fire drill. , according to the China Central Television (CCTV) . Previously, the Taiwan External Relations Agency on April 22 said the US-Japan defense alliance is the foundation of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The agency also said the reference in the joint statement reflects the two countries’ strong consensus on security in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific. “We welcome the international community’s concern about trans-strait peace and stability … and it is our responsibility to protect our security,” the statement said. “Taiwan will continue to liaise and cooperate closely with the US, Japan and other like-minded countries in maintaining stability across the strait as well as maintaining security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. – Pacific “- stated clearly. China always considers Taiwan its territory and does not rule out the possibility of using force to unify. The Taiwan-strait relations have been strained since Thai Anh Van, who opposed the “one China” policy, became the island’s leader in 2016.

The statement came days after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stressed that the Japanese military would not engage in any military situation around Taiwan. The Japanese leader asserted that the mention of Taiwan in his joint statement with the United States did not make assumptions about Japanese military involvement. Taiwan claims to defend itself after Japan’s declaration of non-interference. (Photo: EPA-EFE) After meeting at the White House last week, Mr. Suga and President Biden issued a joint statement, which outlined “the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. Both leaders encouraged the peaceful settlement of cross-strait Taiwan issues. In a statement released on April 22, Taiwan’s diplomatic mission said the US-Japan defense alliance is the foundation for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and is referenced in a joint statement. reflecting the two countries’ strong consensus on security in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific. The statement also noted Mr. Suga’s earlier assertion that the dispute in the Taiwan Strait should be settled by peaceful means. “We welcome the international community’s concern for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait… and it is our responsibility to protect the security of the island. Taiwan will continue to liaise and cooperate closely with the US, Japan and like-minded countries in maintaining stability in the strait as well as maintaining security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region – Pacific”, the statement clearly stated. China has always asserted that Taiwan is an inseparable territory and does not rule out the possibility of using force to unify the island. The Chinese military’s time increased military operations near Taiwan as tensions between Washington and Beijing escalated.

Mr. Zhao also emphasized that “the ocean is not the trash of Japan”. The same message he posted on Twitter personally.

Zhao’s statement came after the Japanese government approved a project to discharge 1.25 million tons of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

Earlier, on April 13, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said in a press conference that “there will be no harm” when drinking treated water, and he said that Japan should drain water sooner. .

Foreign Ministry spokesman Trieu Lap Kien. Photo: Twitter.

The Chinese spokesman also mentioned Minamata disease, saying Japan “should not forget the historic tragedy” and urged Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga not to discharge wastewater into the sea without the consent of other countries.

Miamata disease is a neurological disease that has killed nearly 2,000 Japanese people, and is caused by a Japanese company discharging methyl mercury waste into the environment.

According to the plan, Japan will discharge wastewater into the sea within the next two years. The government said wastewater was treated and diluted to meet World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. However, treatment cannot remove tritium – a radioactive isotope of hydrogen.

Although Japan’s decision to discharge wastewater was approved by the United States and the IAEA, it faced opposition from the country’s fishing industry and neighboring countries. The Chinese spokesperson stated that Japan must reach a consensus of all concerned before proceeding with the discharge.

Mr. Zhao also warned: “China has the right to make follow-up reactions.”

The above comments of Mr. Konstantin Roginsky, deputy director of the Institute of Oceanography of the Russian Academy of Sciences shared with the media on April 13.

“The amount of wastewater announced by the Japanese side is a small amount. This is a drop of water in the ocean. Even in the worst case, if the wastewater is poorly treated, this heavy water will sink to the bottom and lie at a depth of 5-6-8 km, ”said Mr. Roginsky.

The waste water is planned to be discharged into the ocean, not posing a threat to the ecosystem of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, because the currents in that area go from north to south in the direction of the Russian scientist. Japan”.

The wastewater discharge will begin in about two years and the entire process is expected to take decades. (Image: Reuters)

According to Roginsky, the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant does not pose a threat to the Sea of ​​Japan, which is separated from the Pacific by islands of Japan. “US naval bases are much more harmful to Japan’s coastal fisheries,” added Roginsky.

“About 1.5 million tons of wastewater will be dumped into the ocean. Accordingly, the water is diluted, losing its natural salinity. This can be more harmful to marine organisms than it is with poor radiation release. They are used to living at a certain salinity, at a certain depth, in a certain chemical composition of water, ”explained the Russian expert.

Also commenting on the contemporary Japanese announcement of the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the expert of the Federal Council on Agricultural Policy – Food and Environmental Management, Ms. Natalia Sokolova undertook that if the wastewater is properly purified, there will be no radioactive threat to Russia.

“Right now, the amount of liquid accumulated is very large. Most of it is regular water. If purified from all harmful impurities, including tritium, the wastewater can be safely discharged into the oceans, as well as the coastal waters of other countries will not be affected. “, Ms. Sokolova shared with Sputnik.

According to the ecologist, discharging water from nuclear power plants is a common process for operating plants. But Fukushima is an emergency, so it is not known whether or not an operation will be able to proceed. It will become clear by 2023 whether wastewater can be filtered to the required parameters.

“Rigorous laboratory analyzes should be performed during the entire wastewater purification process. Two years prior to discharge is called approximate figure. I am sure that the Japanese government will make a decision on the outcome of the wastewater purification process. So far, these are just plans and the reality is that not all wastewater can be 100% purified ”, believes Ms. Sokolova.

Japan insists it is safe to discharge water from the plant as it has been treated to remove most of the radioactive elements and will be diluted. (Image: Reuters)

Meanwhile, Dmitry Lisitsyn, President of the Far East (Russia) environmental protection organization, said that the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan would lead to radioactive pollution. was brought to the heart of the North Pacific, where Pacific salmon are inhabited.

“The Fukushima nuclear power plant is located on the Pacific coast of Honshu Island. When radioactive pollution enters the Pacific off the coast of Honshu, they are quickly transported to the northeast by the Kuroshio currents, then into the North Pacific stream. All polluted wastewater is sent directly to the North Pacific. How does this threaten Russia? The fish forage in the North Pacific, then infiltrate the Russian table and there will be more before the polluted wastewater completely disappears, “RIA quoted Mr. Lisitsyn.

Lisitsyn noted six Pacific salmon species live in the Far East. They spawn in rivers, feed and grow in the ocean. Specifically in the central region of the North Pacific. This is exactly the site where this pollution was done.

What does the IAEA say?

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, welcomed the decision of the Japanese Government to discharge wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea and promised that the organization would assistance to avoid negative consequences.

“I welcome Japan’s announcement of how they will treat wastewater stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The IAEA will work with Japan before, during and after discharge to help ensure this is done without negatively affecting health and the environment, ”wrote Grossi on Twitter.

According to Mr. Grossi, the controlled discharge of water into the sea is regularly used by nuclear power plants operating in the world and in the region, they comply with strict environmental safety standards and regulations. .

The start of wastewater discharge is expected to be around 2023. At the current rate of storage in reservoirs, all available reservoirs will be filled by the end of 2022.

Earlier, speaking at a press conference on April 13, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide announced that it would discharge more than 1 million tons of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, saying that the discharge of water into Thai waters Binh Duong was the “most realistic” and “inevitable” option to achieve the recovery of Fukushima.

To be sure, the two leaders will also discuss how to deal with a rising China, North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Narrow a large cognitive gap

For now, the Biden administration will put an emphasis on promoting cooperation with allies, including Japan, and this is warmly welcomed by America’s allies. .

However, as China continues to rise and the US is urging its allies to assume greater responsibility in international affairs, there is a danger of a large gap between the US and Japan. awareness.

Although Japan is very concerned about China’s behavior, in recent years Tokyo has maintained a cooperative rather than an adversarial approach.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide (left) and US President Joe Biden (right) will discuss many ‘hot’ issues. (Source: AP)

In October 2018, former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo visited Beijing, and Japan signed memoranda of understanding with China on more than 50 joint projects related to infrastructure construction in third countries. .

Chinese President Xi Jinping was scheduled to make a state visit to Japan in April 2020, but the tour was subsequently postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under Prime Minister Suga, figures of “doves” and “hawks” toward China in Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) often fought for influence.

The hawks have sought ways to postpone Xi Jinping’s state visit when it comes to Xinjiang and Hong Kong issues. LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, a supporter of Prime Minister Suga, opposed the delay, but the visit is not expected to take place in 2021.

Although Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urged China to resolve the Xinjiang issue, Tokyo still shied away from imposing economic sanctions on its neighbor because of its lack of legal frameworks. like that.

Therefore, the US should prepare mentally that Japan will adopt a more moderate approach towards China. Japan will certainly continue to strengthen the role and mission of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) within the framework of the Peace Constitution and the US-Japan alliance.

At the same time, Japan will also seek a clear commitment from the United States to avert Chinese military provocations, especially around the Senkaku Islands (which China also claims and calls for). Diaoyu) after China passed a new Customs Law last month, granting China’s coast guard the right to use weapons.

Analysts say the US will certainly be disappointed if it wants Japan to take significantly more aggressive military action against China. Although Japan passed a security law in 2015 that allowed the SDF to engage in limited collective defense activities, constitutional restrictions essentially forbid Japan from using force for purposes of does not involve defense.

Furthermore, the Japanese public still supports Article 9 – the peace clause – in the Rape and has little desire for the SDF to engage in combat missions that pose a risk of casualties.

Get cooperation back on track

About North Korea, both leaders advocated adopting a tough approach. Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump, Mr. Biden is not too close to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr. Suga will be anxious to express his tough stance towards North Korea in the face of domestic public opinion when asking for US assistance to repatriate Japanese citizens previously kidnapped by North Korea.

President Biden had to find a way to reassure the US-Japan-Korea trilateral partnership that Trump has ignored. The key bottleneck here, however, remains tensions between Japan and South Korea over forced labor – issues that have engulfed the enthusiasm of cooperation between the two countries even though they share a common desire to curb the chapter. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Addressing climate change and fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic will be a “fertile ground” for the US-Japan to promote cooperation.

Regarding climate change, President Biden quickly brought the US back to the Paris Agreement and is scheduled to hold a climate summit with 40 world leaders from April 22-23.

Prime Minister Suga pledged that Japan will reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

Since the financial institutions of the US and Japan lead the world in supporting the use of coal, under the leadership of these two countries, it is likely that the world will be promoted to transform energy, without using fuel. fossils that turn to renewable energy could eventually forge clean energy partnerships.

With regard to Covid-19, Since Japan and the US have a long history of cooperation in international health, the lack of cooperation between the two countries in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is surprising. A lot of people fear that the Tokyo Olympics will turn into a super infectious event this pandemic.

More communication against Covid-19 did not yield much results. This includes Japan’s use of a supercomputer in an AI-based Covid-19 study, American doctors’ experience in treating Covid-19 patients, and the logistics of government vaccination. Mr. Biden.

Japan and the US could also support more multilateral efforts, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU-operated Covid Tool Access Accelerator, to help stop the spread of spread globally and vaccinate people around the world before the emergence of resistant mutations.

The US-Japan summit provides an important opportunity to get bilateral cooperation back on track. However, to best strengthen cooperation and close the perception gap, these two allies should not shy away from discussions regarding thorny issues.

(according to EastAsia Forum)