Suspected Russian plane violates Japanese airspace: ministry
January 25, 2006An aircraft thought to belong to the Russian Federation violated Japanese airspace off the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido seven times Wednesday night, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. The ministry filed a strong protest with the Russian Embassy in Tokyo about the airspace violation and requested that the Russian government undertake an investigation into the case and take steps to forestall any similar incidents, the ministry said.
Koizumi says only China, S. Korea critical of Yasukuni visits
January 25, 2006Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday that only China and South Korea have criticized his visits to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine, again downplaying an issue straining Japan's ties with the two countries. Koizumi's adamant stance, coupled with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun's renewed opposition to the visits the same day, caused Japanese officials virtually to give up realizing a visit by Roh to Japan before Koizumi leaves office in September.
Roh says will continue to demand Koizumi stop Yasukuni visits
January 25, 2006South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said Wednesday he will continue to demand that Japanese Prime Minster Junichiro Koizumi stop his visits to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine. ''I will not give up (demanding that Prime Minister Koizumi stop the visits to Yasukuni),'' Roh said in a New Year press conference. ''I will make various efforts in such a way that our justified demand is accepted.''
Koizumi says China, S. Korea only ones to criticize Yasukuni visits
January 25, 2006Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday his visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo have drawn criticism from only China and South Korea among Asian countries, again downplaying the issue that has disrupted his summits with the neighboring leaders. ''No countries in Asia other than China and South Korea criticize my Yasukuni visits,'' Koizumi told a House of Councillors plenary session when asked how he will try to rebuild Japan's Asia diplomacy amid disputes over history with China and South Korea.
Taiwan's new Cabinet sworn in
January 25, 2006Taiwan's new Premier Su Tseng-chang, former leader of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, and his Cabinet were sworn in Wednesday. Su is the fifth head of the Cabinet since President Chen Shui-bian took power in 2000.
Embassy asks for donations over train accident in Montenegro
January 25, 2006The Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro in Japan began collecting donations for the victims of a fatal train derailment Monday in Montenegro, which killed 40 people and injured more than 150, its officials said Wednesday. It also asking the public to sign the book of condolences on Wednesday and Thursday at the embassy in Shinagawa Ward, they said.