Japan has approved new defense guidelines, including a plan to upgrade an existing destroyer into a de-facto aircraft carrier.
Japan's tourism industry has marked a new high, as the number of inbound visitors topped 30 million for the first time ever.
NHK has learned that Japan's general budget for fiscal 2019, starting next April, will be over 101 trillion yen, or about 900 billion dollars.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181218200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : approved new defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_12/
Japan has approved new defense guidelines, including a plan to upgrade an existing destroyer into a de-facto aircraft carrier.
The new National Defense Program Guidelines and the mid-term defense program for the next five years were adopted on Tuesday at a cabinet meeting.
They highlight the tough security environment around Japan. This includes China's rapid military buildup on the sea and in the air and its pursuit of dominance in outer space and cyber space.
They say the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles remains essentially unchanged.
Under the defense guidelines, Japan will launch a multi-dimensional and integrated defense force. It will function strategically in outer space and cyber space, in addition to the conventional domains of land, sea and air.
The plans call for setting up a new space unit and expanding an existing cyber-defense unit.
In order to strengthen defense in the Pacific Ocean, the guidelines call for refurbishing the nation's largest destroyer Izumo over the next five years so it can effectively function as an aircraft carrier.
Japan will acquire state-of-the-art F-35B stealth fighter jets that can take off and land on the refurbished Izumo. However, the fighters will only be used on the vessel in emergencies or for training, rather than being deployed on a regular basis.
The measure is intended to clarify that the new Izumo will not be an "offensive aircraft carrier," which Japan cannot possess under its war-renouncing Constitution and its "defense-only" national policy.
Cabinet ministers also approved a plan to introduce 42 F-35Bs and 63 F-35As in phases to replace about 100 aging fighter jets.
Defense spending for the next five years is set to reach a record of about 240 billion dollars. The Defense Ministry hopes to bring down that figure by around 17 billion dollars through cost-cutting.
Key words : Japan tourist industry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_22/
Japan's tourism industry has marked a new high, as the number of inbound visitors topped 30 million for the first time ever. The annual record comes despite a series of natural disasters, from earthquakes to typhoons.
Japanese Tourism Minister said the government plans to work with the private sector to make Japan even more popular with travelers.
Keiichi Ishii told reporters, "It is important to attract tourists from a wide variety of countries and regions, and encourage them to visit places across Japan, not just the major tourist areas."
The annual number of tourists has tripled in just five years, but still has a way to go to reach the official target of 40 million by 2020. That's when Tokyo will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tourists spent more than four trillion yen, or nearly 40 billion dollars last year, contributing to economies across Japan.
Key words : learned budget
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_30/
NHK has learned that Japan's general budget for fiscal 2019, starting next April, will be over 101 trillion yen, or about 900 billion dollars. If Cabinet ministers approve the draft on Friday, it will be the first time the amount breaches the 100 trillion yen mark.
Finance Minister Taro Aso and other ministers finished working out the details of the draft budget on Tuesday.
The figures show a record planned budget of about 300 billion dollars for ballooning social security costs, as Japan's population continues to age.
That amount also covers the extra cost of providing free preschool education.
And defense spending will also hit a new high, at about 47 billion dollars. Grants to local governments will exceed 140 billion dollars.
Meanwhile, taxation is expected to bring in a record 555 billion dollars, due in part to a planned consumption tax hike next October from the current eight percent to 10 percent.
Newly issued government bonds are expected to generate about 290 billion dollars. That's 3 percent less in yen terms than a year earlier.
Key words : government official forecast
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_18/
Japanese government officials are forecasting that the economy will grow by about 1.3 percent in real terms in the next fiscal year. That's despite a planned consumption tax hike.
Officials predict the economy will expand by about 2.4 percent in nominal terms in fiscal 2019.
Cabinet ministers endorsed on Tuesday the outlook ahead of approving the year's budget bill.
The forecast says measures to boost the economy will likely make personal consumption higher than in fiscal 2018.
That's despite the planned consumption tax increase in October from eight percent to 10 percent.
Officials believe public works projects to bolster natural disaster readiness will help soften the hike's impact.
They also see corporate spending increasing as companies try to attract talent amid a labor shortage.
However officials also cited risk factors the economy will continue to face, including the effects of trade conflicts.
Key words : Russia has reportedly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_13/
Russia has reportedly built military barracks on the Etorofu and Kunashiri islands, two of four Russian-held islands.
Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them.
The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.
Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported on Monday that the defense ministry revealed four new housing complexes on the islands.
It says 188 households are expected to move into them next week.
The report says two similar facilities are scheduled to be built in Etorofu and one in Kunashiri next year.
Homes, schools and sports facilities for the people on the islands will reportedly be renovated, bringing the total number of construction and repair projects for military personnel and civilians to over 200.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to reporters on Monday about negotiations on a peace treaty with Japan.
He said that the signing of a peace treaty based on the 1956 declaration means Japan has fully recognized the results of the Second World War.
However, he added, Japan is not ready to do that.
Lavrov reiterated that Russia is not illegally occupying the islands, but that they became Russia's territory based on the outcome of the war.
Russia's presidential office says it is making adjustments with Japan to hold a bilateral summit on January 21st.
Russia's latest moves and Lavrov's comments are believed to be an attempt to keep Japan in check ahead of the possible meeting.
Key words : Russia possible
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_13/
Russia has reportedly built military barracks on the Etorofu and Kunashiri islands, two of four Russian-held islands.
Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them.
The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.
Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported on Monday that the defense ministry revealed four new housing complexes on the islands.
It says 188 households are expected to move into them next week.
The report says two similar facilities are scheduled to be built in Etorofu and one in Kunashiri next year.
Homes, schools and sports facilities for the people on the islands will reportedly be renovated, bringing the total number of construction and repair projects for military personnel and civilians to over 200.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to reporters on Monday about negotiations on a peace treaty with Japan.
He said that the signing of a peace treaty based on the 1956 declaration means Japan has fully recognized the results of the Second World War.
However, he added, Japan is not ready to do that.
Lavrov reiterated that Russia is not illegally occupying the islands, but that they became Russia's territory based on the outcome of the war.
Russia's presidential office says it is making adjustments with Japan to hold a bilateral summit on January 21st.
Russia's latest moves and Lavrov's comments are believed to be an attempt to keep Japan in check ahead of the possible meeting.
Key words : United Nation assembly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_08/
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights situation.
The resolution submitted by Japan and the European Union won overwhelming support in a vote at the General Assembly on Monday.
The resolution claims there is a lack of freedom of movement and expression in North Korea. It also condemns the nation's systematic abductions of Japanese and other people and calls for the immediate repatriation of the abducted foreigners.
Japan and the EU have jointly submitted similar resolutions every year since 2005 to solicit cooperation and support from the international community to improve human rights climate in the North.
Before the vote, North Korea's UN ambassador Kim Song argued that the draft resolution has nothing to do with human rights issues. He rejected it as a political plot by hostile forces. China and Syria also said they were against the draft resolution.
The adoption comes after the UN Security Council postponed an annual meeting on human rights in North Korea as it failed to get enough support to hold it this month.
The meeting has been held every December since 2014.
The United States is aiming to hold it in January.
Key words : two major
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_31/
Two major Japanese oil wholesalers, Idemitsu Kosan and Showa Shell Sekiyu, have finally reached a deal on their merger. Officials at both companies say they will join hands in April, some two years behind their original plan.
Shareholders of both companies approved the deal by a two-thirds majority at separate meetings on Tuesday.
Showa Shell will become a subsidiary of Idemitsu through an exchange of shares. The new business will work toward greater efficiency in refineries and wholesale.
The companies first announced the merger plan in 2015. But it deadlocked due to objections from members of Idemitsu's founding family.
A breakthrough came when the family gave its go-ahead, with some conditions, in July this year.
Idemitsu President, Shunichi Kito said, "It took time, but we have the full support of Showa Shell. Now, we need to prepare for a rapid start on April 1st."
The merger will create the second-largest oil wholesaler in Japan, after market-leader JXTG Holdings.
Key words : today's news key word segment Japan's oil industry
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Key words : Xi continue to open
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_26/
Chinese President Xi Jinping says he will continue to open up his country, but that it is not easy, cautioning that it could lead to unimaginable storms.
His comments come as the nation marks 40 years since it began massive economic reform that has turned it into the second largest economy in the world.
Tuesday's ceremony took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The event was attended by those who helped contribute to the development of the country including Jack Ma, the head of the Chinese online shopping company Alibaba.
President Xi says the reform and opening up initiative is one of the greatest revolutions in Chinese history.
The country's ruling Communist Party launched the initiative in 1978.
Since then, the country has turned itself into an economic superpower, lifting hundreds of millions of its citizens out of poverty.
Now under Xi, the country looks to overtake the US as the world's leading economy.
But a brewing trade dispute between Beijing and Washington threatens to rattle the plan.
China is also facing a growing economic divide between the rich and the poor.
Key words : Nagasaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181218_24/
Pope Francis has expressed his desire to visit Japanese cities, including Tokyo and Nagasaki, at the end of 2019, according to Japanese clerics.
The Pope met Japan's Cardinal Manyo Maeda and archbishop of Nagasaki Mitsuaki Takami on Monday at the Vatican.
The Japanese clerics asked the Pope to visit Tokyo as well as the two cities that suffered atomic bombings -- Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- and nuclear accident-hit Fukushima.
The Pope reportedly told them he certainly wants to visit Tokyo and Nagasaki, and showed a desire to visit Hiroshima.
Last month, Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who serves as the Vatican's foreign minister, agreed to work together to arrange a visit by Pope Francis.
The Pope is known for having a strong interest in abolishing nuclear weapons.
Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue handed a personal letter to request a visit to the city when he met with the Pope in May.
The last pope to visit Japan was John Paul the Second in 1981.
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