Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
Ishiba will be the second foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump's second term began. Before leaving Tokyo, he said he was looking forward to the talks.
This is the first time we'll meet in person. I'd like to work to establish a relationship of mutual trust.
Ishiba will likely emphasize how Japan works with the US on issues like security and deterrence. That's especially true given China's recent moves in the Indo-Pacific, including putting pressure on Taiwan. They may also discuss increasing Japan's defense spending.As for the Americans, Trump seemed to be going into the talks with high spirits.
I have great respect for Japan. I like Japan. I look forward to it.
But it doesn't mean Tokyo is out of the woods, as Trump has repeatedly said.During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first.
It's unclear if he'll take a similar tack towards Tokyo, given how little he discussed Japan on the on the campaign trail. The two leaders are expected to release a joint statement after the talks on Friday.
For more on this, NHK spoke with Kenneth Weinstein. He's an expert in international affairs and Japan-US relations. He said it's notable that Ishiba is visiting Washington so soon.
I think it's a very positive sign for the importance of Japan that the Prime Minister is here. The first leader is Prime Minister Netanyahu.
But there are there is an ongoing war in the Middle East. There is a broader crisis with Iran going on Japan is not in the middle of such immediately dramatic situation.
Weinstein says it shows how important Japan is to the United States both politically and economically.
President Trump knows Japan is one of the world's largest economies. It is a technologically advanced society that is critical to the United States in terms of manufacturing capabilities, in terms of national security, because of the fact that Japan is a frontline state in both a Taiwan contingency, any kind of a China contingency, and also North Korea contingency. So Japan is also the country that has the most U.S. troops outside of the United States. So for all those reasons, Japan is critically important.
It doesn't mean Trump will go easy on Tokyo. Weinstein says the US is aware Japan increased its defense spending, but.
He's going to say, we need to do more, we need to do more together, but we also need to do more individually. And particularly in the case of Japan, he'll ask for more defense spending beyond the 2% number. 3% is certainly a possibility. It could go beyond that.
But the US also has a lot to gain from its relationship with Japan. Tokyo is key to helping Washington counter Beijing and the Indo-Pacific.
China not only presents a military threat to the United States and Japan,It poses A geoeconomic threat. Both the United States and Japan need to work to make sure that the Indo-Pacific region is more dependent on us and less dependent on China to remove some of China's ability to leverage economic dependence as a effectively a military tool.
While the stakes are high on all sides, Weinstein says these talks need to go especially well for Ishiba, who is facing political headwinds at home. He says the prime minister and the president may be able to find common ground.
Both have fought against their political establishments. Both are deeply skeptical of the traditional wisdom coming out of their bureaucracies. Both are men who favor rural voters over urban voters. It's not going to be the Abe Trump relationship. That was a once in a century relationship between Japanese prime ministers and US presidents.As for tariffs, Weinstein believes Trump is going to come to the meeting with some big demands.
The real question is, does Prime Minister Ishiba have something in his bag of tricks to help prevent? Or to mitigate some of these tough demands. He and his team need to think creatively about what they can do for the United States that is in Japan's interest so that they can help mitigate whatever potential tariffs might go on Japan. It's very interesting that Japan is not in the first group of countries that are getting tariffs, and that's a good sign. But we'll see what happens after this meeting.Weinstein said. The more Japan tries to reduce its burden on the United States.
the better off it will be.
The draft legislation for active cyber defense was approved at a cabinet meeting on Friday. One pillar of the measures is to allow police or the Japan Self-Defense Forces to identify potential sources of cyber attacks and incapacitate them.
An independent committee will give permission. The government plans to work with critical infrastructure operators such as power and railway companies to obtain communications data to monitor for cyber attacks. The operators are required to report to the government if they experience such an attack. It also stipulates that the perpetrators of information leaks could face up to four years in prison or a fine of up to 2 million yen, about $13,000.
Serious cyber attacks are carried out on a daily basis and are becoming a major security concern. Improving Japan's cyber response capability is an urgent issue.
The government is looking to pass the draft in the current session of the Diet and implement the measures in fiscal 2026.
Executives at a major Japanese steelmaker are hoping Trump will help them take over their American counterpart. Their plan for Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel was blocked by former President Joe Biden.Our proposal is the best one. It's 100% in line with what the Trump administration is saying about reviving the manufacturing industry and making the United States. strong again.
Biden blocked the takeover last month on national security grounds. Both companies filed lawsuits claiming unlawful political interference. They submitted their opening brief earlier this week.
Mori says Trump has the authority to repeal Biden's order and start a fresh review. He says his company is taking steps toward that end. He also touched on the summit between Trump and Prime Minister Ishiba. He said he hopes the US president will grasp Japan's intentions and open a way forward.
Just one day ahead of the summit, Trump reportedly met with a key figure in the proposed takeover, the CEO of US Steel.
Multiple media outlets say David Barritt went to the White House. He's in favor of the bid. But Trump regularly mentioned his opposition during his presidential campaign last year. He's also questioned the company's executives, writing online,Why would they want to sell US steel now, when tariffs will make it a much more profitable and valuable company?
US news outlets report the Trump administration plans to cut about 10,000 workers at the US Agency for International Development. The move would reduce the organization's workforce to under 300 worldwide.
The White House has said USAID is not in line with its agenda regarding diversity, sexual minorities and similar matters.
Billionaire Elon Musk heads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He's charged with slashing costs and has questioned the transparency of USAID's operations. The organization provides a wide range of humanitarian assistance, including medical care and food aid, around the world. Ukraine and other conflict zones are among the recipients. Trump's foreign aid policy has sparked concerns that millions will lose access to assistance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he will continue humanitarian aid that serves US interests.
Silence the guns. Stop the escalation. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He plans to attend a meeting of the African Union, set to be held in Ethiopia next week.
Mizuhara was sentenced at a federal court in California. Prosecutors charged him with bank fraud and filing a false tax return. They say he illegally transferred nearly $17 million from Otani's bank account. They reached a plea deal last June in which he admitted to the charges. His attorney requested a sentence of a year and a half.
Mizuhara submitted a letter to the court last month asking for a little mercy.
He said he was struggling financially and began betting because he was desperate for money. Prosecutors argued that his actions were driven not by gambling addiction, but by greed.
It's now time to check on the weather.
Heavy snowfall has been reported in various areas in Japan. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the updated forecast for the winter storm.
As we go into the weekend, the largest amount of snowfall is expected in Hokuriku and Tohoku, up to 80 centimeters by Saturday and 70 centimeters by Sunday. The heavy snow is also expected to arrive in the Pacific side, such as Kyushu, Shikoku, and Tokai. There is a high risk of traffic disruptions for train services and major highways over the weekend, so please check not only weather, but also traffic information.
The cold wave causing this heavy snowfall is also affecting other parts of Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula.
People in Seoul were hit by heavy snow on Thursday, causing many disruptions.
Icy roads slowed down traffic in the city as a cold snap swept in.
Locals say they are ready to stay home amid the snow, because public transportation might be crowded. The weather department has issued cold wave warnings. Snow is tippling out from Seoul, but the temperatures will stay on the cold side, with a high of -3. Showers will be heavier in Taipei, but sunny skies are expected to cover Tokyo with a high of 10.
♫～
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo.Thanks very much for joining us.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿