It was the 22nd intrusion into Japanese waters around the island chain by Chinese government ships this year….reports Asian Lite News
Four Chinese coast guard ships sailed into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Saturday morning, according to Japan Coast Guard, local media reported.
After the Chinese ships tried to approach four Japanese fishing boats that were sailing in waters south of Uotsurijima, one of the Senkaku Islands, the Japan Coast Guard ensured the safety of the boats and warned the Chinese ships to leave Japanese waters, reported the Japan Times.
It was the 22nd intrusion into Japanese waters around the island chain by Chinese government ships this year. The Okinawa Prefecture islands are claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu.
Earlier, on Sunday, two China Coast Guard ships entered Senkaku Islands said Japan Coast Guard.
According to the Japan Coast Guard’s 11th regional headquarters in Naha, four Haijing ships from the Chinese coast guard entered Japanese waters south of Minamikojima, also one of the Senkaku Islands, and other areas between roughly 2:30 a.m. and 2:45 am (local time), reported the Japan Times.
It further reported that the Chinese ships left the waters by around 11:40 am (local time).
Japan controls the Senkaku Islands, however, China and Taiwan continue to claim them.
Tokyo maintains the islands are an inherent part of its territory as per history and international law.
China has been increasing its maritime activities in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the past few months, partly in response to Beijing’s concerns over the increasing US military presence in the region because of escalating Sino-US tensions.
Recently, tensions between China and Japan have escalated amid increased activity by Beijing in the disputed East China Sea.
This comes after Beijing implemented a new law that allows the country’s quasi-military force to use weapons against foreign ships that China sees as illegally entering its waters. (ANI)
Recently, tensions between China and Japan have escalated amid increased activity by Beijing in the disputed East China Sea….reports Asian Lite News
Japan’s defence minister Nobuo Kishi has urged European nations to have a stronger military involvement in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s influence in the region.
According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), Kishi, in his first speech to the European Parliament subcommittee on security and defence on Friday, called on the European Parliament subcommittee to solidify its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and for the two sides to “continue and expand” their security cooperation.
“[Parties] such as Japan and the EU must tackle together … the fight against authoritarianism…As defence minister, I highly commend the point that the EU strategy sets out [about] the strengthening of presence and action in the Indo-Pacific,” he said in an online address.
In his speech, Kishi went on to slam Beijing for its unilateral attempts to change the status quo by coercion and efforts to militarise contested parts of the South China Sea.
He also expressed concerns over China’s “unilateral attempts to change the status quo” in the East China Sea, particularly with the adoption of a controversial coastguard law in January, reported SCMP.
“The justified rights of all relevant countries should never be undermined due to the coastguard law, and we can never tolerate anything that could heighten the tension on the waters such as the East China Sea and the South China Sea,” he said.
Meanwhile, a source familiar with Japan’s defence policymaking said that the speech was part of Japan’s efforts to enlist the EU to put more pressure on Beijing.
“Japan hopes to use this opportunity to get more involvement from the EU in the region. HMS Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Japan will put tremendous pressure on Beijing this year,” the source said.
In April following their first face-to-face meeting in Washington since taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden issued a joint statement to express concerns over the East and South China seas as well as over the Taiwan Strait.
After the talks, Beijing accused Tokyo of being a “strategic vassal” of the United States.
Recently, tensions between China and Japan have escalated amid increased activity by Beijing in the disputed East China Sea.
Kishi said on Friday that Japan would “continue to keep a close eye” on the shifting military balance across the Taiwan Strait.
“It goes without saying that the stabilisation of the situation surrounding Taiwan is important for Japan’s security, but it is also important for a stable international community as well.”
SCMP reported that Liu Weidong, a professor of international relations with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Japan had taken a tougher line against China in recent months.
“Japan sees that Biden has not backtracked on the Trump era’s tough policy on China. And it no longer sees the need to improve relations with China. Suga also needs to present a tougher international image to boost his weak domestic support,” Liu said. (ANI)
The Taiwan Strait is a 180-kilometer-wide strait separating the island of Taiwan and continental Asia…reports Asian Lite News
Japan on Wednesday underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, one of the most heavily policed strips of water in the world.
In a meeting attended by his peers from ASEAN and other countries such as China and the United States, Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said Japan expects the issue of the Taiwan strait to be resolved peacefully through direct dialogue between the parties concerned, Kyodo News reported.
The Taiwan Strait is a 180-kilometer-wide strait separating the island of Taiwan and continental Asia, patrolled by both Chinese and Taiwanese navy and coastguard vessels.
The strait is in international waters, however, China claims Taiwan as its own territory and regards the US Navy’s presence in the area as a show of support for the island’s democratic government.
The ASEAN Defence Ministers-Plus meeting, hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and chaired by member Brunei, was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In his remarks, Kishi criticized a Chinese law implemented in February that allows China’s coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships the country sees as illegally entering its waters.
“This law contains provisions that are problematic from the point of view of consistency with international law, such as ambiguities where it can be applied in waters, as well as the authority to use weapons,” the minister told his counterparts.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
@ModJapan_en
Beijing’s “nine-dash line” territorial claim covers 90 per cent of the 3.5-million-sq. km South China Sea, despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruling against the claim in 2016.
Meanwhile, ships of the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) on Sunday participated in a joint naval exercise at the Indian Ocean to realize “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
“JS KASHIMA (TV3508) and JS SETOYUKI (TV3518) conducted a bilateral exercise with INS KULISH (P63) at the Indian Ocean to realize “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”,” JMSDF tweeted.
Naval cooperation between India and Japan has increased in scope and complexity over the years.
Last year, in the month of September, Indian Navy and JMSDF conducted a three day naval exercise JIMEX-2020.
It was the 4th edition of India-Japan maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX. It was held in the North Arabian Sea from September 26 to September 28. (ANI)
PM Suga’s Taiwan reference came as Tokyo and Beijing have already been at odds over several issues, including a territorial dispute in the East China Sea and the crackdown on Hong Kong, reports Asian Lite News
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga referred to Taiwan as a country, drawing a sharp reaction from Beijing which regards the self-ruled island as its ‘inalienable part’.
In his first one-on-one parliamentary debate with opposition leaders Wednesday, Suga, naming Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, said, “Such three countries have been imposing strong restrictions on privacy rights” to curb the novel coronavirus outbreak, Kyodo News reported.
Self-governed Taiwan is usually called a “region” in Japan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.
Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that “Taiwan’s independence” means war.
Suga’s reference came as Tokyo and Beijing have already been at odds over several issues, including a territorial dispute in the East China Sea and the crackdown on Hong Kong.
“China expresses strong dissatisfaction with Japan’s erroneous remarks and has lodged a solemn protest against Japan,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing on Thursday.
“There is only one China in the world,” Wang said, urging Japan to become more cautious in words and deeds on Taiwan affairs and to avoid sending wrong signals to the island’s independence forces.
Suga’s government has been strengthening its commitment to democratic Taiwan. Recently, Japan donated over 1.2 million COVID-19 doses to Taiwan, as the island faces a spike in COVID-19 cases.
China has also lambasted Japan for donating vaccines, labelling such a move as a “political performance”.
At his summit in Washington in April, Suga with US President Joe Biden acknowledged “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” It marked the first time in 52 years that Japanese and U.S. leaders have mentioned Taiwan in a joint statement. (ANI)
Chinese vessels sailed through the contiguous zone around the islands in the East China Sea on Friday for the 112th straight day…reports Asian Lite News
Chinese ships have made a record number of 112 incursions into waters around the disputed Senkaku islands, which are also claimed by Japan.
Chinese vessels sailed through the contiguous zone around the islands in the East China Sea on Friday for the 112th straight day, according to the Japan Coast Guard.
They have entered the contiguous zone every day since mid-February, surpassing the previous record of 111 consecutive days from April to August of 2020, Nikkei Asia reported.
China also intruded into Japan’s territorial sea four days in April and five days in May. From January to May, China entered the waters on a total of 20 days.
This has led to a number of incidents where Chinese ships have approached Japanese fishing vessels.
On May 29, four Chinese coast guard vessels came close to three Japanese fishing boats, prompting Japan’s coast guard patrol boats to secure their safety.
The islands, which China claims and calls the Diaoyu, are about 170 km northeast of Taiwan.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said these actions by Chinese ships “are unacceptable” at a news briefing on Friday. “We will take all possible measures for vigilant monitoring and intelligence gathering,” he said.
Chinese navy warships have also been spotted around the Nansei Islands, a chain stretching southwest from Japan toward Taiwan.
Japan controls the Senkaku Islands, however, China and Taiwan continue to claim them.
Tokyo maintains the islands are an inherent part of its territory as per history and international law.
Reasserting claims of sovereignty over Senkaku Islands, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Friday said that Diaoyu Island (Senkaku) and its affiliated islands are inherent Chinese territory.
Japanese-Prime-Minister-Yoshihide-Suga
“The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are inherent Chinese territory. The patrol and law enforcement activities by China Coast Guard in these waters are legitimate and lawful measures to safeguard sovereignty,” said Wang.
He also urged Japan to abide by the four-point principled consensus between China and Japan and jointly uphold peace and stability in the East China Sea.
The four-point principled consensus reached between China and Japan refers to a 2014 agreement that included a promise to prevent the deterioration of the situation in the East China Sea through dialogue and consultation.
China has been increasing its maritime activities in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the past few months, partly in response to Beijing’s concerns over the increasing US military presence in the region because of escalating Sino-US tensions.
Recently, tensions between China and Japan have escalated amid increased activity by Beijing in the disputed East China Sea.
This comes after Beijing implements a new law that allows the country’s quasi-military force to use weapons against foreign ships that China sees as illegally entering its waters. (ANI)
Japan is ranked tenth globally in the list of countries investing in the UAE, and eighth globally in terms of non-oil trade, which reached US$8.95 billion in the first ten months of 2020, reports Asian Lite News
The UAE and Japan are looking to put together a business council. During the virtual meeting between Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Hiroshi Kajiyama, Japan’s minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, both sides approved the formation of an joint team tasked with putting together a UAE-Japanese business council, to improve the partnership between the Emirati and Japanese business communities towards creating opportunities for companies in both countries.
It would also aim to generate added value from joint investments, provide information and services for investors, and encourage communication between relevant government authorities.
The officials also discussed means of boosting mutual trade and investments and facilitating the movement of imports and exports between the countries.
Al Zeyoudi said that the partnership between the UAE and Japan is reflected by positive economic indexes, with the value of Japanese direct investments in the UAE since the start of 2020 totalling $4.01bn, a growth of 22.6 per cent from 2015 until 2020. Japan is ranked tenth globally among the list of countries investing in the UAE, and eighth globally in terms of non-oil trade, which reached $8.95bn in the first ten months of 2020, he added.
Japanese-Prime-Minister-Yoshihide-Suga
“We will continue advancing our bilateral cooperation in target areas and sectors that support the economy of the future, especially technology, electronics, advanced industries, medical research, space sciences, automation, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship. The UAE-Japanese business council will play a key role in this regard,” Al Zeyoudi said.
Kajiyama highlighted his country’s desire to reinforce its relations with the UAE, most notably in the energy sector. He also stressed his country’s eagerness to actively participate in Expo 2020 Dubai, official news agency WAM reported.
Entities across both countries have collaborated earlier as well. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed an agreement with Japan’s ispace earlier this year, by virtue of which the latter will provide payload delivery services to the Emirates Lunar Mission.
Japan to open tourism promotion office in Dubai
Last month, Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) said it will establish an office in Dubai within 2021, as part of its strategic efforts to achieve the Japanese government’s goal of welcoming 60 million international visitors to Japan by 2030.
It is the first such office by JNTO to open in the Middle East, and will be a focal point for the organisation’s promotional efforts in showcasing Japan as a preferred travel destination for residents in the region. JNTO has positioned the Middle East as a priority market and will promote tourism exchange between the Middle East and Japan in order to strengthen the relationship between the two.
JNTO President, Satoshi Seino, said: “JNTO is proud to open an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates this year, which will be the first office to open in the whole Middle East by JNTO. Japan is a country with a long history, abundant nature and a unique culture. We are internationally renowned for our delicious cuisine, beaches, skiing, pop culture, shopping, and historic wooden architecture such as shrines and temples. A trip to Japan will surely be an unforgettable and special experience. To all in the Middle East, we look forward to welcoming you in Japan.”
Govt nod to India, Japan MoC on sustainable urban development
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation on Sustainable Urban Development…reports Asian Lite News
It will create employment opportunities in the areas of urban planning, smart cities development, affordable housing and others, reports Asian Lite News
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation on Sustainable Urban Development between the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
To implement the project, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoC. The Joint Working Group will meet once in a year, alternately in Japan and in India.
The cooperation under this MoC will commence on the date of its signature and continue for a period of five years. Thereafter, it may be renewed automatically for further successive periods of 5 years at a time.
Important decisions taken by the Cabinet today-
•Focus on Sustainable Urban Development-Agreements approved with Maldives & Japan. Will generate employment opportunities & promote strong bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities Development, solid waste management & green mobility.
The MoC will promote strong, deep and long-term bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development between the two countries.
The MoC is expected to create employment opportunities in the areas of sustainable urban development, including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Affordable Housing, (including rental housing), Urban Flood Management, Sewerage and Waste Water Management, Urban Transport (including Intelligent Transport Management System, Transit-Oriented Development and Multimodal Integration) and Disaster Resilient development.
The objectives of the MoC are to facilitate and strengthen India-Japan technical cooperation in the field of Sustainable urban development including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Affordable Housing (including rental housing), Urban Flood Management, Sewerage and Waste Water Management, Intelligent Transport Management System, Transit-Oriented Development, Multimodal Integration, Disaster Resilient development and other areas as mutually identified by both Sides.
The proposed MoC will enable exchange of key learning and best practices in the above-mentioned areas. (INN)
Japan handed over these ventilators and oxygen concentrators to India on May 28, 30 and 31….reports Ateet Sharma
Over the last four days, Japan has rushed 800 ventilators and 500 oxygen concentrators to India, showcasing Tokyo and New Delhis special ties as Indo-Pacific partners.
Japan handed over these ventilators and oxygen concentrators to India on May 28, 30 and 31.
The Japanese government has already announced that it would hand over 1,800 ventilators and 2,800 oxygen concentrators to India. The latest handover completes the first phase of medical assistance to India that began on May 14.
“We plan to hand over the remaining ventilators and oxygen concentrators in the near future,” the Japanese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
“Japan stands with India, our friend and partner, in her efforts to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic through this emergency assistance, and hopes that Japan’s assistance will contribute to alleviating and containing the Covid-19 situation in India,” the ministry added.
The first and second batch of Japan’s emergency assistance, composed of 800 ventilators and 800 oxygen concentrators, have all been handed over to India. We are working to provide further assistance to save lives. #FightCOVID#JapanIndia
— Embassy of Japan in India (@JapaninIndia) May 31, 2021
Japanese assistance to India follows two top meetings e one between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Suga Yoshihide. This meeting on April 26 was followed up by another nuts-and-bolts interaction between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu on the sidelines of G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in London, earlier this month.
Both meetings spotlighted that India and Japan’s special role in the Indo-Pacific provided the strategic impulse for intensive collaboration. “The two leaders confirmed the importance of Japan-India bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation, including Japan-Australia-India-U.S. quadrilateral cooperation, towards realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. They also shared the view to continue their effort on building a rules-based free and open international order,” a readout of the statement after Modi-Yoshihide telephone talk said.
Besides the duo, going beyond health, listed the areas for joint forays, including 5G, laying of submarine cables, establishing new supply chains and development of India’s North Eastern Region.
On May 5 in London, Motegi told Jaishankar that Tokyo is ready to provide grant assistance of up to 50 million US dollars to India, based on the latter’s needs, in addition to the assistance pledged earlier. Significantly, Motegi prefaced his remarks by recalling that the two countries shared special bonds on account of the Indo-pacific partnership.
Japan rushes hundreds of ventilators to India(Twitter)
Referring to the Covid-19’s impact on India, Motegi said that “towards deepening the eJapan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ and realising a eFree and Open Indo-Pacific,’ he looks forward to continue working with Minister Jaishankar.”
On May 14, Japan announced the Emergency Grant Aid of approximately 18.5 million US dollars to transport the 300 ventilators announced on April 30 through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), as well as to provide additional 500 ventilators and 500 oxygen concentrators to India through UNOPS as a part of the assistance of up to 50 million dollars announced on May 5.
The 500 ventilators were handed over to India on May 30 and the 500 oxygen concentrators were handed over to India on May 31.
On May 28, the government of Japan announced the Emergency Grant Aid of approximately 14.8 million US dollars. Through this assistance, 1,000 ventilators and 2,000 oxygen concentrators will be provided to India through UNOPS as a part of the assistance of up to 50 million dollars announced on May 5.
(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
India’s External Affairs Minister said QUAD – Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements, reports Reena Bhardwaj
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a five-day US visit, discussed wide range of issues related to shared priorities and regional security challenges including Quad during his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Regarding Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) consisting of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Jaishankar said “the strategic group has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements.”
“Quad fills a very important gap that has emerged in contemporary times,which cannot be filled by a single country, which cannot even be furthered by one bilateral relationship, and which is not being addressed at the multilateral level, Jaishankar added.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington. (Photo:https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar)
Quad alliance is seen by Beijing as a part of efforts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. In an effort to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad, the alliance had earlier discussed maritime security, connectivity, including technology issues, supply chain issues, vaccine production.
“So, there are a whole set of issues in the world have many, many concerns, you know, the many concerns have to be addressed by somebody, I mean, big countries can do a large portion of it, big relationships can add to it. But at the end of the day, most things work better if a group of countries sit together and say, okay, we all have similar positions and similar interest, and why don’t we all sit and address those sets of issues? So that’s how we see Quad we see what I mean, is an expression of the convergence of interests of many countries, it is, in many ways, a reflection of the contemporary nature of the world,” said Jaishankar.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
He also said that both the countries have also shared their concerns over China’s problematic activities, coup in Myanmar and COVID-19 origin tracing.
“On China, we shared concerns about Southern China’s problematic activities in the region, and it becomes increasingly like-minded on these issues. On the coup in Burma, the US and India have called for an end to the violence, urged the release of political prisoners, and called for the restoration of democracy,” informed DeanThompson, the Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in his briefing to reporters.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets NSA Jake Sullivan (Credit: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Talking about Afghanistan, Jaishankar said, “There is a recognition, clearly in the United States as indeed in many other countries. You know, when you talk about the future of Afghanistan, India, is an important part of that conversation. Just as when we look at Afghanistan, clearly, you know, given the American presence over many years, it is something that we will be discussing.”
During his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the issue of Afghanistan came up.
US troops will be withdrawing from Afghanistan by September 2021 and many fears that the withdrawal of foreign troops will lead to unrest in the war-torn country.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
“The possible scenarios, once the US military draws down is obviously something which is, which matters us, it matters very much. It matters to the United States, and it has a larger regional presence. So, in one of these meetings, this subject came up. I don’t think it was so much an issue of what is India’s role, I mean, India has interest, India has influence, India has stakes, India has a history.”
India had offered Afghanistan, a nascent democracy, an assistance package of USD 1 billion. It is the 5th largest donor to Afghanistan, providing development reconstruction assistance of USD 2 billion since 2001. Also, it supports Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled development of the war-torned nation.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar eets US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (Photo @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Regarding, India’s position on COVID-19 origin tracing, Jaishankar said that WHO convened a global study on origin of COVID-19 and that is an important first step.
“The probe stressed the need for next phase of studies to reach robust conclusion. So, that is the position which we have taken and the matter,” said Jaishankar. (ANI)
Visitors are seen at the sightseeing spot Asakusa, in Tokyo, Japan, June 21, 2020. Japan on Friday completely lifted its request for people not to travel across prefectural lines, with the move met by a return of passengers to airports and train stations. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi/IANS)
The move, which will come into effect on Friday, comes as Japan is grappling with a fourth wave of the Covid pandemic…reports Asian Lite News
The mandatory quarantine period for inbound travellers to Japan who have visited India, as well as Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka within 14 days of arrival will be extended from six to 10 days, the government said on Tuesday.
The move, which will come into effect on Friday, comes as Japan is grappling with a fourth wave of the Covid pandemic amid mounting concerns over the highly-transmissible variant first detected in India, Xinhua news agency reported.
“There is a strong feeling of unease among the Japanese people regarding coronavirus variants, so we have decided to further tighten border controls in order to protect their health and lives,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a press briefing.
Travellers who have visited any of the six regions will be subjected to a mandatory 10-day quarantine period spent at a designated facility, during which time they will have to undergo three Covid-19 tests, the government said.
The new measure will mainly affect Japanese citizens who have been to any of the six countries, as the government had already banned entry to all foreign nationals and those who have residency status, who have visited India or any other of the five South Asian countries within the past two weeks.
A three-day quarantine period will also be imposed on those who have recently been to Kazakhstan or Tunisia.
Addressing the media also on Tuesday, Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said they were considering extending the current Covid-19 state of emergency declared for Tokyo, Osaka and seven other prefectures due to the fourth wave.
Tamura’s remarks come as the emergency period is set to expire at the end of the month, yet the number of new daily infections, including variant cases, have shown little signs of abating.
As of Tuesday, Japan’s overall coronavirus caseload and death toll stood at 718,864 and 12,312, respectively.
Japan has the lowest rate among advanced countries of administering COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to recent government data, Japan had administered at least one shot to just over 4 per cent of its population.
On Monday, mass vaccination centres were opened in Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture with the state-backed facilities aimed at helping to complete administering vaccinations of 36 million seniors aged 65 or older from a total population of 126 million by the end of July.
Japan began inoculating its elderly population of about 36 million in mid-April, after its vaccination campaign for health care workers started in February.
