TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko on Tuesday said the violence by extremist Israeli settlers, is ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
“Japan is deeply concerned over the violence by settlers in the West bank,” Kamikawa stated in a press conference. “On various occasions, Japan has explained our position that Israeli settlement activities are in violation of international law and undermine the viability of a two-state solution. Based upon this position we have been strongly urging the Israeli government to completely freeze settlement activities.”
Kamikawa cited a March 8 press statement by Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kobayashi Maki that stated, “The Government of Japan remains seriously concerned by and once again expresses deep regret over the continued settlement activities by the Government of Israel despite repeated calls by Japan and the international community.”
“The Government of Japan strongly urges the Government of Israel to reverse the decision and fully freeze its settlement activities,” Kamikawa said.
The Japanese foreign minister also said Japan is aware that several European countries and the United States have announced entry bans on some Israeli settlers.
“We will continue to take any necessary response,” she added. “Violence by extremist Israeli settlers is unacceptable and we will continue to clearly demonstrate our position as such and study what kind of response would be most appropriate. We will also continue to approach the Israeli government to take appropriate action.”
Japan Foreign Minister: Violence of Israeli settlers unacceptable
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Japan Foreign Minister: Violence of Israeli settlers unacceptable
- “Japan is deeply concerned over the violence by settlers in the West bank,” Kamikawa stated
- “The Government of Japan strongly urges the Government of Israel to reverse the decision and fully freeze its settlement activities”
US bombers join Japanese jets in show of force after China–Russia drills
- Japan says US B-52 bombers flew with Japanese F-35s and F-15s
- South Korea and Japan have scrambled jets during Chinese and Russian drills
TOKYO: US nuclear-capable bombers flew over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese fighter jets on Wednesday, Tokyo said, in a show of force following Chinese and Russian drills in the skies and seas around Japan and South Korea.
Japan and the US “reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and confirmed the readiness posture of both the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and US forces,” Japan’s defense ministry said in a press release on Thursday.
The flight of two US B-52 strategic bombers with three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 air-superiority jets was the first time the US had asserted its military presence since China began military exercises in the region last week.
The display follows a joint flight of Chinese and Russian strategic bombers in the East China Sea and western Pacific on Tuesday and separate Chinese aircraft carrier drills that prompted Japan to scramble jets that Tokyo said were targeted by radar beams.
The encounter drew criticism from Washington, which said the incident was “not conducive to regional peace and stability” and reaffirmed that its alliance with Japan was “unwavering.”
Both Japan and South Korea host US forces, with Japan home to the biggest concentration of American military power overseas, including an aircraft carrier strike group and a US Marine expeditionary force.
China denied Tokyo’s accusation, saying Japanese jets flying near the carrier had endangered its air operations south of Japan.
South Korea’s military said it also scrambled fighter jets when the Chinese and Russian aircraft entered its air defense identification zone on Tuesday, an area that extends beyond its airspace and is used for early warning.
Regional tensions have risen since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi triggered a dispute with Beijing last month with her remarks on how Tokyo might react to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island, which sits just over 100 km (62 miles) from Japanese territory and is surrounded by sea lanes on which Tokyo relies.
