Page 5 - atd

A5
WORLD NEWS Wednesday 8 February 2023

China says will ‘safeguard interests’ over balloon shootdown

BEIJING (AP) — China said with the U.S. Embassy in Bei-
Tuesday it will “resolutely jing, accusing Washington
safeguard its legitimate of having “obviously over-
rights and interests” over reacted and seriously vio-
the shooting down of a lated the spirit of interna-
suspected Chinese spy bal- tional law and international
loon by the United States, practice.”
as relations between the Recent developments
two countries deteriorate have laid bare the ex-
further. tremely fragile nature of
The balloon prompted U.S. what many had hoped
Secretary of State Antony could be a manageable
Blinken to cancel a highly- economic, political and
anticipated visit to Beijing military rivalry.
this week that had offered U.S.-China tensions have
slight hopes for an improve- stirred deep concern in
ment in relations. Washington and among
China claims it was a civil- many of its allies. They
ian balloon used for me- worry that outright conflict
teorological research but could have a strong nega-
has refused to say to which tive impact on the global
government department economy, especially since
or company it belongs. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Foreign Ministry spokesper- last year, on which China
son Mao Ning on Tuesday Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning gestures during a press conference at the has largely sided with Mos-
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Thursday, Oct 13, 2022.
reiterated that the “un- Associated Press cow.
manned airship” posed no Balloons either suspected
threat and entered U.S. air- Asked if China wanted the briefing without giving fur- the U.S. of or confirmed to be Chi-
space accidentally. debris returned, she only ther details. Subsequent statements nese have been spotted
Mao again criticized the reasserted that the balloon Beijing’s attitude has hard- have grown firmer, in the over countries from Japan
U.S. for overreacting rather “belongs to China.” ened considerably follow- same tone used to con- to Costa Rica. Taiwanese
than adopting a “calm, “The balloon does not be- ing a surprisingly mild initial front the U.S. over issues media have reported that
professional” manner, and long to the U.S. The Chinese response on Friday, in which from Taiwan to trade, tech- mysterious white balloons
for using force in bringing government will continue it described the balloon’s nology restrictions and had been spotted over the
the balloon down Saturday to resolutely safeguard its presence as an accident China’s claim to the South island at least three times in
in the Atlantic Ocean just legitimate rights and inter- and expressed “regret” for China Sea. China says it the past two years.q
off the U.S. coast. ests,” Mao said at a daily the balloon having entered lodged a formal complaint

Court denies aid for Hiroshima A-bomb survivors’ children

By MARI YAMAGUCHI support is not unconstitu- roshima destroyed the city
Associated Press tional. and killed 140,000 people.
TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese The government has insist- The United States dropped
court on Tuesday rejected ed there is no scientific evi- a second bomb three days
a damage suit filed by a dence showing a heredi- later on Nagasaki, killing
group of children of Hiro- tary effect from parents’ another 70,000. Japan sur-
shima atomic bombing sur- radiation exposure on their rendered on Aug. 15, 1945,
vivors seeking government children. ending World War II and its
support for medical costs, The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit nearly half-century of ag-
saying the hereditary im- in 2017 seeking 100,000 yen gression in Asia.
pact of radiation exposure ($760) each from the gov- Many survivors of the
is still unknown. ernment in damages, say- bombings have lasting in-
A group of 28 plaintiffs ing their exclusion violated juries and illnesses resulting
whose parents suffered the constitutional right to from the explosions and ra-
radiation exposure in the equality. diation exposure and have
Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. atomic A similar lawsuit by their faced discrimination in Ja- Plaintiff Katsuhiro Hirano, right, and unidentified lawyer for the
plaintiffs display signs after a judgement at Hiroshima District
attack were demanding peers in Nagasaki was also pan. Court in Hiroshima, western Japan Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.
the central government in- rejected in December. Their children, known as “hi- Associated Press
clude them in the medical The plaintiffs said they plan baku nisei,” or second-gen-
support available to survi- to appeal Tuesday’s de- eration survivors of atomic 500,000. children in 1979 but can-
vors. cision, which they called bombs, say they constantly Currently, only survivors cer examinations are not
The Hiroshima District Court “unjust.” worry about the possible and those with prenatal ex- included.
said the possibility of a he- “It was an extremely cold hereditary effects of ra- posure who were certified “We understand that the
reditary effect from radia- ruling,” plaintiff Taku Kaku- diation from their parents’ can receive government court acknowledged our
tion cannot be denied, but da told reporters. “It was exposure, and many have medical support for their argument,” Chief Cabi-
there is no established sci- as if we were told to prove developed various forms of radiation illnesses and can- net Secretary Hirokazu
entific consensus and the the radiation impact on hu- cancer and other health cer checkups. The govern- Matsuno said of Tuesday’s
government’s exclusion of mans with our bodies.” problems. They estimate ment started providing free ruling.q
the plaintiffs from medical The atomic bombing of Hi- their numbers at 300,000 to medical checks for their