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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 9 January 2023
Kishida highlights security concerns on trip to Europe, U.S.

By MARI YAMAGUCHI of the alliance to reflect a
Associated Press much more capable part-
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese ner that’s coming,” said
Prime Minister Fumio Kishi- Christopher Johnstone,
da begins a weeklong trip senior adviser and Japan
Monday to strengthen mili- chair for the Center for
tary ties with Europe and Strategic and International
Britain and bring into focus Studies.
the Japan-U.S. alliance at He said, however, that Ja-
a summit in Washington, pan’s focus on the strike
as Japan breaks from its capability and budget is a
postwar restraint to take on welcome but “a daunting
more offensive roles with agenda” that will require a
an eye toward China. lot of cooperation with the
Kishida’s talks with U.S. Pres- United States.
ident Joe Biden on Friday Paving the way for the
will highlight his five-nation summit, Japanese Defense
tour that also takes him to Minister Yasukazu Hamada
France, Italy, Britain and and Foreign Minister Yo-
Canada — some of Group shimasa Hayashi will fly to
of Seven nations Japan Washington to meet their
has stepped up defense American counterparts,
ties with in recent years. His Lloyd Austin and Antony
first stop is Paris on Monday Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during his New Year’s news conference in Ise, Blinken, on Wednesday, fol-
evening. central Japan on Jan. 4, 2023. Associated Press lowed by separate defense
Kishida said his summit with ministers’ talks Thursday.
Biden will underscore the in China and North Korea. nomic security cooperation some experts see growing The Biden administration,
strength of the Japan-U.S. Kishida said he will explain the two countries promote risks that Chinese President which also adopted its se-
alliance and how the two to Biden the new strategy, to counter China’s grow- Xi Jingpin may take action curity strategy in October,
countries can work more under which Japan is also ing military and economic against self-ruled Taiwan, expects Japan to assist in
closely under Japan’s new reinforcing defenses on its influence. which Beijing claims as part the supply and storage of
security and defense strat- southwestern islands close Under the new strategies, of its territory. fuel and munitions in case
egies. to Taiwan, including Yona- Japan plans to start de- Japan’s new strategy has of a Taiwan emergency,
Japan in December ad- guni and Ishigaki, where ploying in 2026 long-range been well received by the experts say. Japan and the
opted key security and new bases are being con- cruise missiles that can Biden administration and United States are also re-
defense reforms, including structed. reach potential targets in some members of the Con- portedly considering estab-
a counterstrike capability “Will will discuss further China, nearly double its gress. lishing a joint command.
that makes a break from strengthening of the Ja- defense budget within five Experts say it would also During the talks at the White
the country’s exclusively pan-U.S. alliance, and years to a NATO standard widen cooperation with House, the two leaders are
self-defense-only postwar how we work together to of about 2% of GDP from their main regional partners also expected to discuss
principle. Japan says the achieve a fee and open the current 1%, and im- Australia and possibly South China, North Korea’s nucle-
current deployment of mis- Indo-Pacific,” Kishida told a prove cyberspace and in- Korea. ar and missile development
sile interceptors is insuffi- NHK national television talk telligence capabilities. “This is an opportunity to re- as well as Russia’s war on
cient to defend it from rap- show Sunday, referring to a The idea is to do as much think and update the struc- Ukraine, Japanese officials
id weapons advancement vision of national and eco- as possible in a short time as ture and the mechanisms said.q

Bosnian Serbs award Putin with medal of honor

controlled half of Bosnia. is an affirmation of the stra- the country deeply divid-
“Putin is responsible for tegic determination of our ed between its three main
developing and strength- relations aimed at strength- ethnic groups. Moscow has
ening cooperation and ening the friendship of our been exploiting the divi-
political and friendly rela- brotherly people,” he said sions by tacitly supporting
tions between RS (Repub- at the ceremony. Dodik’s separatist policies.
lika Srpska) and Russia,” Moscow has often been Dodik awarded Putin on
the Bosnian Serb president, accused by the West of the occasion of “the day
Milorad Dodik, said at the seeking to destabilize Bos- of Republika Srpska,”
awards ceremony in the nia and the rest of the Bal- which has been deemed
Bosnian Serb stronghold of kans through its proxies in illegal by Bosnia’s constitu-
Banja Luka. Serbia and Bosnia. Dodik tional court. Tensions were
Dodik, who visited Putin has openly advocated running high in Bosnia as
in September in Moscow, tearing away the Serb-con- the Serbs planned to hold
The highest decoration of the Republika Srpska, Order of the has maintained close ties trolled half of Bosnia from a their main celebrations on
Republika Srpska assigned to Russian President Vladimir Putin is with the Russian president Bosniak-Croat federation the outskirts of Sarajevo
seen during a ceremony in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240
kms northwest of Sarajevo, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. despite Russia’s war in to join it up with neighbor- on Monday, the town they
Associated Press Ukraine. The medal will be ing Serbia. held under siege for three
presented to Putin during A U.S.-brokered peace years during the war. Thou-
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herze- President Vladimir Putin the next meeting between deal in 1995 ended a war sands of people were killed
govina (AP) — The Bosnian with the highest medal of the two, Russian Ambassa- in Bosnia that left at least in the relentless shelling
Serb separatist leader on honor for his “patriotic con- dor Igor Kalbukhov said. 100,000 people dead and and sniping of the Bosnian
Sunday awarded Russian cern and love” for the Serb- “We believe that this award millions homeless, but left capital.q