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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 21 OctOber 2020
Japan's PM, in Indonesia, says SE Asia key for his nation

By NINIEK KARMINI and as disaster prevention, as
MARI YAMAGUCHI well as medical supplies
Associated Press and equipment for medi-
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) cal institutions, Suga said.
— Japanese Prime Minister Japan will provide support
Yoshihide Suga, in Indo- to reinforce Indonesia's
nesia on his first overseas economy through infra-
trip since taking office, ex- structure projects such as
pressed his backing Tues- high-speed rail systems and
day for Southeast Asian the development of re-
efforts toward achieving mote islands, he said.
peace in the South China "Indonesia is a maritime
Sea, while promoting Ja- nation in the Indo-Pacific
pan's "free and open Indo- and a Japanese strategic
Pacific" concept of region- partner, and Japan further
al cooperation in counter- promotes our cooperation
ing China. in a range of areas, includ-
Suga, on a four-day visit ing efforts to overcome the
to Vietnam and Indone- coronavirus pandemic,"
sia, arrived Tuesday from Suga said.
the Vietnamese capital of Japan and Indonesia also
Hanoi. Southeast Asia was agreed to negotiate the
chosen for his first trip since easing of entry restrictions
succeeding Shinzo Abe as for essential business trips
prime minister last month in between the two countries.
order to demonstrate the As it promotes the FOIP vi-
region's importance to Ja- In this photo released by Indonesian Presidential Palace, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide sion with the U.S., Australia
pan. Suga, second left, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, second right, Suga's wife Mariko, left, and and India, Tokyo wants to
After holding talks with In- Widodo's wife Iriana wave during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor West Java, convey that its respect for
donesian President Joko Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct 20, 2020. Associated Press a rules-based international
Widodo, Suga said South- system makes it a better
east Asian countries are between Indonesia and Ja- eign and defense ministe- who resigned last month partner for ASEAN nations
key to pursuing Japan's pan. "I emphasize the spirit rial talks. Japan has similar due to health issues, to step than China, whose escalat-
"free and open Indo-Pa- of cooperation to continue ministerial talks with the up the country's military ca- ing unilateral and military
cific," or FOIP, and that he to be strengthened, es- U.S., Australia and some pability and help develop activity in the region have
told Widodo that "Japan is pecially in the midst of in- other countries, while Indo- its defense industry. triggered regional frictions.
committed to contributing creasingly sharp rivalries nesia is the only member of Suga signed such a deal Earlier Tuesday, Suga at-
to the peace and prosper- between the world's super- the Association of South- with Vietnam on Monday. tended a welcoming cer-
ity in the region." power nations," he said. east Asian Nations with Japan has defense equip- emony at the presidential
"I fully support the ASEAN "I also underlined my hope that channel. The two sides ment transfer deals with 11 palace in Bogor, just out-
Outlook on the Indo-Pa- that the South China Sea also agreed to work to- other countries, including side Jakarta, Indonesia's
cific, which Indonesia initi- can continue to be a sea ward achieving a defense the U.S., Britain, the Philip- capital, after arriving from
ated, as it has a lot of fun- of peace and stability," he equipment and technol- pines and Malaysia, and is Vietnam. On Wednesday,
damental commonalities added. ogy transfer agreement. negotiating with Thailand. he is scheduled to meet
with Japan's free and open Suga said the two leaders Japan eased its arms ex- Japan on Tuesday agreed people related to Japa-
Indo-Pacific," he said. also agreed to strengthen ports ban in 2014 and has to extend a 50 billion yen nese companies and lay
Widodo welcomed Japan's bilateral defense ties and since been promoting ex- ($470 million) loan to sup- a wreath at the Kalibata
support for Southeast Asian will work toward holding a ports of defense equip- port Indonesia's pandemic- Heroes Cemetery before
nations and the partnership second "two-plus-two" for- ment under efforts by Abe, hit economy, in areas such returning to Tokyo.q

Israel says it uncovers deep militant tunnel dug from Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Is- infrastructure" for the mili- which rules Gaza. Pales- taken a heavy toll on the but that it would have
raeli military said Tuesday tant Hamas group. There tinian militants launched territory's 2 million Palestin- required a significant fi-
that militants in the Gaza were no reports of casual- deadly attacks through ian residents. nancial investment. Israel
Strip dug a tunnel dozens ties in either attack. such tunnels during the Conricus said the tunnel holds Hamas responsible
of meters (yards) deep Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, war. was detected by sensors for all attacks emanating
that crossed under the a military spokesman, said There was no immediate mounted on an under- from Gaza.
security fence around the the tunnel crossed into Is- comment from Hamas. ground barrier being built Israel and Hamas have
territory before it was de- raeli territory but posed Israel has pointed to the along the 55-kilometer (35- clashed on a number of
tected by underground "no threat" to nearby Israe- tunnels, as well as Hamas' mile) frontier. occasions since the 2014
sensors. li communities and that increasingly sophisticated The barrier is expected to war. An informal cease-
Hours after the announce- there was not yet an exit rocket capabilities, to jus- be completed by March. fire brokered by Egypt
ment, a rocket fired from on the other side. He said tify the blockade it has It's the first such tunnel to has brought calm in ex-
Gaza was intercepted by troops will "neutralize" the imposed on Gaza since be uncovered in more change for the easing of
Israeli missile defenses, the tunnel in the coming days. the militant group seized than a year. the blockade and the en-
military said. Late Tuesday, Israel has uncovered power from rival Palestin- Conricus said it was not try of financial aid from the
the army said fighter jets around 20 such tunnels ian forces in 2007. yet clear whether the tun- oil-rich Gulf state of Qatar,
and attack helicopters since the 2014 war with The blockade, supported nel was built by Hamas or but fighting still erupts from
"struck an underground the Islamic group Hamas, by neighboring Egypt, has another militant group, time to time.q