TOKYO: Japan will conduct a military exercise this month to practice defending an island, the Defence Ministry said yesterday, underscoring concern about East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China.
The dispute over the islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, has raised fears of a clash between the Asian neighbours which could even drag in the United States.
Separately, China said on Wednesday it would carry out naval exercises with Russia in the East China Sea in what it called a bid to deepen military cooperation.
Japan’s Defence Ministry said the island defence exercise would run from May 10 to May 27 on a small uninhabited island in the Ryukyu chain.
Labour rallyists denounce govt
KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands gathered in Malaysia’s capital yesterday to protest against a planned new tax but also took shots at the government’s prosecution of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and handling of missing flight MH370.
The demonstration in central Kuala Lumpur was held to mark International Labour Day, and the primary target of the red-clad, vuvuzela-blowing protesters was the goods and services tax taking effect in April 2015.
Economists have lauded the expected six percent tax as a step towards reducing one of Asia’s highest debt-to-GDP ratios, but the opposition warns it will burden ordinary consumers.
Rally speakers also let loose with a barrage of other criticisms against Malaysia’s long-governing coalition, which is widely accused of cronyism, corruption and stifling free expression.
Agencies
