Japan aims to refocus its foreign aid on maritime, economic security, national interests
The Hindu
Japan approved a major revision to its development aid policy on June 9 to focus on maritime- and economic security and its national interests while helping developing nations overcome compound challenges amid China’s growing global influence.
Japan approved a major revision to its development aid policy on June 9 to focus on maritime- and economic security and its national interests while helping developing nations overcome compound challenges amid China's growing global influence.
The revision to the Development Cooperation Charter, approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet, comes two years early since the last was in 2015 and updates are usually on a 10-year cycle. That underscores the sense of urgency in addressing widening China concern and other global challenges such as the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine.
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Japan in December adopted a new National Security Strategy, setting a goal of doubling defence spending to 43 trillion yen ($310 billon) over the next five years to fund a military build-up. That means Japan, with fiscal conditions already tight, must use development aid more effectively and strategically.
Under the new security strategy, Japan's Foreign Ministry has launched Official Security Assistance, or OSA, for the militaries of developing nations primarily in the Indo-Pacific region and is likely to provide Japanese-made, non-lethal equipment such as radars, antennas, small patrol boats or improvements of infrastructure such as ports.
Ministry officials say that's different from assistance under the Development Cooperation Charter, which sticks to non-military cooperation and ensuring peace and prosperity, while focussing on human security as “a guiding principle." The Foreign Ministry in April had 571 billion yen ($4.1 billion) development aid for non-military purposes and, separately, two billion yen ($15.2 million) to help strengthen national security of the “like-minded” Indo-Pacific militaries.
Under the revised charter, Japan will prioritise measures to combat climate change, food and energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as strengthening maritime security, supply chain resiliency and digital transformation.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.