Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is to reshuffle his Cabinet next week to address mounting issues including tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and COVID-19.
“We need to set off a new formation as soon as possible considering the various issues,” he told a news conference in Hiroshima, Japan, yesterday after attending a commemoration for the 77th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing.
Kishida did not give any details of the changes, but the Yomiuri Shimbun earlier reported that he would likely replace Japanese Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi, given his health issues, in the reshuffle scheduled for Wednesday.
Defense is in the
Washington on Thursday condemned Beijing’s attempt to set a “new status quo” after firing 11 ballistic missiles near Taiwan proper during live-fire military exercises, as Beijing announced an end to cooperation with the US on a number of issues in retaliation for US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei earlier this week.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said China’s missile launches were “irresponsible” and “very aggressive.”
China has “overreacted” to Pelosi’s visit by increasing “provocative military activity” in and around the Taiwan Strait, Kirby told a White House news briefing.
Beijing was trying to use the trip as
‘UNJUSTIFIED ESCALATION’: ‘The world will reject it,’ a White House official said, joining global condemnation for China’s precedented missile tests near Taiwan/ Staff writer, with agencies
China yesterday fired several Dongfeng ballistic missiles as it began four days of unprecedented military drills off Taiwan proper following US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei the previous day.
On Tuesday, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) said Beijing would “take all necessary measures” in retaliation should Pelosi visit Taiwan during her Asia tour.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from 1:56pm to 4pm fired 11 Dongfeng missiles into waters north, east and south of Taiwan proper, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.
Taiwanese armed forces, using “forward warning and surveillance mechanisms,” monitored the missile tests
‘IRRATIONAL ACTS’: The defense ministry condemned the drills, during which China tested successors to missiles deployed during the Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995 and 1996By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer