2006.03.28

PRC-Japan Ties Hit New Low. [IPS] If bilateral ties between China and Japan can be described as "cold politically and warm economically", then they have hit a new low. Differences over the wartime past and regional influence have now spilled over into business and economic issues, threatening to damage the fragile status quo between Tokyo and Beijing.  2006.03.28

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Skymark ignored inspections on five jets (UPI). Japan's Skymark Airlines operated five Boeing 767s for four months without proper inspections required by the maker. 2006.03.28

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Mobile phone digital trend sweeps Japan. [Radio Australia] In wired Japan, two thirds of the country's 80 million people are already using their phones to do a myriad of tasks, including grocery shopping. Now, they've added another function to the mobile phone. The Japanese have transplanted their comics known as manga, to their handsets, complete with visual effects. 2006.03.28

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PRC overtakes Japan as world's biggest holder of forex reserves (AFP). China claims to have overtaken Japan as the world's largest holder of foreign exchange reserves with $853.7 billion at the end of February. 2006.03.28

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Japan-US Bases (AP) Talks between U.S. and Japan over bases realignment grind to a halt, meaning it's certain self-imposed March 31st deadline for agreement will be missed. 2006.03.28

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PNG-Japanese Knifed (The National) Tourism in Papua New Guinea’s East New Britain province has been dealt an adverse blow with the news of two tourists being attacked by a knife-wielding youth at the Rabaul market last Thursday. The Japanese couple, part of 1,000 tourists from a visiting vessel, received knife wounds to their arms. The president of ENB Chamber of Commerce Bruce Alexander promptly offered PGK500 [US$175] for information leading to the arrest of the assailant but according to Rabaul police, the suspect involved in the incident was taken in by his parents. “This (attack) is very disappointing because so much hard work has been put into developing the tourism industry in the province,” said an openly angry Mr Alexander. “It takes just one person to damage the reputation of the province and the country.” The ENB Tourism Bureau condemned the attack and warned it could deter Japanese tourists from visiting the province. The bulk of the tourists last Thursday were Japanese, who visit the remnants and sites of the Second World War. 2006.03.28

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Asia to get tsunami warning system by July (AFP). Countries affected by the south Asian tsunami should have a warning system against sea surges in place by July, says the UN's top humanitarian official, as officials take nations to task for failing to prepare civilians for a potential future disaster. 2006.03.28

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Japan to End Ban on Resale of Used Goods (AP). Japan will effectively scrap a ban on the sale of used appliances after receiving a barrage of protests from musicians and dealers of second-hand goods. 2006.03.28

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Japan-DPRK (Reuters) North Korea retaliates with arrest warrants for Japan-based activists. 2006.03.28

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CNMI-Japan (Saipan Tribune). Saipan to become mandatory field trip destination for some 15 Japanese high schools. 2006.03.28

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Joint command for Japan military. [BBC] Japan's military is placed under a new unified command to make it responsive to possible threats. 2006.03.28

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