Global Outlook

After the United States, Japan has become the second Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) partner to sign an agreement with the Republic of India for the cooperative growth of the semiconductor ecosystem. The deal was inked in India’s national capital on Thursday by Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura. Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The two countries have signed a memorandum for semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development and to bring resilience in the semiconductor supply chain.” He further said that the two countries would establish an "implementation organization" to focus on government-to-government and industry-to-industry collaboration. He further added, "Everybody wants a resilient semiconductor supply chain and in this India and Japan are very important partners.” Reportedly, Japan has one of the top five semiconductor ecosystems in...

 China has suspended issuing some visas for South Korea and Japan in Beijing’s first retaliation against Covid-related curbs on Chinese travelers. Chinese consulates in South Korea will stop issuing short-term visas for visits, business, tourism, medical care, transit, and personal matters from Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul said in a statement. The suspension will be adjusted if South Korea removes its “discriminative inbound restrictive measures” targeting China, it added. China also suspended visa issuance to Japanese travelers, Kyodo reported, citing unidentified people in the travel industry. The moves e represent China’s first attempt at retaliation after a raft of nations recently implemented testing requirements for travelers from the country. The dismantling of China’s Covid Zero policy after almost three years has sparked a deluge of infections that, combined with a lack of information about how many people are sick or dying, has raised concerns over the possibilit...

 Shinzo Abe, Japan's former Prime Minister, was shot in the chest during an election speech on Friday morning. The incident took place in Nara town, in south-central Honshu, where he was addressing an election meeting ahead of Sunday's polling for the Upper House of the Parliament. He was immediately admitted to a hospital.  According to media reports, he is in critical condition. World leaders are praying for his speedy recovery. Doctors are closely monitoring the reports and trying to save him.  The video footage from the event went viral. In the video, Abe was seen collapsing in the street after the gunshot. Several security guards ran toward him to save him. The former PM was holding his chest when he collapsed, with his shirt smeared with blood. What happened to Shinzo Abe? Abe was not breathing and his heart stopped while he was being airlifted to the hospital. In the second shot, he collapsed to the ground. Reports claimed that he was in cardio and pulmonary arrest...

 United States President Joe Biden on Monday said that 12 Asian countries will join a new US-led Asia-Pacific trade initiative. The alliance is deemed to counter a more assertive China in the region. Biden unveiled the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in Japan after meeting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. At a press conference, Biden said, "The United States, Japan, and 11 other nations have launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.”  Indo-Pacific Economic Framework members Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said allies like Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea would join the agreement. Other south-east Asian nations: India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Brunei will also join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. These nations represent 40 percent of the global economy. Importance of the trade agreement Reportedly, the framework will help countries together to negotiate the various aspects o...

 In the list of countries expressing their discontent for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, Japan has been added as the new nation to announce a boycott for the event. There were lingering confusions about Japan attending the event or not and on Friday, the nation made it clear.  On December 24, the Japanese government announced that it will not be sending an official delegation to next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing .  This is after the United States had already announced that it will not be sending its officials for the game, which only led to deepening tensions with China.  Along with the United States , it was also expected that other nations who can be counted as its allies will be leaving the event. This was an extremely delicate issue for Japan as not only is it a close partner to the US but it also has strong economic ties with China .  The games are to start in February in 2022, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno clarified during a news ...