- PM Ishiba To Structure Campaign Pledges for the Upcoming House of Councillors Election Of This Summer
On the 9th of June, Prime Minister Ishiba (also LDP President) instructed senior party officials to include in the party’s election platform a goal to raise Japan’s nominal GDP to 1,000 trillion yen by 2040.
He also requested that the platform aim for an increase of more than 50% in the average national income.
Later, speaking to reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office, he stated, “I have instructed that this be the top pledge for the Upper House election.”
He added, “I want to share with the public a concrete image of a strong economy.”
Japan’s nominal GDP for fiscal year 2024 is 616.9 trillion yen, making the 1,000 trillion yen target about 1.6 times larger.
- Minister Akazawa To Make His 4th Consecutive Weekly Visit To U.S. For The Tariff Negotiations
Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa is making arrangements to visit Washington, D.C. today in order to attend the sixth round of ministerial-level Japan-U.S. talks, following the U.S. imposition of tariff measures.
Afterward, he is scheduled to travel to Canada, where the G7 Summit will be held.
This will mark Akazawa’s fourth consecutive weekly visit to the U.S.
The visit is positioned as part of the final coordination efforts ahead of a summit meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and U.S. President Trump, to be held during the G7 Summit.
Akazawa will engage in detailed negotiations with the U.S. side regarding the 25% tariffs imposed on automobiles, among other issues.
He is also expected to attend the summit meeting.
3. Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers Simultaneously Operated East Of The Second Island Chain For The First Time
On the 9th, Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced that the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier Shandong conducted takeoff and landing operations of carrier-based aircraft north of Okinotorishima (an island of Tokyo Metropolis).
The ministry had also revealed on the 8th that another Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, had shown similar activity while navigating southeast of Iwo Jima (also Tokyo Metropolis).
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has deployed a destroyer to monitor the situation, and reports that no dangerous actions have been observed.
According to the ministry, this is the first confirmed case of two Chinese aircraft carriers operating simultaneously in the Pacific Ocean.
It is also the first time China’s aircraft carriers have been observed east of the Second Island Chain, which stretches from the Izu Islands (Tokyo) to the U.S. military base on Guam.
China is believed to be pursuing a strategy aimed at blocking U.S. military movement between the First Island Chain (from the Nansei Islands to the Philippines) and the Second Island Chain, and preventing incursions west of the First Island Chain—with a potential Taiwan contingency in mind.
The Liaoning was observed on the 7th of June navigating southwest of Minamitorishima (Tokyo), and as of the 9th, the Liaoning remains on the eastern side of the Second Island Chain while the Shandong operates on the western side.
The Self-Defense Forces continue to monitor the situation.
At a press conference on the 9th, Lin Jian, Deputy Director of the Information Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, insisted:
“The activities of Chinese naval vessels in the relevant waters are in accordance with international law and international practices.”
At a press conference on the 9th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi revealed that the Japanese government had lodged a protest with China regarding the Liaoning’s navigation within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Minamitorishima and its aircraft takeoff and landing drills conducted in nearby waters.
4. Epson To Launch A Compact Device That Directly Captures CO2
According to the Nikkei, Seiko Epson plans to begin selling a device that directly captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) from factory exhaust gases as early as fiscal 2028.
The unit will be downsized to about the size of a multifunction printer, making it possible to install it within factory premises.
Conventional systems have been on the scale of small industrial plants.
If this compact device becomes widespread, it could help revitalize industries related to CO₂ capture and reuse.
Epson has developed a method that separates and captures CO₂ using a special ultra-thin membrane approximately 10 nanometers thick.
The technique is based on technologies used in components of Epson’s inkjet printers.