TMCnet News
Kyodo news summary -4-+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, April 1_(Kyodo) _ ---------- China conducts aerial surveys past median line, Japan balks WASHINGTON - China has conducted aerial surveys several times this year beyond the "median line" with Japan in the East China Sea amid an ongoing bilateral gas exploration dispute, leading Tokyo to lodge complaints with Beijing through a diplomatic channel, sources close to the matter said Saturday. After Beijing notified Tokyo of the plan in advance, Japan urged China to provide information such as the purpose of surveys, but the Chinese side carried them out without responding, the sources said. ---------- Governing coalition secretaries general postpone visit to U.S. TOKYO - The secretaries general of Japan's governing parties decided Saturday to postpone their visit to the Untied States to discuss how to deal with the ongoing party leadership selection in the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, party sources said. Tsutomu Takebe of the Liberal Democratic Party and Tetsuzo Fuyushiba of its junior partner, the New Komeito party, had been scheduled to visit the United States for six days beginning Wednesday to discuss the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and other concerns with U.S. lawmakers. ---------- 72% think Internet, mobile phones make illegal drugs more accessible TOKYO - A government survey released Saturday found 72 percent of people think the Internet and mobile phones have made illegal drugs such as amphetamines and Ecstasy more accessible than before. Asked what they think are the reasons for the rise in illegal drug use, 69 percent cited drug sales in entertainment districts and 53.5 percent said a lack of awareness about potential damage drug abuse can cause, according to the survey. |