标签： Asia

China has formally urged Japan to implement robust measures to guarantee the safety and quality of its aquatic products, reiterating its steadfast opposition to Japan’s unilateral discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water. The call was made during a technical exchange between China’s General Administration of Customs and Japanese officials on Thursday, as confirmed by Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian. The discussions focused on enhancing inspection and monitoring protocols to ensure the safety of aquatic products. Lin emphasized that any resumption of aquatic product imports from Japan must be grounded in continuous, independent scientific data collected by China. He further stressed that Japan must take concrete actions to ensure its exports comply with Chinese legal and regulatory standards. Japan, in response, acknowledged China’s concerns and reaffirmed its commitment to international monitoring and independent sampling to meet Chinese requirements. Lin reiterated China’s unwavering stance against the unilateral ocean discharge of nuclear-contaminated water, pledging continued collaboration with the international community to ensure strict oversight of such activities.

China has issued a renewed call to Japan, urging the nation to expedite the removal of chemical weapons abandoned on Chinese soil during World War II. This appeal comes as the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the 28th anniversary of the enforcement of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun emphasized that Japan bears an inescapable historical, political, and legal responsibility to address this issue, which is also an international obligation under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The disposal of these weapons is critical to ensuring the safety and environmental well-being of affected Chinese communities. Despite China’s significant support in excavating and destroying approximately 120,000 of the 150,000 recovered chemical weapons, progress remains slow. Guo highlighted that lingering remnants of these weapons continue to pose severe threats to local lives, property, and ecological security. China insists that Japan must fully implement its post-2022 plan to eliminate these hazardous remnants comprehensively and efficiently.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has expressed admiration for China’s rapid technological advancements, emphasizing the potential for a synergistic partnership between Japan and China, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Speaking at the Shanghai Forum 2025 on Friday, Hatoyama highlighted the complementary strengths of the two nations, suggesting that Japan’s meticulous attention to detail and expertise in basic materials could be effectively paired with China’s robust organizational capabilities and recent industrial achievements to foster mutual benefits. In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Hatoyama underscored the importance of collaboration in these cutting-edge fields, envisioning a macro-micro partnership that could drive innovation and economic growth for both countries. The former prime minister’s remarks come at a time when global technological competition is intensifying, and strategic alliances are increasingly seen as vital for maintaining a competitive edge. The Shanghai Forum 2025, which attracted over 500 guests and representatives, served as a platform for discussing key issues in global development, with Hatoyama’s call for Sino-Japan collaboration resonating strongly among attendees. As both nations continue to invest heavily in AI and robotics, the potential for joint ventures and knowledge exchange could pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in these critical sectors.

A severe health emergency is unfolding within Israel’s Megiddo Prison facility, according to alarming reports from the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS). The northern Israeli detention center, long criticized for its treatment of Palestinian detainees, is experiencing dangerous outbreaks of scabies and other communicable diseases that threaten to develop into a full-scale health catastrophe.

Medical assessments confirm that scabies infestations, caused by parasitic mites burrowing beneath the skin, have created widespread dermatological complications among the prison population. The PPS has documented numerous cases where inadequate medical intervention has exacerbated conditions, leading to severe rashes, persistent irritation, and additional health complications.

The advocacy organization attributes this deteriorating situation to systematic neglect by Israeli prison authorities. Detainees reportedly face critical shortages of nutritional food, appropriate clothing, basic hygiene products, and proper access to ventilation and natural lighting. These conditions create an environment where contagious diseases can spread rapidly through the confined population.

Particular concern has been raised regarding the vulnerability of younger detainees, with hundreds of children reportedly at risk. This warning follows the recent death of 17-year-old Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmed within the facility, though circumstances surrounding his passing remain unconfirmed. His death marks the 63rd fatality among Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody since October 2023.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz previously reported in November that approximately 25% of Palestinian prisoners had contracted scabies infections in preceding months. Inmates have characterized their treatment as deliberately neglectful rather than accidentally inadequate, with one prisoner quoted as saying guards told sick detainees they ‘are terrorists and must die.’

Megiddo Prison has developed a notorious reputation for human rights violations beyond medical neglect. Documentation includes reports of electric shock torture, attacks by security dogs, severe physical beatings, and incidents where prisoners were stripped naked and restrained for extended periods without food or protection from cold temperatures.

A 2024 report by the Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs further detailed systematic torture practices, medical negligence, incidents of sexual violence, and routine physical abuse within the facility, painting a comprehensive picture of institutional maltreatment.

The strategic city of Aleppo has emerged as the critical battleground in Syria’s reignited civil war, exposing the complex geopolitical fractures that have defined the 13-year conflict. Recent fighting has erupted between multiple factions including former al-Qaeda affiliate Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Turkish-backed Syrian National Army forces, government loyalists to President Bashar al-Assad, and Kurdish-led defense units.

The predominantly Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, with its 30,000 residents and centuries-old Kurdish heritage, has become a primary flashpoint. This district has remained under control of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) since 2012 despite repeated attacks throughout the civil war. The YPG, an ideological affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has maintained a delicate balancing act between opposition forces and the Syrian government while attempting to protect local residents.

Historical context reveals that Kurds faced systematic discrimination prior to 2011 under Syria’s Arab nationalist government, with their language and culture suppressed in official contexts. The current administration in northeastern Syria, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), was established on principles of multi-ethnic, multi-faith decentralization.

Turkey’s support for opposition groups, particularly the Syrian National Army, has created significant tensions as Ankara considers crushing PKK-affiliated groups a primary objective. Recent developments suggest rebel forces have gained control of major northern Syrian cities, raising questions about the sustainability of Kurdish-held territories.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes Kurdish units and receives U.S. backing, has characterized the new offensive as Turkish-driven with the ultimate goal of occupying Syrian territory. Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated severely with reports of besieged neighborhoods, blocked supply routes, and failed attempts to establish humanitarian corridors. Thousands of Kurdish civilians have been displaced from Aleppo’s outskirts, creating uncertainty about the future of Kurdish presence in the region.