Korean District Court – rejected former comfort women's claim for compensation - Japanese sovereign immunity applied

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

元慰安婦の賠償請求却下　韓国地裁、日本の主権免除適用

朝鮮半島

2021年4月21日 11:08 (2021年4月21日 13:12更新)

 【ソウル=恩地洋介】韓国の元従軍慰安婦らが日本政府を相手取り損害賠償を求めた訴訟で、ソウル中央地裁は21日、国家は外国の裁判権に服さないとする国際法上の「主権免除の原則」を認め、訴えを却下した。地裁は1月、別の元慰安婦訴訟で日本政府に賠償を命じており、正反対の判決内容となった。

今回の訴訟は元慰安婦の李容洙（イ・ヨンス）氏や遺族ら20人が2016年に提起。「精神的、肉体的な苦痛を受けた」として計約30億ウォン（約2億8千万円）の損害賠償を日本政府に請求した。日本政府は主権免除の原則の立場から、公判には一度も出席していない。

判決は主権免除について「国際慣習法と最高裁の判例から、外国の主権的行為に対する損害賠償は認められない」との判断を示した。慰安婦問題の解決は、日本政府との外交交渉を含め「韓国の対内外的な努力により達成されなければならない」と指摘した。

慰安婦問題の最終解決をうたった15年日韓合意の有効性にも言及した。合意に基づいて設立された「和解・癒やし財団」から多数の原告が支援金を受け取っており、「救済手段」になっているとの認識を示した。原告の元慰安婦16人のうち9人（故人含む）が支援金を受け取っていたことが判明している。

原告側の弁護士は判決後、記者団に「納得しがたい判決だ」と述べ、控訴を検討する考えを示した。

ソウル地裁は1月、別の元慰安婦訴訟で、日本政府に原告1人当たり1億ウォンの慰謝料支払いを命じた。日本政府は控訴せず、判決はすでに確定している。

1月の判決では訴訟費用についても、被告の日本政府が負担する判断を示していた。ただ、ソウル中央地裁は3月下旬、訴訟費用の確保を目的とした日本政府資産の差し押さえは「国際法違反を招きかねない」とする決定文を原告側に通知した。

この決定は訴訟費用を巡る問題に限られるが、地裁は今後、賠償金の差し押さえについても同様の判断を下す可能性がある。原告側は日本政府が韓国内で所有する財産の開示を求める手続きを裁判所に申し立てるなど、差し押さえに向けた準備を進めている。

文在寅（ムン・ジェイン）大統領は1月の判決後、15年の日韓合意について「政府間の公式合意だ」と認め、日本と解決策を協議したい意向を示した。韓国政府は原告からヒアリングを進めたが、解決策を提案するには至っていない。

Translation

[Seoul = Yosuke Onchi] In a lawsuit in which former South Korean comfort women sought damages against the Japanese government, the Seoul Central District Court said on the 21st that it acknowledged “the principle of sovereign immunity” in that a state would not submit to foreign jurisdiction, and thus dismissed the proceedings. In January in another former comfort women proceeding, a district court ordered the Japanese government to compensate and the content of the decision was the exact opposite.

The present proceeding was filed in 2016 by former comfort women Lee Yong-soo and her bereaved family. They claimed a total of about 3 billion won (about 280 million yen) in damages from the Japanese government, saying that they had suffered mental and physical pain. The Government of Japan had never attended a trial because of the principle of sovereignty exemption.

In the ruling, regarding the sovereignty exemption, it was ruled that " based on customary international law and the Supreme Court's case law, damage payment requests would not permitted due foreign sovereign acts." It was pointed out that, about a resolution on the comfort women issue, including diplomatic negotiations with the Japanese government, it "must be achieved by South Korea's internal and external efforts."

The validity of the 2015 Japan-Korea Agreement, which stipulated the final solution to the comfort women issue was also mentioned. Many plaintiffs had previously received support from the "Reconciliation and Healing Foundation" established based on this agreement, and had acknowledged that they were "relief measures". It was found out that nine out of the 16 plaintiffs of former comfort women (including those deceased) had received the relief money.

After the decision, the plaintiff's lawyer told reporters that the decision was "unconvincing," and said he would consider appealing.

In January, in another former comfort women proceeding, the Seoul District Court ordered the Japanese government to pay 100 million won in compensation per plaintiff. The Japanese government did not appealed and the decision was already finalized.

The January ruling also indicated that the Japanese government as a defendant had to bear the costs of the proceedings. However, in late March, the Seoul Central District Court notified the plaintiffs about a decision which stated that the seizure of Japanese government assets for the purpose of securing legal costs "may lead to violations of international laws."

This decision was limited to legal costs, the district court might make similar decisions regarding the seizure for damage payments in the future. The plaintiffs were preparing for seizure, such as filing a lawsuit with the court requesting the disclosure of property owned by the Japanese government in South Korea.

After the decision in January, President Moon Jae-in (文在寅) acknowledged that the Japan-Korea agreement in 2015 was "an official agreement between the governments," and expressed his intention to discuss a solution with Japan. The South Korean government had proceeded with hearings from the plaintiffs, but had not yet come up with a solution.

              For me, it is hard to believe that the courts in South Korea are still handling cases that seek damages from Japan over the comfort women matter happened more than 70 years ago. It is a difficult case for President Moon Jae-in (文在寅) to handle and a test on his political wisdom.

Amazon to Close Internet Mail Order Service in China

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

アマゾン、中国のネット通販サービス閉鎖へ

2019.04.19 Fri posted at 17:41 JST

 香港（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 米アマゾンは１９日までに、中国で運営するマーケットプレイス（仮想商店街）を数カ月以内に閉鎖すると発表した。これにより中国のアマゾン利用者は、国内の出店者から商品を購入することができなくなる。

サービス撤退の理由は明かされていない。アマゾンは声明で、マーケットプレイスの閉鎖を出店者に通知しているとし、７月１８日をもってサービスを停止すると述べた。

調査会社イーマーケターによると、中国のネット通販の市場規模は年間約２兆ドル。米国はその４分の１をわずかに上回るに過ぎない。

１５年前に中国へ進出したアマゾンだが、国内で優位を占めるアリババや京東集団（ＪＤドット・コム）と比べると、そのシェアは微々たるものだ。イーマーケターの推計では、中国国内の電子商取引の半分以上はアリババが手掛けているとされる。

専門家からはアマゾンの苦戦の要因として、中国市場における競争の激しさやアマゾンのブランド認知度の低さを指摘する声が上がっている。

アマゾンによれば、ユーザーは７月１８日以降もグローバルストアから商品を購入することが可能。クラウド・コンピューティングや電子書籍端末「キンドル」といったサービスは引き続き中国国内で提供するという。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN Business) - Amazon of the United States had announced on the 19th that their Market Place (virtual shopping mall) operating in China would be closed within several months. As a result, Amazon customers in China could not purchase goods from local storekeepers.

The reason for the withdrawal was not clear. Amazon said in a statement that it had notified stores to shut down the Market Place and would stop its service by July 18.

According to research firm E-marketer, China's online mail order market was about $ 2 trillion a year. The United States had only slightly above one quarter.

Amazon, which advanced to China 15 years ago, had a small share compared to Alibaba and Jingdong Group (JD.com), which dominated the domestic market. According to E-Marketer’s estimates, more than half of the e-commerce in China was handled by Alibaba.

Experts had pointed out that the keen competition in the Chinese market and the low brand awareness of the Amazon were identifiable factors that caused Amazon's struggle.

According to Amazon, users could purchase goods from the global store after July 18th. Services such as cloud computing and e-book reader "Kindle" would continue to be provided in China.

              So, Amazon does not necessary has an advantage in doing business in China.

Risk hidden in QR payments, fraudulent use of fake code in China

Recently the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

QR決済に潜むリスク、中国で偽コード使う詐欺

ネット・IT 中国・台湾

2019/4/29 4:30日本経済新聞　電子版

飲食店の支払いや飛行機の搭乗手続きなどで使われるようになってきたQRコード。消費者にとって便利な決済手段になりつつあるが、一方で安全性をどう確保していくのか課題もみえてきた。QRコード先進国と言われる中国では偽造コードを使った詐欺が起きている。日本でも急速にサービスが普及するなか、対岸の火事とは言えない。

「既に振り込んだのに、なぜもう一度払わなければいけないんだ」。上海市内の男性会社員は怒りが収まらない。男性は駐車禁止エリアに車を止め、仕事を終えて車に戻ると違反切符が貼られていた。「支払いはこちらをスキャンしてください」と書かれたQRコードが印刷されていた。

男性はスマートフォン（スマホ）でQRコード決済「微信支付（ウィーチャットペイ）」を使ってコードを読み取り、200元（約3300円）を支払った。しかし、その数日後、警察から「まだ罰金が支払われていないので早急に払うように」という催促の通知が送られてきた。

男性の車に貼られていた違反切符は偽物だった。QRコードは偽物の切符を作った個人のウィーチャットペイのアカウントで、プロフィルには警察官の衣装を着た男性の写真が掲載。パッと見ただけでは気付かなかったそうだ。

中国ではQRコードを使った偽物の違反切符を利用した詐欺が多発。警察が「QRコード付きの違反切符は必ず警察官が違反者に手渡す。車に貼るのはQRコードが付いていない違反切符だけ」と注意を呼びかける事態となった。

ウィーチャットペイや「支付宝（アリペイ）」といったQRコード決済が普及する中国では、こうした詐欺が少なくない。街中の青果店や屋台でも店先にウィーチャットペイなどのQRコードを掲示している。偽物のコードにすり替えられるなどして、知らぬ間に店の売り上げをだまし取られるケースもある。

見た目で正否判別しにくく

なぜこのような手口が横行するのか。神戸大学の森井昌克教授（情報通信工学）は「QRコードはパッと見ただけでは正しいものなのか判別しにくいから」という。一般の人には単なる白黒の斑点にしかみえない。偽物のQRコードが貼られていることに気付かなければ、決済処理してしまうのも無理はない。

ただ偽物のQRコードが重ねて貼られたりしていないかをチェックすれば、未然に詐欺を防げる場合もある。問題になりそうなのはQRコードの特長を逆手に取った「抜け穴」だ。QRコードはスマホの画面で四角形の白黒の模様を読み取る。模様に少しの汚れがあったり、わずかな欠損があったりしても、自動補正できるレベルなら、QRコードを読み取ることができる。

森井氏は18年、QRコードの白黒の斑点のある部分を灰色に変えることで、不正なウエブサイトに誘導できる恐れがあると指摘した。現在はQRコードを構成する正方形の粒をわずかにゆがめるだけでも誘導できるという。

記者は、森井氏が独自に作ったQRコードをスマホのアプリで読み取ってみた。スマホをかざす角度を変えて何度か読み取ると、神戸大のホームページに移動する場合もあれば、別のホームページに移動することもあった。

日本で広がる可能性も

QRコードを使った詐欺などの不正が日本でも増える可能性は否定できない。TriForceコンサルティング（東京・港）はデジタル署名を組み込み、改ざん不可能なQRコードを利用した本人認証システムを開発し、年内に提供する。利用者が電子商取引（EC）サイトなどで買い物をする際、その都度発行されるQRコードを専用のスマホアプリで読み取ると、IDなどを入力しなくても本人認証できる。

メディアシークはQRコードの不正検知システムを開発した。スマホ決済でコードを読み取る時に不審なURL表示が出た場合、アプリ上の通報ボタンを押すと同社のサーバーに不正情報として記憶される。その後は読み取り時に注意喚起してくれる仕組みだ。野村総合研究所傘下のNRIセキュアテクノロジーズ（東京・千代田）もQRコード事業のリスクを検証するサービスを始めており、不正対策ビジネスは広がりつつある。

（吉田楓、上海=松田直樹）

Translation

QR code was being used in restaurant payments and flight check-in procedures. It was becoming a convenient means of payment for consumers, but at the same time we had seen some issues about how to ensure its security. In China, which was said to be a QR code developed country, fraud had occurred due to fake code. With the rapid spread of its services in Japan, it could not be said that it was a problem of someone else.

"I have already paid, why do I have to pay again?" A male office worker in Shanghai could not withhold his anger. The man parked his car in a no-parking area, and when he finished his work and returned, he saw a penalty ticket. The QR code was printed with a writing saying that "Please scan this for payment".

This man uses a smartphone to scan the QR code to make payment through “We-Chat-Pay” and paid 200 yuan (about 3300 yen). However, a few days later, a notification was sent by the police saying, " as the fine has not been paid, please pay it as soon as possible ".

The ticket on the men's car was a fake. The QR code was in a Wee-chat Pay account of the man who made the fake ticket, its profile had a photo of a man dressed in a police officer's costume. It was said that one could hardly notice a fake just by looking at a glance.

In China, frauds in fake tickets to be paid by QR codes were frequent. The police warned that "tickets to be paid QR code must be handed to the offender by the police officer. Only the ticket without a QR code will be put on the car."

In China where QR code payments such as We-Chat-Pay and Alipay were widespread, as such, fraud was not uncommon. QR codes such as those by We-Chat-Pay were posted at the storefronts of greenery stores and other stalls around the city. In some cases, for example, they could be replaced by fake code, and the store's sales could be fooled unknowingly.

It is difficult to judge correctness by appearance

Why was this practice rampant? Professor Masakatsu Morii of Kobe University (Information and Communication Engineering) said, "It is difficult to tell if a QR code is genuine by just looking it at a glance." For ordinary people, it was only black and white dots. If you did not notice that a fake QR code was being put up, it was not unreasonable to process the payment.

However, you might be able to prevent fraud in advance if you checked whether fake QR codes were put up repeatedly or not. What could likely to be its problem was its "loophole"- that there were unexpected twists in taking advantage of the merit of the QR code. The QR code was read using the screen of the smartphone by scanning the black and white pattern of the rectangle. Even if there was a slight stain or slight defect in the pattern, the QR code could be read if it was within the levels of automatic correction.

Morii pointed out in 2018 that turning black and white dots in the QR code into gray could lead one to a fraudulent website. At present, reading could proceed even the square dots that make up the QR code was slightly distorted.

The reporter tried reading the QR code which Mr. Morii made originally using the application of the smartphone. When changed the angle in holding the smartphone to read it several times, even if it was moving towards the homepage of Kobe University, sometimes it moved to other homepages.

The possibility of spreading in Japan

It could not be denied that fraud such as fraudulent use of QR code might increase in Japan. TriForce Consulting (Tokyo, Minato) incorporated a digital signature, developed a user authentication system using non-tamperable QR code, and it would be available by the end of the year. When a user purchased at an electronic commerce (EC) site or the like, if the QR code issued for that transaction was read by a specific smartphone application, the user could authenticate oneself without inputting an ID or the like.

Media Seek had developed a QR code fraud detection system. If a suspicious URL was displayed when one read a code by smartphone payment, by pressing the report button on the application it would store up this in the company's server as fraudulent information. After that, there would be a mechanism to alert you when you read this code. NRI Secure Technologies (Tokyo, Chiyoda), a subsidiary of Nomura Research Institute, had also launched a service to inspect QR code business risk, and the anti-fraud business was expanding.

              So, to develop anti-fraud know-how is a big business opportunity, as always.

Canada's deep reliance on China - making a decision was difficult due to 'retaliation'

Recently the Yomiuri Shimbun On-line reported the following:

中国依存深まるカナダ、「報復」に難しい判断

2019年01月24日 08時07分

　【ニューヨーク＝橋本潤也】孟晩舟(モンワンジョウ)氏の身柄引き渡しについて、カナダ政府は米国との犯罪人引き渡し条約に基づくもので、政治的意図は介在しないとの立場だ。中国の圧力にさらされる中、安全保障上の懸念に基づくファーウェイ排除の動きにどう対応するかが試金石となる。

　カナダのフリーランド外相は２２日、米メディアのインタビューで「孟氏の拘束はもっぱら刑事司法の問題。政治問題化する考えには、強く反対する」と語った。カナダ政府は、昨年１２月に中国当局に拘束されたカナダ人男性２人の釈放を求めているほか、中国の裁判所でのカナダ人男性への死刑判決を「恣意しい的だ」（トルドー首相）と非難している。

　カナダは現在、次世代通信規格「５Ｇ」からファーウェイを排除するかどうかを検討中だ。排除を決めれば同盟国と歩調がそろう一方で、中国のさらなる報復を受ける可能性が高い。

　カナダの大学に所属する外国人学生の３３％は中国人が占め、家族を含む経済効果は年５０億ドル（約５５００億円）に上る。中国は米国に次ぐ貿易相手国でもある。中国依存が深まっているだけに、カナダは難しい判断を迫られている。

2019年01月24日 08時07分 Copyright © The Yomiuri Shimbun

Translation

 [New York: Hashimoto Junya] On the handing over of Mdm. Mèng Wǎnzhōu, the Canadian government did it based on the treaty of criminal deliveries with the United States while at the same time trying to uphold a position of not to intervene it with political intentions. Exposed to the pressure of China and having regard for its security concerns, how to respond to play down the development of Huawei was a touchstone.

Canada's Foreign Minister Freeland said on Wednesday in a media interview that “Mdm. Meng's detention is solely against the criminal justice, she strongly opposed to the idea of ​​making it into a political problem." The Canadian government on top of seeking the release of two Canadian men detained by the Chinese authorities in December last year, also criticized the death sentence passed on a Canadian in a Chinese court as "arbitrary" (Prime Minister Trudeau).

Canada was currently considering whether to exclude Huawei from its next generation "5 G" communication standard. If it decided to eliminate, this footstep would be  in consistent with its allies, and yet there was a high possibility that it would get further retaliation from China.

Chinese accounted for 33% of all foreign students in Canadian universities, and the economic influence including families amounted to 5 billion dollars a year (about 550 billion yen). China was also the second largest trading partner after the United States. As reliance on China was deepening, Canada was under pressure to make a difficult decision.

      I hope Canada could resolve this difficult situation soon.

A US report - "Chinese weaponry led the world in some fields"- a strong sense of vigilance

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

米報告書「中国の兵器 一部の分野で世界をリード」強い警戒感

2019年1月16日 15時02分

アメリカ国防総省の情報機関は中国の軍事力に関する報告書を発表し、中国が進めるミサイル開発などについて「一部の分野ではすでに世界をリードしている」と指摘し、急速な兵器開発に強い警戒感を示しています。

アメリカ国防総省の情報機関、国防情報局は15日、「中国の軍事力」と題した報告書を発表しました。

この中で、中国は外国企業の先端技術を自国企業と提携していることを理由に法律で強制的に提供させるなど「あらゆる可能な手段を尽くして技術を入手している」と分析しています。

そのうえで、アメリカのミサイル防衛網では捉えられないとされる「極超音速兵器」の開発や、洋上の空母をねらった移動式の対艦弾道ミサイルの開発などを例に挙げ、「中国軍は世界で最も進んだ兵器の配備を目前にしており、一部の分野ではすでに世界をリードしている」と指摘し、急速な兵器開発に強い警戒感を示しています。

トランプ政権は軍備増強を続ける中国を国際秩序に対する脅威と位置づけて対抗する戦略を掲げており、国防総省としてはアメリカ軍も兵器の開発や更新を急ぐ必要性を改めて強調するねらいがあるとみられます。

Translation

An intelligence agency in the U.S. Department of Defense had released a report on Chinese military power; about the missile development advanced by China it pointed out that " it already led the world in certain fields " and showed a strong sense of vigilance regarding its quick weapon development.

On the 15th, an intelligence agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency released the report entitled "The military power of China".

Inside, it analyzed that China had made foreign companies compulsorily by law to offer them advanced technique etc. for reasons to cooperate with its own country’s enterprise; "it does all possible means to get technology ".

On top of that the development of American missile defense network in "extreme supersonic weapon" which supposed to be could not be captured, and the development of mobile anti-battleship ballistic missile that aimed at aircraft carriers in the ocean were quoted as examples; it pointed that "China is at the verge of deploying  the most  advanced weapon in the world, it is already leading the world in some fields", showing a strong sense of vigilance in the quick speed in its weaponry development.

The Trump government regarded China, which was reinforcing its armaments, continued to be a threat to international order and put up strategies to counter it. As for the Department of Defense, it seemed that there was an urgency to emphasize once again the need for the US military to rush into the development and updating of weapons.

        So, the military budget of the US will go up soon.

             

China lifted food import restriction on rice from Niigata

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following

中国食品輸入規制 新潟米解除へ

11月29日　10時14分

東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故の後、中国が続けている日本産食品の輸入規制をめぐって、中国が新潟県で生産されたコメの輸入を再開する方針を固め、日本政府に通達してきたことが分かりました。

福島第一原発の事故のあと、中国政府は、放射性物質による汚染が懸念されるとして、福島、宮城、東京など１０の都県で生産されたすべての農産物や水産物、それに家畜などに与える飼料の輸入を停止しています。

これについて日本政府は、安全性が確保された食品のみが流通しており、懸念は当たらないとして規制を解除するよう重ねて求めていて、安倍総理大臣も先月の日中首脳会談で、習近平国家主席に対し前向きな対応を求め、中国側は「科学的な評価に基づき緩和することを積極的に考える」と表明していました。

こうした中、中国が、輸入規制を実施している１０の都県のうち新潟県で生産されたコメの輸入を再開する方針を固め、日本側に通達してきたことが政府関係者の話で分かりました。

日本政府としては、残るほかの規制についても、できるだけ早期に解除されるよう、引き続き、中国側に働きかけていくことにしています。

Translation

Concerning the import restriction imposed by China on food produced in Japan  enforced after the Tokyo Electric Power Daiichi Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, it was found out that China had resumed the policy that strengthened the importation of rice produced in Niigata-ken, and the Japanese Government was informed accordingly.

It was supposed that after an accident in Daiichi Fukushima nuclear power plant, for fear of pollution by radioactive materials, the Chinese government had suspended the importation of all marine and agricultural products from Fukushima, Miyagi and Tokyo etc. 10 prefectures, together with the feed for the cattle etc.

About this, for the Japanese Government, because only the food which safety had been secured would be allowed to circulate, there was no need for worries, thus it asked for the cancellation of the restriction. Abe Prime Minister at last month's Japanese-Chinese summit, toward Chairman Xi Jinping, asked for a forward-looking positive response; the Chinese side expressed that "consideration would be actively taken to ease it based on scientific evaluation."

Under such circumstances, talks among people related to the government showed that among the 10 prefectures/capital with import restriction, China had strengthened the policy which resumed the importation of the rice produced in Niigata-ken and had notified the Japanese side.

For the Japanese Government, it would continue to encourage China to start work to ease the remaining restrictions as early as possible.

        Its seems that the Sino-Japanese relation is improving.

A US university that a Chinese researcher once enrolled had started investigation: a baby with genome editing

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

ゲノム編集で赤ちゃん 中国の研究者が在籍した米大学が調査

2018年11月30日 9時42分

中国の研究者が、「ゲノム編集」で遺伝情報を書き換えた赤ちゃんが産まれたと主張していることを受けて、この研究者がかつて在籍したアメリカの大学は、恩師にあたる教授が関係していないか、調査を始めたことを明らかにしました。

中国の南方科技大学の賀建奎准教授は、父親がエイズウイルスに感染しているカップルの受精卵に対して、ゲノム編集でエイズウイルスに感染しないよう遺伝情報を書き換え、双子が誕生したと主張しています。

これについて、賀准教授が2010年まで博士課程で在籍した南部テキサス州にあるライス大学は29日、ＮＨＫの取材に対し、大学に在籍する生命工学の教授が関係していないか、調査を始めたことを明らかにしました。

この教授は、賀准教授がライス大学で博士号を取得した際の恩師にあたり、共同での論文もあります。

また、ＡＰ通信は、この教授は中国でゲノム編集を受精卵に対して行う計画について、参加するカップルに同意を得る際に立ち会ったと伝えています。

ライス大学は、大学としては知るところではなかったが、どこで行われたとしても、科学研究の指針や倫理基準に違反しているとしており、教授が関係していないか、詳しく調べるとしています。

 Translation

Chinese researchers, after noting a researcher insisted that a baby had code-word rewritten through "genome editing" was born, had begun to investigate the American university which this researcher had once enrolled in order to find out whether the professor who taught this researcher was involved.

Associate professor He Jiankui of the Southern University of Science and Technology was insisting that towards a fertilized egg of a couple with the father infected by AIDS virus, he had rewritten the code-word using genome editing so that it would not be infected by AIDS virus,  and that a twin was born.

About this on the 29^th , in responded to a NHK coverage, the Rice University in Southern State of Texas which was enrolled by associate professor He JianKui in a Doctoral course until 2010, had made it clear that it began to investigate whether or not the teaching professor of biotechnology in the university was involved.

This professor was the former teacher of associate professor Gu when the latter acquired a doctorate at Rice University; they also had joint papers.

Furthermore, the AP News reported that about the plan of using genome editing in a fertilized egg in China, this professor had witnessed the moment when the consent of the participating couple was given.

For the Rice University, nothing had come to its attention as a university; but no matter where the editing was performed, it was assumed to have violated the guidelines of scientific research and ethical standards, and a detailed investigation was supposed to examine whether the professor was related.

              It is shocking to know that this researcher has violated the guidelines of scientific research and ethical standards.

Taiwan: to stop importing pork from Japan due to swine fever

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

豚コレラで日本からの豚肉輸入停止 台湾

2018年11月18日 7時34分

台湾当局は、16日に岐阜市で豚とイノシシの伝染病・豚コレラに感染した豚が確認されたことを受けて、日本からの豚肉の輸入を停止したと発表しました。

台湾当局は16日に岐阜市で２頭の豚が豚コレラに感染していることが確認されたことを受けて、豚コレラウイルスが日本から持ち込まれるのを防ぐため、17日、生きている豚や豚肉、それに関連する製品の日本からの輸入を停止したと発表しました。

台湾は、豚肉などを年間およそ40トン日本から輸入していて、停止の措置は当面、続けるとしています。

台湾は、豚コレラの感染が報告されている中国からの豚肉の輸入も停止するなど、警戒を強めています。

Translation

The Taiwanese authority after noting on the 16th that the pork in Gifu-shi was confirmed to have been infected by swine fever, an infectious disease of pig and wild boar, announced the suspension of importing pork from Japan.

The Taiwanese authority after noting the confirmation on the 16th that 2 pigs were infected with swine fever in Gifu-shi, and in order to prevent swine fever virus being brought in from Japan, announced on the 17th that the importation from Japan of live pig, pork and products related to that were to be suspended.

Taiwan was importing approximately 40 tons of pork from Japan each year and for the time being it was supposed that measures would be taken to stop it .

Taiwan also suspended importing pork from China where infection of swine fever was reported, and had strengthened its precaution.

              It seems that swine fever is slowly spreading in Asia, as predicted by the UN a few weeks ago.

Trump’s top official - "an agreement with China on trade is difficult"

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

米高官「中国と貿易面での合意は困難」

2018年11月10日 8時47分

アメリカのトランプ政権の高官は貿易問題で対立を深める中国について、南シナ海やサイバー攻撃の問題でも約束を守らなかったと非難し、中国と貿易面で合意を結ぶことは容易ではないという認識を示しました。

トランプ政権で対中国強硬派として知られる通商政策担当のナバロ大統領補佐官は９日、ワシントン市内で講演しました。

この中でナバロ補佐官は、中国政府がオバマ前政権との間で南シナ海を軍事化しないことや、サイバー攻撃で企業の秘密などを盗まないことを約束しながら、ことごとく破ってきたと非難しました。

そのうえで、貿易問題で対立を深める中国との交渉について「最大の問題は信用だ。日本やヨーロッパとの交渉とは違う」と述べ、中国と貿易面で合意を結ぶのは容易でないという認識を示しました。

さらにナバロ補佐官は、今月下旬にアルゼンチンで開かれる主要20か国首脳会議＝Ｇ20サミットで米中首脳会談を開く方向で調整が進められているとしたうえで、ゴールドマンサックスやウォールストリートの関係者が中国政府と協議し、貿易摩擦の解消に向けた合意を結ぶようトランプ大統領に圧力をかけてきている、と主張しました。

そして「中国のために働くアメリカの億万長者たちの協力は必要ない。トランプ政権の交渉能力を弱めるだけだ」と述べ、名指しはしなかったものの中国と合意を結ぶよう求める勢力を批判しました。

Translation

A top official of the American's Trump administration, regarding the deep confrontation in trade with China, criticized that China did not keep its promise on the South China Sea and on the cyber attack; he admitted that it was not easy to conclude a satisfactory trade agreement with China.

On the 9th Navarro, the president’s assistant on trade policy who was known as an anti-Chinese hard-liner inside the Trump’s administration gave a talk in Washington city.

In the talk Navarro the assistant accused China in breaking its promise made to the former Obama administration that Chinese government would not militarize the South China Sea and would not steal the secret of enterprises by cyber-attacks; he accused that China had completely broken these.

On top of that, about making an agreement with China on trade which was in serious conflicts, he stated that "The biggest problem is trust. It's different from negotiations with Japan and Europe." He admitted that to reach a satisfactory negotiation with China on trade would not be easy.

Navarro the assistant had suggested that while on top making adjustments so as to advance towards reaching a China-U.S. summit meeting during the key 20-country summit meeting = G20 Summit scheduled to be held in Argentina at the end of this month, he insisted that the people related to Goldman Sachs and Wall Street had discussed with the Chinese government, and that they were pressurizing president Trump to reach an agreement to stop the trade friction.

Also, he said "in dealing with China the help of the American billionaires was not necessary. The ability of Trump’s political power to negotiate would only be weakened".  While not spelling out the names, he criticized those forces that asked for reaching an agreement with China.

              During a political confrontation between two countries, it seems that the side having a dictatorial political structure would have an advantage over the side that has a democratic political system. The former society often follows the decision of one person. The latter often treasures the discussion process among the people before reaching a decision, although it could take a lot of time and effort.

China-U.S. trade friction: Japanese manufacturers reconsidered their production systems

Recently the NHK New On-line reported the following:

米中貿易摩擦 日本メーカーが生産体制見直しも

2018年9月24日 15時18分

輸入品に高い関税をかけ合うアメリカと中国の対立を受けて、日本の大手メーカーの一部には生産体制を見直すなどの動きも出てきています。

トランプ政権が発動を発表した第３弾となる制裁措置を受けて「ヤマハ発動機」は、対象になった中国で生産しているゴルフカートのエンジンなどの輸出を増やしていて、制裁の発動前にアメリカの組み立て工場の在庫を積み増しています。

このほか、これまでの制裁措置を受けた動きとしては大手建設機械メーカーの「コマツ」が、中国で生産していたショベルカーなどの建設機械の部品の一部を先月から日本とメキシコに移しました。

大手電機メーカーの「三菱電機」は、レーザー加工機などの工作機械を中国の大連で生産していましたが、先月、名古屋市にある工場に生産を移しました。

機械メーカーの「東芝機械」は中国からアメリカ向けに輸出しているプラスチック部品を作る機械の生産を来月から静岡県沼津市とタイの工場に移すことを決めました。

一方で、事態を静観しているメーカーも多くあります。中国やアメリカに工場がある「トヨタ自動車」や「日産自動車」、それに「ホンダ」や「マツダ」の自動車メーカー各社は、車の生産や部品の調達の現地化を進めていて、生産をほかの国に移す対応は検討していないとしています。

半導体大手の「ルネサスエレクトロニクス」は製品の一部を中国の工場からアメリカに輸出していますが、売り上げの１％程度にとどまることから、当面は状況を静観することにしています。

中国でカーラジオ用のチューナーやパソコン用のブルーレイディスクの機器などを生産している「パイオニア」も、アメリカ向けの売り上げの規模は小さいとして具体的な対応は決めていません。ただ、米中の今後の対立によっては生産体制の見直しを検討するとしています。

Translation

After noting confrontations between China and the United States which high customs import duties were discussed, Japanese major manufacturers had a new appreciation on some of their production systems and moves had also come to light.

After noting the sanction which became the 3rd wave of imposition by the Trump government was announced, "Yamaha Motor" was increasing its export of golf carts that used engines produced in China which had been made the target of sanction; it also increased its stock in American assembly factories before the start of the sanction.

On top of that "Komatsu", a major construction machine manufacturer, had relocated some of their machine parts produced in China for the making of machines such as shovel car etc. to Japan and Mexico starting from last month as a move after noting the sanction so far.

"Mitsubishi Electric" as a major electric appliance manufacturer in Dalian of China that was producing machine tools for laser machines had moved its production to a factory in Nagoya-shi last month.

"Toshiba Machine", a mechanical manufacturer which exported plastics components to the United States had decided from next month to move the mechanical production from China to Numazu-shi in Shizuoka, and also to their Thai factory.

On the other hand there were also a lot of manufacturers calmly watching the situation: "Toyota Motor" and "Nissan Motor", which had factories in both China and United States; and also automobile companies  "Honda" and "Mazda"  which were advancing the localization the production of cars and the supply of parts. It was assumed that these factories were not considering moving their production to other countries.

"Renesas Electronics" was a major semiconductor company which exported some of their products from a Chinese factory to the United States; but because their export stayed at about 1 % of total sales, at present it calmly watched the situation.

"Pioneer" was producing in China tuners for car radios and blue-ray disc components for PCs; as their sales to the United States were small, it had not decided on making a response. However, it was assumed that they would review their production systems based on further China-U.S. confrontation.

          So, some of the Japanese manufactures were making movements in response to the China-U.S. trade war that was played out so far.

Hokkaido: A ceremony to mourn victims 35 years after the Korean Air aircraft was shot down

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

大韓航空機撃墜事件から35年 犠牲者追悼の式典 北海道

2018年9月1日 19時45分

大韓航空の旅客機が旧ソビエトの戦闘機に撃墜され、日本人28人を含む269人が死亡した事件から１日で35年となりました。現場を沖合にのぞむ北海道稚内市では、犠牲者を追悼する式典が開かれました。

昭和58年の９月１日、ロシアのサハリン沖で大韓航空の旅客機が旧ソビエト軍に撃墜され、日本人28人を含む乗客乗員269人が犠牲となりました。

追悼式典は、現場を沖合にのぞむ北海道稚内市の公園で毎年９月１日に行われていて、１日は犠牲者の遺族などおよそ200人が参列しました。

式典では、はじめに参列者全員で黙とうし、遺族会の代表で事件で兄を亡くした川名正洋さんが「事件から35年になり、改めて平和の大切さを皆さんと考えていきたい」とあいさつをしました。

そして、遺族らが交代で「平和の鐘」を鳴らして、同じような事件が繰り返されることがないよう祈りをささげていました。

事件で父親を亡くした兵庫県の山口真史さんは「毎年、式典に参列する中で、父親のことや自分のことを考え直しています。事件から学ぶことがあると思うので、次の世代に受け継いでいきたい」と話していました。

Translation

   

A passenger plane of Korean Air was shot down by a fighter of the former Soviet with 269 people including 28 Japanese died. On the first it was 35 years after the event and a ceremony to mourn victims was held in Wakkanai-shi of Hokkaido, a location which overlooked the offing where the incident happened.

A passenger plane of Korean Air was shot down by the former Soviet army at Russian’s Sakhalin offing on September 1st of 1983; 269 passengers and crews including 28 Japanese were killed.

A mourning ceremony was performed on September 1st every year at a park in Wakkanai-shi of Hokkaido which overlooked a site in the offing, and on the 1st victims of the deceased families and others of about 200 people had attended.

In the ceremony, first of all participants prayed silently, then Mr. Masahiro Kawana, who had lost his elder brother in the incident, represented an organization of the bereaved family and addressed the ceremony by saying that “I’d like to think about the importance of peace again with you all, 35 years after the incident."

Then the families of the deceased took turns to ring the "Bell of peaceful", and prayers were offered so that no more similar cases would be repeated.

Mr. Masashi Yamaguchi from Hyogo-ken who lost his father in this event said "When attending the ceremony every year, I'm rethinking about the life of my father as well as mine. I think there is something to be learned from this event. So, I hope the next generation could inherit this."

This is a tragic air traveling disaster happened near the end of the Cold War.