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Wang reasserts Chinese sovereignty over Senkakus

Nov 25, 2020 (NHK) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reasserted his country's sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands. He stressed the necessity of avoiding any action that could complicate matters in the waters around the islands.

Wang was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Tokyo on Tuesday.

He said China will continue to defend its sovereign rights with regard to the islands. He emphasized the importance of dealing immediately with any problems that may arise through communication and dialogue.

Japan controls the islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Wang said he hopes to make the East China Sea a sea of peace and cooperation through the joint efforts of the two countries, adding that this approach accords with basic common interests.

The Chinese diplomat disclosed that the two countries have agreed to aim at establishing a hotline between defense officials by the end of the year. This is part of a communications mechanism to prevent accidental clashes at sea or in the air.

Wang also said the two ministers have agreed to hold a bilateral high-level economic dialogue attended by relevant ministers next year.

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Typhoon No. 6 was located about 40 kilometers south-southwest of Irozaki on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture at noon on June 3rd and was moving east-northeast at 40 kilometers per hour as it made its closest approach to the Kanto region, bringing heavy rain, rough seas and a growing risk of strong northerly gusts even as the peak of rainfall began to pass in parts of the Tokyo metropolitan area.

[updated 1:00 p.m.] Typhoon No. 6 is disrupting Japan's transport network on June 3rd, with JR East suspending some lines until the afternoon or for the full day, highway bus services canceled across major expressway routes, expressway operators warning of closures and speed restrictions, and airlines canceling more than 700 domestic flights, mainly on routes to and from Haneda Airport, as heavy rain from the storm spreads along the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan.

Flooding was reported around the popular tourist district of Oharai-machi in Ise City following the passage of Typhoon No. 6, with some businesses forced to clean up after floodwaters overflowed from a nearby river during the early hours of June 3rd.

A breaking weather alert was issued for the Izu region of Shizuoka Prefecture early Wednesday morning, after the formation of a linear rain band, a phenomenon capable of producing prolonged and extremely intense rainfall over the same area. Authorities warned that the risk of disasters has risen sharply as heavy rain continues to fall, increasing the likelihood of flooding, landslides, and other weather-related emergencies.

[updated 03:30 a.m.] Authorities issued a Level 5 Flood Occurrence Information alert for the Kuwano River and the Naka River tributary in Tokushima Prefecture, warning that flooding may already be underway and urging residents to take immediate action to protect their lives.

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