Burma Campaign Japan

Japan PM holds talks with Myanmar’s Thein Sein

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/japan-pm-holds-talks-with-myanmars.html [/postlink]

NAYPYIDAW: Japan's premier met Myanmar's President Thein Sein on Sunday for talks at which he is expected to unveil huge aid and investment deals as he promotes trade with the fast-changing nation.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has pledged "all possible assistance" to kick-start Myanmar's long-neglected economy, went into talks with Thein Sein after touching down in Naypyidaw earlier on Sunday, according to a Myanmar government official.

The meeting with Thein Sein, a former general turned reformer, heralds a significant uptick in already warm relations between Japan and Myanmar as reforms and the removal of most Western sanctions spur investment in the former pariah state.

Abe said in Myanmar's state media on Saturday that the first visit by a Japanese premier since 1977 would see "further assistance" to Myanmar.

Abe is tipped to unveil almost $1 billion in development aid and a plan for a nationwide electricity grid as he looks to cement a role for his country in resource-rich and strategically key Myanmar, formerly called Burma.

Tokyo has already made huge strides, last year vowing to forgive 300 billion yen ($3.4 billion) of the 500 billion yen owed by Myanmar.

"Japan's investments in Burma are truly extraordinary, and I think have taken many by surprise," said Myanmar economics expert Sean Turnell, adding he expected an announcement during the trip without giving details.

He said Japan's investment push into Myanmar was both economic and geopolitical, with "rivalry with China" also driving policy.

Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during junta rule, which ended in 2011, saying a hard line could push it closer to Beijing.

Abe on Saturday visited the Thilawa project -- a 2,400 hectare (6,000 acre) site which will include a port and industrial park -- as part of efforts to promote Japanese firms and infrastructure-building expertise.

The project and associated special economic zone was agreed by the two countries this year and Set Aung, Myanmar's deputy minister of National Planning and Economic Development, said it would create "quick wins" both for local people and Japanese business.

A memorandum of understanding was signed on Saturday for the project between nine Myanmar companies and three from Japan -- including Mitsubishi -- according to English language state-backed newspaper the New Light of Myanmar.

Abe is being accompanied by a 40-strong business delegation of bosses of some of Japan's top companies including Mitsubishi, Mitsui and infrastructure firms Taisei and JGC.

He follows in the footsteps of other world leaders who have flocked to the former pariah state since it was welcomed back to the international community after a nominally civilian government was installed in 2011.

Watch now »

Japan PM Shinzo Abe visit boosts Myanmar industrial zone

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/japan-pm-shinzo-abe-visit-boosts.html [/postlink]

Shinzo Abe observed the signing of a MoU at the Thilawa project on the first day of a trip promoting Japanese business in a country.

YANGON: Japan's premier on Saturday backed the development of a major industrial zone near Yangon on a visit to Myanmaraimed at deepening economic ties with the former junta-ruled nation.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe observed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Thilawa project on the first day of a trip promoting Japanese business in a country which desperately needs investment and infrastructure to drive a much-anticipated economic revival.

"Thilawa SEZ (special economic zone) is a milestone in the relationship between the two governments and the private sector," said Set Aung, Myanmar's deputy minister of National Planning and Economic Development.

"This will create quick wins for the people of Myanmar and Japanese businessmen," in terms of jobs and much-needed "technical assistance", he added.

An environmental impact assessment on the 2,400 hectare project, which will include a port and industrial park, will be completed in August, he said.

Japan and Myanmar in December agreed to start work this year on the Thilawa project with the zone due to be up and running in 2015.

Abe follows in the footsteps of other world leaders who have flocked to the former pariah state since it was welcomed back to the international community after a nominally civilian government was installed in 2011.

In the first visit by a Japanese premier since 1977, Abe is seeking to cement a role for his country in resource-rich and strategically key Myanmar, whose untouched markets have caught the eye of global investors.

Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during junta rule which ended in 2011, saying a hard line could push it closer to China.

During his trip Abe, is also expected to unveil almost USD 1 billion in development aid and a plan for a nationwide electricity grid as part of a strategy to tout Japanese infrastructure firms around the world.

He is being accompanied by a 40-strong business delegation bosses of some of Japan's top companies including trading houses Mitsubishi, Mitsui and infrastructure firms Taisei and JGC.

Before the signing ceremony Abe laid wreaths at Yangon's Martyrs' mausoleum -- where the tombs of independence leaders including General Aung San -- Aung San Suu Kyi's father -- who were assassinated in 1947.

He was due to speak to business leaders before meeting democracy champion Suu Kyi and then travelling to the capital Naypyidaw for a summit with President Thein Sein tomorrow.

Watch now »

Myanmar government says ethnic Shan rebels attacked state oil office, killing 2

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/myanmar-government-says-ethnic-shan.html [/postlink]

Myanmar's government says ethnic Shan guerrillas have attacked a state oil and gas company compound near the Chinese border, leaving two dead and three wounded.

The state-owned Myanma Ahlin newspaper reported Wednesday that guerrillas from the Restoration Council of the Shan State-Shan State Army opened fire Monday at the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise compound in Namkham, 740 kilometers (460 miles) north of Yangon.

Fighting in the area broke out earlier this month between the government and Shan guerrillas, causing more than 2,000 Shan villagers to flee across the border, but calm has been restored, RCSS secretary general Lt. Col. Yawd Murng said Wednesday.

A pipeline to China will go through the area.

The government has signed cease-fires with several ethnic groups, but fighting continues with others, including the Shan.

Published May 15, 2013

Associated Press
YANGON, MYANMAR

Watch now »

Obama's day: Burma

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/obama-day-burma.html [/postlink]

(Photo: Charles Dharapak, AP)

David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama spends Monday promoting democracy.

Obama meets at the White House with President Thein Sein of Burma, also known as Myanmar, which is trying to move past the military dictatorship that has run the country in recent decades.

"Since President Obama's historic trip to Rangoon last November, the United States has continued to advocate for continued progress on reform by President Thein Sein's government, in close cooperation with (activist) Aung San Suu Kyi, civil society leaders, and the international community," says the White House.

Obama and Thein Sein will discuss "the many remaining challenges to efforts to develop democracy," the White House added, including "communal and ethnic tensions" and efforts to bring economic opportunity to the people of Burma.

It's the first U.S. visit by a Burmese leader in 47 years.

Obama also has a string of meetings Monday with senior White House advisers.

Watch now »

North Korea Launches Short-Range Missiles

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/north-korea-launches-short-range.html [/postlink]

North Korea on Saturday launched three short-range guided missiles into the sea, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, in defiance of international sanctions and efforts to bring the rogue nation to the table for talks.
The ministry detected two launches in the morning, followed by another in the afternoon, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported, quoting an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"The missiles launched may be a modified anti-ship missile or the KN-02 surface-to-surface missile derived from the Soviet era SS-21 that has a range of about 120 kilometers (75 miles)," the Seoul official said.
He said that judging by the trajectory and distance traveled, the missiles were neither medium- or long-range, adding that they were fired in a northeasterly direction, away from South Korean waters.
In April, North Korea deployed two intermediate-range missiles along its east coast in what was seen as a response to joint South Korean-U.S. military exercises, but they were recalled earlier this month after the operations ended.
The intermediate-range missiles, known as Musudan, are believed to have a range of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) and may be capable of striking the U.S. Pacific island of Guam.
"All missiles launched fell into the sea," the South Korean Defense Ministry official said of Saturday’s firing, adding that it was likely part of a military exercise or a missile test.
The launches could also be a show of force for the U.S., which last week docked the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in South Korea’s port city of Busan. The North had referred to the carrier’s port call as “a fresh tinderbox to escalate the tension and ignite a nuclear war.”
Routine launch?
Test launches of short-range missiles by North Korea are fairly routine. The North last launched two such missiles into the sea in March.
But tensions have been high on the Korean Peninsula since Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket in December and conducted its third nuclear test in February.
Both tests were in violation of international sanctions that ban North Korea from developing missile or nuclear technology, prompting the U.N. Security Council to adopt even tougher measures against the country in March.
Pyongyang began issuing vitriolic war rhetoric after the new sanctions were imposed, raising ominous prospects of a nuclear conflict on the Korean peninsula.
North Korea has launched five long-range missiles or rockets over the past seven years and last December placed a satellite in orbit.
Pyongyang claimed the satellite was part of peaceful research, but critics said the launch amounted to a banned ballistic missile test that marked a major advance for the North's illicit nuclear weapons program.
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies this week completed a trip to South Korea, China, and Japan, where he discussed plans to deal with the North Korean nuclear threat.

Watch now »

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/myanmar-president-thein-sein-began.html [/postlink]

Myanmar President Thein Sein began Saturday the first visit to Washington by a leader of his country in nearly 50 years as the United States throws its support behind his reforms

The former general, who initiated a wave of reforms after taking office in 2011, flew into Washington and was holding a weekend of private meetings before talks at the White House on Monday, people involved in the trip said.

The last time a leader of Myanmar, then known as Burma, visited the White House was in 1966, as the country was entering decades of military rule that estranged it from the United States and made China the country's main partner.

US President Barack Obama visited Myanmar in November and has suspended most major sanctions against the country in hopes of showing benefits to reforms. Thein Sein will meet Monday with US businesses, now free to invest in Myanmar.

Critics say that the United States risks running out of leverage and point with alarm to recent anti-Muslim violence, during which security forces were accused of failing to stop -- or of even supporting -- sectarian attacks.

Ahead of his departure to the United States, Myanmar freed another 20 political prisoners.

It was the latest prisoner release under Thein Sein, who has also eased censorship and allowed opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi -- under house arrest for most of the past two decades -- to enter parliament.

Activists accuse Thein Sein of headline-grabbing gestures and say that some 200 political prisoners remain in jail.

US officials contend that Thein Sein has made sincere efforts and that problems such as recent violence have roots that predate his rule.

Watch now »

The Japanese based automaker Toyota has recently announced its plans to introduce the 2014 4Runner on the Old Continent too.

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-japanese-based-automaker-toyota-has.html [/postlink]

The announcement has been recently made by the carmaker, who has introduced the new model just last week.

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner, in the U.S., will come with a choice of three trim levels, the SR5, the Limited and the Trail, and the model is packing items such as the multi-information display, the Entune infotainment, the 7-inch display or the electric front seats.

The SR5 and the Limited versions are also getting a third row of seats too, along with the one-touch walk-in function, which is allowing easier access to the third row of seats.

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner is powered only by the 4.0 liter V6 engine, which is producing a total output of 270 HP (201 kW) and 376 Nm of torque (278 lb-ft), mated to a five-speed ECT-I automatic transmission, which is sent to either the 4×2 or the 4×4. No details on what engines the European 4Runner will receive.

Watch now »

3D art by Japanese artist Nagai Hideyuki

[postlink] https://burmacampaignjapanteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/3d-art-by-japanese-artist-nagai-hideyuki.html [/postlink]

Nagai Hideyuki, 21, from Japan, uses a pencil to conjure up amazing 3D drawings

This eye-popping artwork looks like its leaping off the page in 3D - but its actually a trick of perspective.

Playing with light, shadow, and perspective, Japanese artist Nagai Hideyuki creates these stylised optical illusions using the entire spread of his sketchbooks.