Ukrainian officials have claimed that their air defence system intercepted six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles which had been pointed at Kiev, evidence which if confirmed, would suggest the country's ability to shoot down the most advanced weaponry from Russia. Ukraine accused Russia of launching an "exceptional" flurry of missiles and drones at Kiev, but said that it had stopped the Kinzhals. Russia claimed that one missile had hit an American-made Patriot system. This is one of Russia's biggest attacks since March, and Russia's chaotic defence system and lack of resources have failed to improve the country's 15-month war strategies.
Chinese companies are targeting South Korean talent as Beijing seeks to build up its technical abilities in key areas such as electric cars, semiconductors and exports including shipbuilding. The moves have reportedly intensified since Washington began restricting Chinese access to American technology and expertise. Strategies by Chinese firms have included both legal and illegal means of attracting skilled professionals including “tech leakage” and patent violations. Korea is creating a database of chip engineers at the country’s companies to monitor their travel in and out of the country, and has passed legislation to toughen punishments for leaks.
Canada's Innovation Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, is urging the Ontario government to help end the subsidy stalemate that has halted construction of Canada's first electric-vehicle battery plant. Automaker Stellantis NV and battery maker LG Energy Solution have threatened to move their joint $5bn project to the US, unless the incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act are matched in Canada, following the example of a similar project built by Volkswagen. Champagne urged Ontario to contribute an unspecified "fair share" of the incentives, however, the province said it is up to the federal government to honour its commitments.
Russian missile strikes on May 16 may have damaged the US-made Patriot missile defence system, which is currently used by Ukraine, according to two anonymous US officials. Though the system has not been destroyed, the two countries are reportedly discussing the best way to repair it without having to remove it from Ukraine. The alleged damage follows a warning from Vladimir Putin to target and destroy anti-missile defence systems supplied by the West to Ukraine. The Patriot system is designed to counter a range of threats, from ballistic missiles and cruise missiles to aircraft.
Russia has been ramping up the number of missiles it fires in order to confuse and overwhelm Ukraine’s air defences. However, according to one US official, this may have worked to Ukraine’s advantage as it forced Russia to go through more of its limited supply of precision weaponry that can home in on targets. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at a summit of the Council of Europe, where he said that recent battlefield successes showed that Ukraine could achieve anything as long as it was united. These included shooting down 18 Russian missiles overnight, including a volley of six Kinzhals, which Russia claims have hypersonic capabilities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a military satellite facility and approved an unspecified "future action plan" aimed at launching the country's first military intelligence satellite, according to the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency. The launch would have to use long-range missile technology, which is banned by UN Security Council resolutions. The visit was Kim's first public appearance in a month. Some analysts predict the launch could happen in the coming weeks. Japan's military has ordered troops to get ready to shoot down satellite fragments that may fall on its territory.
South Korea is facing economic and social problems, with a widening gap between rich and poor and persistent poverty among the elderly and the youth. The country's population is ageing at an alarming rate, with the lowest fertility rate in the world. The economy is sputtering and, before the pandemic, was already struggling, with the contribution of exports and investment to overall output increasingly weaker. The decline is partly down to the slowing pace of capital accumulation and plummeting growth in total factor productivity which continues to remain low in comparison to other OECD nations, Asian-tiger economies and the US. The country's labour market and its institutions are also said to be creating bottlenecks, obstructing entrepreneurship and innovation.
Analysts suggest that South Korea’s stagnant service sector holds potential, despite being beset by various issues including excessive regulations and the anticompetitive behaviour of large companies. An overhaul of the regulatory framework has been suggested, alongside efforts to retrain and reskill workers, relax rigid employment structures to allow entrepreneurs and innovators to pursue ventures and ideas without constraints, and to strengthen the social safety net. The country’s structural issues, along with its looming demographic challenges, need to be addressed if South Korea is to sustain growth near or even above three percent in the long term.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged the country’s support to South Korea, saying Canada is ready to aid Seoul in subjects ranging from critical minerals to clean energy and North Korea. The two nations also plan to sign an agreement on securing electric vehicle mineral supply chains, energy conversion and energy security cooperation, according to a South Korean government official. Trudeau has urged the region to work on stability in the Indo Pacific and the North Pacific, calling for North Korea to renounce its weapons programmes and return to talks regarding denuclearisation.
South Korea has agreed to provide a $130m financial aid package to Ukraine, which will consist largely of donations and aid loans. The package was signed in Seoul by Minister Choo Kyung-ho and Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. South Korea has ruled out providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, as it seeks to maintain its relations with Russia. However, the country has not ruled out other forms of assistance if civilians are affected by a large-scale attack.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have pledged to increase cooperation on critical minerals and economic security issues. The leaders condemned North Korea’s missile and nuclear development in a joint statement released after their summit in South Korea on 28 September. Trudeau’s visit was the first by a Canadian leader in nine years. The two countries are seeking to increase cooperation on security and critical minerals used in electric vehicles.
Japan is currently the only member of the Group of Seven (G7) nations without legalized same-sex unions, and the country faced increased international pressure over LGBTQ rights ahead of this year’s G7 meeting. Japan’s lawmakers have reportedly agreed on a watered-down bill that will only promote understanding of LGBTQ rights, without offering any legal protection. Although discrimination against sexual minorities is not openly stated, some legal experts have described Japan as hostile for LGBTQ individuals. However, there is evidence of changing attitudes in the country, particularly among younger people and the powerful Japan Business Federation has endorsed legalisation.
Leaders from Japan, South Korea and the US will discuss strengthening ties as a response to North Korea and Chinese assertiveness during a meeting today on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima. Top of their agenda will be North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat, with tensions increasing after a string of missile tests, including five ballistic missile launches last month. The three countries have doubled down on deterrence measures, such as the linking of radars for tracking North Korean missiles, and will discuss details of the real-time intelligence-sharing plans during their meeting in Hiroshima. They will also discuss economic security, strengthening supply-chains and "friendshoring" while looking to reduce dependence on China for critical materials. Earlier this month, officials from Tokyo and Seoul held their first consultation on economic security.
During his first official visit to South Korea, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warns that authoritarianism is gaining ground and "antagonistic countries" are taking advantage of economic interdependence to their own geopolitical advantage. He adds that Canada and South Korea can be partners in addressing climate change, which is also a way to safeguard against geopolitical instability and build more resilient economies. The visit comes as both countries try to strengthen economic and military ties to counterbalance the influence of China.
South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho, who plays in the Chinese Super League, has been detained in northeast China on suspicion of accepting a bribe as the Communist government cracks down on corruption and match-fixing in the sport. Son was detained while trying to leave China and is allegedly linked to a bribery case involving Shandong Taishan coach Hao Wei over alleged match-fixing. South Korea's foreign ministry has confirmed it is providing the necessary consular assistance to Son, and that its diplomats will meet with him to understand the exact charges faced.
World leaders are gathering in Hiroshima for the Group of Seven nations summit, which Japan is hosting with the goal of advancing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s dream of “a world without nuclear weapons”. The G7 comes at a time when the world’s largest nuclear powers are increasingly clashing over issues such as the war in Ukraine, the threat of proliferation, and climate change. The memorial forms a stark reminder of the growing threat under President Biden’s watch, and is putting pressure on him to stand up to nuclear-armed adversaries and advance the cause of disarmament.
A debate still rages among historians about whether dropping the bombs was a necessary act by the United States to end the war and prevent more deaths, or an unjustified atrocity calling for apology and regret. In Hiroshima, however, many are simply focused on the need to prevent a recurrence. Joe Biden’s visit to Hiroshima will include meeting survivors of the atomic bomb and visiting the memorial that commemorates an estimated 140,000 people who died during the bombing and its aftermath.
Hosting the G-7 takes on increased significance for Japan as it has been buffeted by many of the proliferating nuclear developments and is the only country ever targeted by a nuclear weapon. Japanese officials hope the moment will resonate especially with Biden, who, to a degree unusual for politicians, is given to public expressions of empathy in the face of loss. Hidehiko Yuzaki, the governor of Hiroshima, said in an interview that visiting the city is important because nuclear deterrence is very theoretical and is often seen as something that just exists in people’s heads.
Stellantis, parent company of Chrysler, Jeep, and Fiat, has halted construction on its EV battery factory in Windsor, Ontario, citing its demands to match the US's manufacturing incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. The province and federal government each contributed CAD $500m ($399m) for the facility, demanding that Stellantis and LG Energy Solution match subsidies to keep the project competitive in Canada. The Windsor facility will employ 2,500 workers once it reaches its full capacity. The Inflation Reduction Act was introduced six months after the initial March 2022 deal between the government and Stellantis, in which the federal government is contributing CAD $700m to VW's EV battery factory. However, negotiations became difficult as Stellantis demanded that the government live up to its promise to honour the agreement that was made three weeks prior to construction.
Hong Kong's "Hello Hong Kong" scheme, aimed at reviving tourism, saw more than 100,000 would-be holidaymakers attempting to claim free Cathay Pacific round-trip tickets from North America. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, the nearly 2,900 flights from the US and Canada are among 700,000 being given away in the government's bid to bring at least 1.5 million tourists to the region after three years of Covid-19 travel restrictions. The Hong Kong Airport Authority last year bought 500,000 tickets from airlines to support the industry and promote recovery from the pandemic lockdown.
Stellantis construction still stalled as industry urges haste on 'once in a generation' investment
CBC
23-05-18 00:35
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association has said that Canada must not hesitate if the country wants to secure foreign investment as the automotive industry moves towards electrification. CEO Brian Kingston highlighted Canada's natural advantages, such as access to critical minerals, and called for a "straightforward" deal to be struck with Stellantis over investment in the country, with a dollar-for-dollar match to what is being offered in the US. Negotiations on the future of the Stellantis EV battery plant in Windsor, Ontario are ongoing while construction remains paused.
Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet privately to discuss a range of issues, including strengthening cooperation between their countries, at the G7 summit cycle, a gathering of major industrialised nations, with Kishida keen to discuss deterrence and response capability for China’s Indo-Pacific assertiveness. With China claiming Taiwan should be under its rule, discussing efforts to respond to nuclear threats from North Korea may pose a diplomatically difficult path of discussion for the Japanese prime minister, who comes from Hiroshima, where the US dropped the first nuclear bomb in 1945.
Leaders from seven of the world's wealthiest democracies and the EU are meeting at this year's Group of Seven (G7) summit, which kicked off on Friday in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The talks are expected to cover tensions in the Asia-Pacific following the exclusion of China from the summit, with much of the early attention focused on growing fears over North Korea's nuclear programme. The situation in Ukraine and Britain's EU referendum will also feature on the summit’s agenda.
Shadow of war hangs over G7 summit as Trudeau arrives in Hiroshima
CBC
23-05-18 08:28
Japan's atomic bombings will have particular relevance in the G7 Summit, held in Hiroshima, following Russia's repeated threats to use nuclear weapons during the Ukraine conflict as well as China's rise in importance in the nuclear field. Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida chose the city as the meeting venue to draw attention to the world's potential confrontation with nuclear arms. The Summit could result in the renegotiation of the nuclear arms control agreements that have recently become increasingly unstable.
