Tokyo International News Agency

On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the phrase 'party to war' trended as a flurry of posts emerged expressing concern that Japan might be unwittingly dragged into a conflict, with users demanding explanations from the government. The trigger was reports and information suggesting that fighter jets had taken off from US military bases in Japan to participate in attacks on other nations. Numerous anxious and angry posts poured in from users, saying things like, 'Won't attacks launched from US bases in Japan objectively make us a party to war?', 'It is shocking to realize we might have become a party to war before we even knew it,' and 'This could serve as a pretext for retaliatory attacks from Iran.' Furthermore, many voiced opinions demanding the cabinet's resignation or a shift in policy, arguing that 'this might be unconstitutional,' 'the government must thoroughly fulfill its accountability to the public,' and ...

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) — The U.S. Secretary of State announced on the 5th that at least 10 crew members of civilian vessels stranded near the Persian Gulf have died as a result of the ongoing conflict surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. While the exact causes of death require a detailed investigation, the Secretary indicated that the primary factors appear to be the worsening food situation and deteriorating health conditions caused by severed supply lines during the prolonged standoff. Amidst escalating international tensions, numerous merchant ships have been rendered unable to navigate the area around the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a de facto blockade. According to the Secretary of State, living conditions on board these vessels have reached extreme levels, leading to widespread humanitarian concerns. While international attention has previously been concentrated on the impact on crude oil prices and global logistics, the loss of civilian lives has forced a shift in focus, bringing th...

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on the 11th that Japan plans to independently release its national oil reserves as early as the 16th of this month. This decision comes in response to escalating tensions in Iran and the consequent surge in crude oil prices. This marks Japan's first independent release of oil reserves. Typically, Japan would await a coordinated release by the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, due to the worsening situation in the Middle East, which is expected to significantly reduce crude oil imports to Japan from late March onwards, this is an exceptional preemptive measure. Prime Minister Takaichi stated that this release would implement a "drastic change mitigation measure" aimed at capping the average retail price of gasoline nationwide at around 170 yen per liter. Without this intervention, gasoline prices could potentially exceed 200 yen, and the goal is to minimize the impact on public life and the economy. Reports indicate that th...