Japan is under increasing pressure to decide whether to resume its long-suspended development aid to Myanmar. Rights advocates warn that restarting aid could ease pressure on Myanmar's military regime, accused of widespread abuses since the 2021 coup. At a June 30 press conference in Naypyidaw, parliamentary spokeswoman Khaing Khaing Soe thanked Japan for past support and called for more aid, warning that “ordinary citizens will suffer” if new aid remains on hold. She highlighted the benefits of infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads and urged resumption of agreed projects. Tokyo halted new official development assistance for long-term projects after the coup but continues urgent humanitarian aid through NGOs and international organizations. Human Rights Watch has urged Japan to resist lifting the ban on new development assistance.

Meanwhile, on July 7, ships from Japan's and China's coast guards faced off near the disputed Senkaku (Japan) / Diaoyu (China) islands, located between Taiwan and Okinawa. Both sides claimed they expelled the other's vessels for intruding into their territorial waters. Japan's coast guard said it expelled two Chinese ships that approached a Japanese fishing vessel and issued orders forcing the Chinese vessels to leave by approximately 9:20 am JST. China’s coast guard stated that the Japanese fishing boat Zuihou Maru intruded into its territorial waters and that Chinese vessels took necessary measures to warn and expel it. The Japanese coast guard described the Chinese incursion as a violation of international law and pledged to continue responding calmly and resolutely under international and domestic law to ensure the security of its territorial waters.

Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments about Taiwan that angered Beijing. Chinese ships last entered waters claimed by Japan on June 10, but it is rare for them to approach Japanese fishing boats.

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