Japan

Japan Times | English | News | Dec. 5, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

China has intensified its diplomatic efforts to isolate Japan amid an ongoing dispute over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian officials Sergey Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, where both countries expressed a shared stance against Japan.

During the talks, China and Russia agreed to enhance their strategic coordination, particularly on issues related to Japan. They jointly criticized Japan for what they described as increasing militarism and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the outcomes of World War II. Both countries opposed any attempts to whitewash Japan's colonial aggression or revive fascism and militarism.

ประชุม คกก.ถอดบทเรียนอุทกภัยนัดแรกเล็งลอกการบ้านแดนปลาดิบ

Thai Post | Local Language | News | Dec. 5, 2025 | Extreme Weather Events

On 4 December 2025, the first meeting of the Committee to Review Lessons and Prepare for Handling a Major Flood was held at the Government House, chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The meeting was initially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Bawornsak Uwanno, who emphasized that despite Thailand’s comprehensive disaster laws and agencies, command authority and decision-making do not function effectively during sudden emergencies. The committee aims to study flood events, particularly from Songkhla province and 2011 floods, to develop practical manuals and systems for future disaster readiness.

Bawornsak highlighted the importance of learning from Japan’s disaster management approach, especially its regular rehearsals and training, to reduce damage. The committee involves deputy prime ministers, civil servants, and experts working as a technical team to create usable guidelines to be followed by public sector officials during emergencies. After Bawornsak’s introduction, Prime Minister Anutin took over the meeting leadership.

Additional points covered included the Prime Minister rejecting political rumors related to flood casualties, asserting transparency and trust in official death toll figures. He stressed the importance of national dignity and security regarding border issues with Cambodia and outlined the Internal Security Operations Command’s focus for 2026 on sustainability, modernization, and community cooperation. Furthermore, the Chinese ambassador donated over 30 million baht for southern flood relief, reaffirming strong Thailand-China ties and confidence in rapid recovery under Anutin's leadership.

2025年度の年金額は1.9％の増額だが、現役賃金より0.4％低い伸び－年金額改定の意義と2026年度以降の見通し(3)

NLI Research Institute | Local Language | AcademicThink | Dec. 5, 2025 | UndeterminedWages and Compensation

For fiscal 2025, pension amounts increased by 1.9%, reflecting a 2.7% rise due to price increases from the previous year, but this was offset by a macro-economic slide adjustment of –0.4%, resulting in a net real decrease. The revision process incorporates price increases immediately, while real wage changes are averaged over two to four years, mitigating recent wage declines. The macro-economic slide, designed to ensure pension financial soundness amid demographic challenges, was fully applied, dampening pension growth relative to active wages.

The pension revision rules aim to balance the interests of retirees and the working generation, with the macro-economic slide introduced to address issues like low birth rates and increased longevity by controlling contribution rates. Despite consecutive nominal increases over three years, pensions have declined in real terms each year, and pension growth remains lower than wage growth. This gap underscores the financial pressures on elderly households dependent mainly on public pensions as their income source.

Looking ahead to fiscal 2026, pension amounts are expected to be announced in January 2026, with ongoing price increases making the trend in pension revisions a critical focus. The mechanisms for revision effectively smooth out short-term wage and contributor fluctuations, but the overall trend suggests that pension amounts will continue to lag behind wage growth, signaling ongoing challenges for pension policy and financial sustainability beyond 2026.