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Japan dispatched the Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Akizuki through the Taiwan Strait in early February as a political signal to counter China's increased military presence near Japan. It is anticipated that Japan will persist in sending ships if China's military maintains its heightened activities.

Japan's decision to allow individuals from Taiwan to list Taiwan as their place of origin on family registration certificates, effective May, has sparked a strong reaction from China. This move, seen as a symbolic gesture of support for Taiwan's sovereignty, has further strained relations between the two countries, with China viewing Taiwan as a breakaway province and warning Japan against interfering in its internal affairs.

The LDP's decision to field former lawmaker Mio Sugita in the Upper House election has sparked backlash due to her history of discriminatory remarks. Despite concerns from within the party and the public, Sugita's candidacy is believed to have been influenced by former senior members of the Abe faction.

Over 1,000 individuals have applied to run as candidates for Saisei no Michi, a new regional political party founded by Shinji Ishimaru, in the upcoming Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. The party aims to field up to 60 candidates across all 42 electoral districts and will conduct a rigorous selection process involving document screening, written tests, and interviews.

Japan has finalized a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035, aligning with the Biden administration's new U.S. target under the Paris climate agreement. However, environmentalists and politicians argue that the target remains insufficient for the world's fifth-biggest carbon emitter, which heavily relies on fossil fuels.