Abe cites Thatcher’s view on 1982 war

Cancer risks higher in worst hit Fukushima area

TOKYO, Feb 28, (RTRS): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose country is embroiled in a row with China over tiny islands, on Thursday quoted former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s reflections on the 1982 Falklands war with Argentina to stress the importance of the rule of law at sea.

“Our national interests have been immutable. They lie in making the seas, which are the foundation of our nation’s existence, completely open, free and peaceful,” Abe said in a wide-ranging policy speech to parliament in which he also urged Japan to seek to become “No.1” as an economic power.

Abe went on to quote a remark from Thatcher’s memoirs, reflecting on the Falklands war, in which she said Britain was defending the fundamental principle that international law should prevail over the use of force.

War The war over the remote South Atlantic archipelago began when Argentine troops landed on the Falkland islands on April 2, 1982, and ended 74 days later with their surrender. The conflict killed about 650 Argentine and 255 British troops.

Continuing in his own words, Abe said: “The rule of law at sea. I want to appeal to international society that in modern times changes to the status quo by the use of force will justify nothing.”

Tokyo’s ties with Beijing chilled sharply after the Japanese government last September bought the rocky islands in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China, from a private owner, sparking violent protests in China.

Tensions A flare-up in tensions in the territorial row has raised fears of an unintended military incident near the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

The United States says the islets fall under a US-Japan security pact, but Washington is keen to avoid a clash in the economically vital region.

Japanese fighter jets scrambled again on Thursday after a Chinese twin-engine turboprop Y-12 aircraft came within about 100 km (62 miles) of what Tokyo considers its airspace over the islands, the defence ministry said. Three Chinese patrol ships briefly entered the disputed waters, the Japan Coast Guard said.

The hawkish Abe, who took office in December after his conservative party’s big election win, reiterated in his speech that the islands are Japanese territory, and urged Beijing not to escalate tensions.

He added, however, that SinoJapanese relations were vital for Japan and said his door was always open to dialogue.

China hit back, saying Beijing did not want to see a maritime incident but accused Japanese leaders of making provocative remarks “from time to time” and playing up the China threat to provoke a military confrontation.

“At the moment, Japan should regulate its own words and deeds, stop issuing erroneous statements, properly handle the Diaoyu islands and other issues, and take practical measures to create conditions for the improvement of bilateral relations,” Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a news conference.

Abe stressed the importance of the US-Japan security alliance days after his summit with President Barack Obama.

Calling the US alliance the axis of Japan’s diplomacy and security policies, Abe said: “It is only logical that, in the open oceans, the United States, which is the world’s largest marine state, and Japan, Asia’s largest maritime democracy, form a partnership, and to fortify this constantly is necessary.”

Also: GENEVA: People in the area worst affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident two years ago have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.

A magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, killed nearly 19,000 people and devastated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, triggering meltdowns, spewing radiation and forcing about 160,000 people to flee their homes.

It was the worst nuclear accident since a reactor exploded at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine in 1986.

“A breakdown of data, based on age, gender and proximity to the plant, does show a higher cancer risk for those located in the most contaminated parts,” Dr Maria Neira, WHO director for public health and environment, said in a statement.

In the most contaminated area, the WHO estimated that there was a 70 percent higher risk of females exposed as infants developing thyroid cancer over their lifetime. The thyroid is the most exposed organ as radioactive iodine concentrates there and children are deemed especially vulnerable.

The report estimated that in the most contaminated area there was a 7 percent higher risk of leukaemia in males exposed as infants, and a 6 percent higher risk of breast cancer in females exposed as infants.

The report concluded that for the general population inside Japan, the predicted health risks were low, but that one-third of emergency workers were estimated to have increased risk.

But there was no discernible increase in health risks expected outside Japan, the WHO said in a 200-page report which was based on a comprehensive assessment by international experts.