A file photo of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. [Photo/Agencies] TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denied on Wednesday that he had intervened to secure preferential treatment for a friend's plan to set up a veterinary school despite new reports he had discussed the matter with the friend. Abe's ratings have taken a hit because of several scandals over suspected cronyism and cover-ups, with a steady stream of new allegations raising doubts about how long he can stay in power. One of the scandals involves suspicion Abe helped a friend, Kotaro Kake, director of school operator Kake Gakuen, set up a veterinary school in a special economic zone exempt from a rule limiting the number of such schools. Abe has denied that he ever instructed officials to give preferential treatment for the establishment of Japan's first new veterinary school in more than 50 years. Abe repeated to a parliamentary panel on Wednesday his assertion that he only became aware of Kake's proposal when it was approved in January last year. His was replying to questions after media this week cited an April 2015 memo from an official in Ehime prefecture, where the school ultimately opened in the special government-designated deregulation zone, that said Kake and Abe had discussed the proposal while sharing a meal. No one received instructions from me. There was no problem with the (approval) process, Abe told the parliamentary panel in response to a question about the memo. Asked repeatedly whether he had at least had casual talks about the plan with Kake, Abe said his friend had neither consulted him nor asked for favors. He said he wanted to take on a new challenge, but we never discussed specifics, Abe said. The veterinary schools affair, which emerged last year, is one of several suspected cronyism scandals and cover-ups eroding Abe's support as he eyes a third term as ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader in a September vote. Victory in the party poll would set Abe, who took office in 2012, on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier. Abe has also denied that he or his wife intervened in the heavily discounted sale of state-owned land to another school operator, Moritomo Gakuen, which had ties to Abe's wife, Akie. The finance ministry has admitted doctoring documents related to the murky deal. Separately, Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera apologized again on Wednesday after the military found missing troop activity logs. Among recently lost-and-found records are those from a controversial 2004-06 deployment to Iraq. The logs could shed light on whether the dispatch was to a noncombat zone as asserted by the government at the time, in line with constitutional limits on military activities abroad. Reuters custom bar braceletcustom sports braceletscustom logo wristbandsde securite pour personne ageeembossed wristbandscolorfilled wristbandsembossed printed wristbandsdual layer wristbands
China supports the efforts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to push for dialogue and communication for the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.China has always supported moves by the DPRK and ROK to improve relations, Xi told his ROK counterpart, Moon Jae-in, in a phone call.The Korean Peninsula situation is facing both challenges and opportunities, Xi said, adding that it is hoped the ROK-hosted Pyeongchang Winter Olympics brings opportunities for DPRK-ROK dialogue and will become a starting place for improvement on the Korean Peninsula issue.China would like to enhance communication and cooperation with all sides, including the ROK, to push for improvement of the situation, Xi said.In the phone call, Moon spoke of the outcomes of the ROK's high-level dialogue with the DPRK, saying that Seoul considers the key role that China plays in the Korean Peninsula issue to be very important.Moon expressed gratitude for China's support of the north-south dialogue and China's efforts to push forward the resolution through dialogue and maintain the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.The ROK is willing to make joint efforts with China to resolve the problems through dialogue and negotiation, and maintain the region's peace and stability, Moon said.On Tuesday, the ROK and the DPRK held their first senior-level dialogue in about two years, agreeing to hold military talks to ease tensions. The DPRK agreed to send its athletes and cheering squads to the ROK-hosted Winter Olympics in February.Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular news conference on Wednesday that it is encouraging that the two sides "show each other goodwill and shake hands at a time when the situation of the Korean Peninsula is quite tense".In the phone call, Xi mentioned Moon's recent state visit to China, saying that the two sides have reached important consensus on developing their strategic cooperative partnership.China would like to make joint efforts with the Republic of Korea to enhance strategic communication, push forward substantial cooperation, properly handle sensitive issues and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.China supports the ROK's hosting of the Winter Olympic Games and wishes it a successful sports event, Xi said.
