Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered a speech at a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress on Thursday (April 11). He said the U.S. does not have to deal with serious global challenges alone and does not doubt Japan's "indispensable" role in world affairs, adding that Japan is undertaking a historic military upgrade to support its allies.
"Japan has changed over the years. We have gone from being a taciturn ally, recovering from the devastation of World War II, to a strong, committed ally with a global outlook. ”
Japan's pacifist constitution, adopted after its defeat in World War II, prohibits Japan from waging war or maintaining the means to wage war. But successive administrations have been weakening that restraint, and plans unveiled in late 2022 to significantly bolster its military could soon make Japan the world's third-largest military spender.
Fumio Kishida is the second Japanese prime minister to address the U.S. Congress after Shinzo Abe nine years ago. Speaking in Congress is often a privilege reserved for America's closest allies. This comes at the time of the US presidential election year, and there is a deep disagreement in political circles over what role the United States should play on the world stage.
"I want to address Americans who are lonely and tired as countries that maintain international order," Kishida said. ”
"U.S. leadership is indispensable. How long will it take for Ukraine's hopes to be dashed under Moscow's attack without U.S. support? Without U.S. presence, how long will it be before the Indo-Pacific Ocean faces a more grim reality?"
Kishida said the world is at a "historic turning point", with freedom and democracy under threat, emerging countries holding more economic power and climate change, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence disrupting people's lives.
Fumio Kishida's speech was repeatedly met with standing ovations from the lawmakers present. He also announced the donation of 250 cherry blossom trees to Washington to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Since 1912, when Japan donated cherry blossom trees to Washington as a symbol of friendship, cherry blossoms have become a favorite sight for Washington residents and visitors alike.
Vietnamese billionaire Truong My Lan was sentenced to death, and the family said they would appeal
Vietnamese real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, a suspect in Vietnam's largest ever financial fraud, has been sentenced to death.
Truong My Lan, 67, chairman of Van Thinh Phat, has been charged with a fraud of US$12.5 billion (A$19.1 billion), a figure that reached 3% of Vietnam's GDP when she was arrested in October 2022.
Investigators say she took advantage of thousands of ghost companies, paid bribes to government officials and violated banking rules.
Between 2012 and 2022, she illegally controlled the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank and used the bank to embezzle large sums of money.
The judge said that the reason for such a harsh sentence was because the case was serious and the money could not be recovered.
A family member of Ms. Zhang told Reuters that she would appeal the verdict.
Ms. Zhang was joined on trial by 84 others, including former central bank official Do Thi Nhan, who was sentenced to life in prison for accepting $5.2 million in bribes.
The Truong My Lan fraud is one of the most high-profile of Vietnam's ongoing massive anti-corruption campaign, the "Melting Pot," which has spilled over into the highest levels of Vietnamese politics, including the resignation of former President Vo Van Thuong in March.
The Truong My Lan case shocked Vietnam and the international community, but it also raised questions about whether other banks or companies had made similar mistakes that undermined Vietnam's economic prospects.
These issues have unnerved foreign investors at a time when Vietnam is trying to prove itself as an ideal alternative for multinational companies pulling out of China.
News background: Zhang Meilan and her people
It has been reported that Truong Mei Lan was born in 1956 and is a fourth-generation Chinese in Vietnam, whose ancestral home is Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China. Initially, she helped sell cosmetics at the oldest market in Ho Chi Minh City with her merchant mother.
Vietnam abandoned the state-run economy in favor of a more market-oriented economy open to foreigners. Zhang Meilan and her family took advantage of this shareholder trend and established VTP Group Co., Ltd. in 1992.
Over the years, VTP Group has grown into one of the wealthiest real estate companies in Vietnam, with projects including luxury residential buildings, offices, hotels and shopping malls. Many of these are some of Ho Chi Minh City's most valuable downtown properties, including the 39-storey Times Square Saigon, the five-star Windsor Plaza Hotel, the 37-storey Capital Plaza office tower and the five-star Sherwood Residence hotel. Zhang Meilan had been living at the Sherwood Residence Hotel until her arrest.
In 1992, Ms. Cheung met her husband, Eric Chu Nap-kee, a Hong Kong investor, and they had two daughters.