Macao deputies review draft amendment, highlight Macao's role in national development

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) from China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) reviewed the draft amendment to a law on NPC deputies at the national and local levels in a group meeting on Friday, highlighting the region's unique role in China's overall development.

The meeting was held during the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, with the Macao deputies agreeing that the draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels fully shows the people-centered development philosophy, and is helpful to deputies to strengthen their sense of mission and improve their performance of duties.

"I suggest further refining the training mechanism for deputies in the draft and adding topics, such as the global governance system and China's role, modern scientific and technological ethics and law to the training content. Deputies should have a certain international perspective and have a deep understanding of our country's diplomatic strategy and the rules of global governance, so as to better put forward suggestions that are in line with national interests. At the same time, as modern science and technology are developing rapidly, artificial intelligence, big data, and 5G technologies have had a profound impact on legislation and policy formulation. Deputies should also fully understand the relevant trends to promote innovation in legislation and policies," said NPC deputy Ho King Lun, also president of the Industry and Commerce Association of Macao.

Regarding the government work report putting forward support for Hong Kong and Macao to deepen international exchange and cooperation for the first time, the deputies said Macao should play its unique and active role in perfecting the national opening-up mechanism, integrating itself into China's overall development in a better way. Deputy Si Ka Lon urged a focus on Macao's roles as a world tourism and leisure center, a platform for facilitating business and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of different cultures, which were set in the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"We should base ourselves on the building of the center, platform and base, and plan the development of Macao and Hengqin as a whole. Hengqin and Macao can jointly build an air cargo hub, an international green energy certification platform, and an international university city, so as to promote the development of cross-border e-commerce and education industries between the two areas, provide better service for enterprises to go overseas and bring in foreign capital, and attract more high-quality international resources to settle in Macao, promote the high-quality development of Hengqin and Macao, and better integrate Macao into the overall national development," said Si, also a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR.

The deputies also noted that Macao should bring into full play its unique advantages in overall national development under the "one country, two systems" policy.

"Standing at a new historical point, we must bear in mind the instructions of President Xi Jinping, better leverage the institutional advantages of 'one country, two systems,' and constantly break new ground for Macao's development, so that this 'pearl in the palm' of the motherland will become more brilliant and dazzling," said Lao Ngai Leong, head of the Macao delegation to the 14th NPC.

Macao deputies review draft amendment, highlight Macao's role in national development

Japanese people gathered in Tokyo on Friday to protest against the government's recent decision to revise the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" which now allows the export of lethal weapons.

On Tuesday, the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, officially revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines.

The revisions scrap the restrictions that had limited arms exports to five non-combat categories, allow, in principle, the export of lethal weapons, permit transfers to nations engaged in active conflict under specified circumstances, and sideline parliament from the decision-making process -- crossing a line that previous governments had at least nominally upheld.

Protesters assembled in Shinjuku district on Friday evening, voicing strong opposition to the dangerous shift away from Japan's postwar pacifist principles and expressing deep concerns over Japan's failure to fully reflect on its wartime past.

"It's unforgivable. Revising the 'three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology' through a simple Cabinet decision is absolutely unacceptable," said a protester.

"We should have properly reflected on the war that happened over 80 years ago, but we haven't. Is it acceptable if people are killed by the weapons, missiles, or bombs we export? Absolutely not. Such a thing must never be allowed to happen. That is why I strongly oppose this policy," said another protester.

Also on Friday, over a thousand protesters gathered in front of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters, holding placards and chanting slogans demanding the resignation of Takaichi.

They expressed growing frustration with the current administration and condemned the export of lethal weapons.

"This has gone too far. Japan is becoming an outrageous country. From exporting weapons to revising the Constitution, everything is shifting. The LDP has long had this tendency, and under the Takaichi administration, the situation has become even worse. If we don't stop this now, Japan will turn into a truly frightening nation," said a protester.

"Manufacturing and selling weapons that may be used to kill people is something the Japanese public cannot tolerate. The government made this decision arbitrarily, and it is completely unacceptable," said another protester.

"I really hope the government stops exporting lethal weapons. My child even asked me, 'Is Japan going to sell weapons and start a war?' We must do everything we can to prevent this from happening," said a mother participating in the rally, expressing her worry for future generations.

Protesters gather in Tokyo, protest against Japan's move to allow lethal weapon exports