Middle East tensions disrupts Japan's medical consumable supplies

A Japanese physician and clinic director has warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East are already causing shortages of critical medical consumable supplies in Japan, and that a prolonged conflict could lead to preventable deaths and a serious decline in medical care quality. According to the latest data released by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), more than 40 percent of the naphtha used in Japan relies on imports from the Middle East. Even domestically produced naphtha depends heavily on crude oil imported from the region. Naphtha, a product derived from crude oil, is a key raw material for dialysis supplies, medical gloves, syringes, and other medical goods.

"First, there have been shortages to varying degrees of syringes, needles, and rubber gloves. In addition, various testing consumables have also become generally difficult to procure. It can be said that panic buying-like situations have already emerged, and the prices of some supplies have even increased by about 50 percent," said Tomonari Watanabe, director of Shibuya Naika Clinic in Tokyo.

Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are also slowing the delivery of medical supplies. Japan has more than 100,000 primary care clinics, which play a vital supporting role in the country's overall medical system.

The doctor warned that if pressure on the production and delivery of medical supplies is not eased, it will seriously affect Japan's overall medical environment and quality of care.

"Items that used to arrive the day after placing an order may now take one to two weeks. Supplies that could previously be ordered without quantity limits are now rationed to just one or two sets per month, requiring distribution control. Some items are no longer available in pharmacies, such as antibiotics for example. If the war becomes protracted, it will inevitably affect logistics. Specifically, for petroleum-based products such as plastics, once their prices continue to rise, we could face an extreme situation where lives that could have been saved are not saved. Therefore, I am concerned that the medical care quality will decline," he said.

Middle East tensions disrupts Japan's medical consumable supplies

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."

Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.

Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.

Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.

Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.

He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.

No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.

The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.

Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.

Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves