Japanese protesters oppose military expansion, constitutional revision

A large number of people gathered in front of Japan's parliament on Saturday to protest Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks concerning China's Taiwan region, urging her to retract the remarks and voicing opposition to the government's moves to expand the military and revise the country's pacifist Constitution.

A protester said the government's policies had caused deep concern and called for peaceful coexistence among Asian countries.

"Politics has become a complete mess, and there has been no apology to China at all, even though an apology should have been made. We are really upset with that. We sincerely hope to get along well with other Asian countries. No matter what, we don't want another war to happen anymore. But Japan is continuously moving toward militarization, and what is called defense spending keeps increasing in line with U.S. demands. We came here today to stop this trend and oppose this approach," said a rally participant.

Participants also expressed concern over the Takaichi administration's moves to expand Japan's military capabilities and revise the country's peace constitution.

"I think the issue of military expansion, as well as the situation in Okinawa, may become increasingly serious. For example, there are plans to build missile bases in Okinawa. These things make me feel that it is very dangerous and frightening. I think Japan is moving step by step toward war. I absolutely believe the Constitution must not be revised, and I think the vast majority of Japanese people do not want the Constitution to be revised, nor do they want Japan to become a country capable of waging war. I don't think these matters should be forced through simply on the basis of a majority of seats in the Diet," said another demonstrator.

Japanese protesters oppose military expansion, constitutional revision

Twenty crested ibises were released into the wild on Sunday in the Xiaolongshan forest area of northwest China's Gansu Province, marking China's westernmost and highest-altitude release of the species to date.

The birds were bred at the Longmen Forest Farm's crested ibis ecological park in Tianshui, where the population has grown from 20 introduced in 2023 to 50 today. The release marks Gansu's first wild-release effort and a milestone in establishing high-altitude populations of the species.

The release used a "soft release" method, in which the birds were moved to an acclimation cage more than 20 days in advance. The cage is designed to help them gradually adapt to the wild, with food reduced inside and feeding stations set up outside.

The 20 birds were selected after rigorous health and ability checks, including flight, foraging, and predator-avoidance skills. The group includes adult, sub-adult, and young birds to ensure genetic diversity.

The Xiaolongshan forest, located at the western end of the Qinling Mountains, offers a complex habitat of mountains, streams, wetlands, and forests -- ideal for the species.

The release site sits at over 1,500 meters above sea level, posing challenges such as long, cold winters. A monitoring team will track the birds around the clock and intervene if needed.

Conservationists hope the birds will establish a self-sustaining population in the region.

China releases 20 crested ibises in monumental high-altitude conservation effort