China
Hong Kong's stock market ended lower Friday, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index down 1.55 percent to close at 23,637.60 points.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index dropped 1.48 percent to 7,937.53 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index slid 3.02 percent to 3,813.19 points.
Hong Kong stocks close lower
Japanese citizens gathered in front of the Second Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Thursday to protest against the push by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the country's three national security documents.
The Takaichi government has recently accelerated its military buildup, significantly increased defense spending, eased restrictions on exports of lethal weapons, advanced plans to deploy medium- and long-range missiles, and expanded offensive military capabilities.
It has also planned to revise Japan's three national security documents by the end of the year while stepping up efforts to amend the Constitution. These aggressive moves have continued to fuel concerns among peace groups and members of the Japanese public.
Demonstrators noted that the government's push to revise the three security documents would fundamentally reshape Japan's defense policy.
"Revising the three security documents will fundamentally change Japan's defense policy. There's also a possibility that the revisions may not even be debated in the parliament and could instead be made through a cabinet decision. I'm deeply concerned, and I believe we need to speak out," said a demonstrator.
"We are absolutely against nuclear weapons. The Takaichi government is seeking to change policies and expand defense capabilities by revising the three security documents, and we are resolutely opposed to that. We are absolutely against war," said another demonstrator.
"The government is trying to completely change its stance towards aggression through measures including revising the three security documents. I oppose these changes," said another demonstrator.
Demonstrators also warned that the government's moves could set Japan on a path to war.
"The moves such as seeking to abolish the ‘Three Non-Nuclear Principles’ in effect means that Japanese society as a whole would undergo a major transformation. The entire society would be dragged into war, and Japan would thereby be transformed into a war-centered society," said a demonstrator.
"The current parliament session is seeking to advance or promote a range of war bills as the government has been doing for some time. Now they have even reached the point of touching the Constitution, and that is why we are protesting. Nuclear armament itself should be unconstitutional, yet the government is pressing ahead without regard for the consequences. These are concrete preparations for war, and I absolutely cannot tolerate that," said another demonstrator.
Japanese protesters rally against PM's attempts to alter three security documents
