Across Asia: Japan

Whaling curb 'regrettable'

A senior official in Japan's foreign ministry has called a proposal by Australia to the International Whaling Commission to end the practice in Antarctica within five years "regrettable". State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Koichi Takamasa said "it was regrettable that such a proposal was made".

Australia also asked for a ban on scientific whaling, which is currently legal, and a loophole that is exploited by Japan in order to make sure that its fisherman can still head out to sea for whales every year.

(China Daily 02/26/2010 page11)