According to a document viewed by Reuters, Japan is preparing to launch a prototype unmanned surveillance aircraft in the next decade and 10 years after that an unmanned fighter jet. This comes along with a record increase in Japanese defense spending, a budget of 5.16 trillion yen (£39million), 2.3% higher than this year. Japan's increase of secuirty measures are related to the feras over developments in China (due to tensions in the East China Sea) and North Korea (due to upgrades in thier ballistic missile tehcnology), both of which, according to the Japanese authorities could pose a serious therat to thier county in the near future. 

Relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom were established in 2003. Since then, North Korea has its embassy in London and vice versa. Recently its been reported that one of the senior diplomats at the London embassy has vanished. Officials from Seul confirm now that Mr. Thae Yong-ho and his family have been found in South Korea. Mr. Thae is known to be the first diplomat from North Korea of such high ranking to commit this kind of act. His main task in the UK was to improve the image of his country.  

New developments appeared on the line China-ASEAN. The Tuesday meeting of senior diplomats has marked significant improvements, among them the setting of a deadline for the South China Sea code of conduct (COC). The first draft is expected for next year. In addition to that, both sides agreed to arrange more frequent negotiations and creating a hotline between China and ASEAN in the case of emergencies.

China has just launched the world’s first quantum satellite, which will enable a ‘hack-proof’ communications system, says Beijing. The satellite can be used for communication but also military purposes. As the authorities say one of the prime aims of the project was to enable safe communication between Beijing and Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang region, torn by conflicts, where the Chinese government says it is struggling with an Islamic insurgency. Launching of the fist ever quantum satellite by China has yet also other implications. 

On Monday Fidel Ramos has set out for a visit to Hong-Kong, China. Before the trip he reassured that he wouldn’t raise the issue of the recent international ruling on the South China Sea; his mission was to rekindle relations with Beijing. Ernesto Abella the spokesman for the current Philippine president said that ‘this may pave the way for future diplomatic talks’. Ramos met with Fu Ying, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China's top legislature and former Chinese ambassador to the Philippines from 1998 to 2000, as well as his former colleagues. His visit was not part of official negotiations with China, but passed in a hopeful atmosphere. China’s sate news agency said that Ramos’s visit was ‘the first concrete step’ for both sides to engage and ‘could open a new chapter in settling disputes’.

Yesterday the Human Rights Watch released a report on the deterioration of LGBT rights in Indonesia. Gay people are targeted mainly by politicians and religious hardliners, in particular some Islamic communities, for example the largest Muslim group in Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama. Their life style is described as ‘perverted’ and the authorities are aiming for a ban of LGBT societies from universities. The president’s speaker added that there is ‘no room’ for gay community in Indonesia. He said: ‘Rights of citizens like going to school and getting an ID card are protected, but there is no room in Indonesia for the proliferation of the LGBT movement’.