Japan Processes Record Number of Chinese Refugees in 2020
11 May 2021
Chinese nationals accounted for nearly one-quarter of the foreigners granted refugee status in Japan in 2020, a record high number despite a significant drop in overall refugee applications in Japan last year due to the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.
“A total of 47 foreigners were recognised as refugees and permitted to remain in Japan in 2020, of whom 11 were Chinese, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. However, none of the 11 are from Hong Kong,” the
South China Morning Post
reported on Tuesday.
The number of Chinese nationals granted refugee status in Japan last year “was the highest figure since Japan began accepting refugees in 1982,” according to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).
Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries and the EU High Representative have issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the ongoing large build up of Russian military forces on Ukraine's borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea.
Thai authorities have ordered the temporary closure of bars and nightclubs in Bangkok and 40 other provinces, following mass coronavirus infections at several such venues.
Pandemic-related bankruptcies in Japan hit 1,300
A credit research firm says more than 1,300 businesses in Japan have gone bankrupt since February last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Teikoku Databank says the tally was at 1,301 as of Monday. It includes companies that have filed for bankruptcy, or suspended operations to begin legal liquidation procedures.
Bars and restaurants topped the list of industries with 218 cases, followed by construction firms at 117, and hotels and inns at 87.
The number has been rising since the third wave of cases arose late last year. Last month saw the largest number of bankruptcies at 172, followed by February at 134, and January at 125.