Laos Receives Aid For UXO Removal

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, announced that Japan would provide $1M in aid for the removal of UXO in Laos. The announcement came shortly after Laos announced that it would join the International Whaling Commission (IWC) at the request of Japan. This move would give Japan another ally within the IWC to push their pro-whaling agenda. It's unclear if the landlocked nation of Laos will be able to join the IWC in time for the upcoming member meeting in Alaska. A Japan Foreign Ministry official denied the UXO aid package was linked to the decision from Laos to join the IWC.