What is this との?


For full context:
<http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10011218521000/k10011218521000.html>

The sentence in question:

> 「中国やロシアから旅行に来る人がビザを取りやすくなったり、韓国や香港など **との** 間を飛ぶ飛行機が増えたりしたためです。」

"This is because it became easier for travelers from china and russia to get
visa and because the number of aeroplanes flying the space between korea,
hongkong and so on has increased."

Why is it 韓国や香港など **と** の間? Why is this と there? I would've expected a mere の.




Let us first get the basics down by looking at a simpler phrase. How would you
usually say something like " **the border between France and Germany** "?
Native speakers say:

> 「フランス **と** ドイツ **の** 国境{こっきょう}」 **informally**

and

> 「フランス **と** ドイツ **との** 国境」 **formally**. ← Needs two と's!

Thus, the formula here is:

> " **A + と + B + との + Noun** "

We do use that second 「と」 when speaking/writing more formally, and I know from
experience that quite a few Japanese-learners are not aware of this. Since you
seem to be reading the news this time, you would naturally encounter more
formal phrases and expressions.

Now, the actual phrase in question.

> 「韓国{かんこく}や香港{ほんこん}などとの間{あいだ}」

From the context, this means "between (South Korea, Hong Kong and other
countries) _**and Japan**_ ". Agreed? This piece of news is about how many
tourists Japan receives from other countries.

In other words, this part of the sentence is **not** talking about what
happens between South Korea and Hong Kong.

Remember the double-と rule for formal speech?

> 「韓国や香港などとの間」

means none other than:

> 「韓国や香港など **と** 日本 **と** の間」

Or, for more visual appeal, it is saying:

> 「(Some countries) + **と** + 日本 + **と** + の + 間」

Hope you enjoyed my "two - と - rial"!




Let us first get the basics down by looking at a simpler phrase. How would you
usually say something like " **the border between France and Germany** "?
Native speakers say:

> 「フランス **と** ドイツ **の** 国境{こっきょう}」 **informally**

and

> 「フランス **と** ドイツ **との** 国境」 **formally**. ← Needs two と's!

Thus, the formula here is:

> " **A + と + B + との + Noun** "

We do use that second 「と」 when speaking/writing more formally, and I know from
experience that quite a few Japanese-learners are not aware of this. Since you
seem to be reading the news this time, you would naturally encounter more
formal phrases and expressions.

Now, the actual phrase in question.

> 「韓国{かんこく}や香港{ほんこん}などとの間{あいだ}」

From the context, this means "between (South Korea, Hong Kong and other
countries) _**and Japan**_ ". Agreed? This piece of news is about how many
tourists Japan receives from other countries.

In other words, this part of the sentence is **not** talking about what
happens between South Korea and Hong Kong.

Remember the double-と rule for formal speech?

> 「韓国や香港などとの間」

means none other than:

> 「韓国や香港など **と** 日本 **と** の間」

Or, for more visual appeal, it is saying:

> 「(Some countries) + **と** + 日本 + **と** + の + 間」

Hope you enjoyed my "two - と - rial"!

