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December 24, 2024
 

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Jesse Johnson
Elbridge Colby (center) speaks at the Threat and the Strategy panel during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in September 2019.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 23, 2024
Trump's Pentagon policy pick pushed for Japan to spend 3% of GDP on defense
Elbridge Colby said in an interview earlier this year that Japan is moving at a leisurely pace on defense despite being under threat from China and North Korea.
A visitor takes pictures near models of military equipment and a giant screen displaying Chinese leader Xi Jinping, at an exhibition at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing in October 2022.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 19, 2024
Graft scandals disrupt China military modernization, Pentagon report says
At least 15 high-ranking Chinese military officers and defense industry executives were removed between July and December 2023, the report says.
Businessman George Glass has been selected by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to be the next ambassador to Japan.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 17, 2024
Trump picks businessman George Glass as Japan ambassador
Glass, who served as ambassador to Portugal during Trump's first administration, is known as one of the biggest fundraisers for his reelection bid.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (right) delivers remarks at a news conference alongside Howard Lutnik, his pick for commerce secretary, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 17, 2024
Trump says he's open to meeting Ishiba before inauguration
The U.S. president-elect says it's up to Tokyo to make the meeting happen.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (left) and his wife, Melania (right), pose for a photo with Akie Abe, the widow of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday in this image posted on Melania Trump's X social media account.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 16, 2024
Akie Abe, widow of slain prime minister, meets with Trump
Her meeting has raised some eyebrows for coming before that of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was unable to meet Trump last month despite numerous requests.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at his official residence in Seoul on Saturday after the National Assembly voted to impeach him earlier in the day.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 15, 2024
South Korean president impeached over martial law decree
The 204-85 vote means Yoon Suk Yeol's ultimate fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which can either decide to formally oust him or return him to office.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visit a defense exhibition in July last year.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 11, 2024
Russia tie-up sparks fears of modernized North Korean defense industry
Experts say the real issue is how deepened North Korean-Russian ties could help revitalize and modernize Pyongyang’s defense industrial base.
A Taiwanese Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet is seen to prepare for landing at an air force base in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 11, 2024
Taiwan detects 53 Chinese military aircraft around island as tensions rise
The tally is the highest for a single day since China’s military last held massive drills around Taiwan in October.
A Taiwanese Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet prepares to take off at an air force base in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 10, 2024
Taiwan says China naval deployment is largest in decades
China has deployed the largest number of naval ships to regional waters around Taiwan since the mid-1990s, the Defense Ministry in Taipei said Tuesday.
A line of police officers stand guard as protesters gather at the edge of Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Wednesday after President Yoon Suk Yeol formally lifted martial law earlier, six hours after having declared it.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 4, 2024
Yoon fights for political life as martial law repercussions reverberate
A coalition of lawmakers from six opposition parties on Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach the South Korean president, with a vote set for Friday or Saturday.
Armored vehicles from the Self-Defense Forces parade in formation at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Asaka on Nov. 9.
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2024
Top Japan defense industry firms saw sales boom in 2023
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fujitsu, NEC and Mitsubishi Electric saw their combined revenues from arms rise by 35% to $10 billion.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is welcomed aboard his aircraft by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, upon arrival at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 1, 2024
China vows ‘resolute and forceful’ response as Taiwan leader visits Hawaii
The leader's “transit” comes ahead of visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the countries that still have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attends the opening ceremony of the Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on Sept. 13. Dong is the third consecutive incumbent or former defense chief to be probed over alleged corruption.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 27, 2024
China defense minister being investigated for corruption, report says
The probe could undermine efforts to maintain military-to-military communications just months before Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Akihisa Nagashima (center), a special adviser to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell during a recent visit to Washington in this image posted to Campbell's X account.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 26, 2024
Key Ishiba adviser visits U.S. as Japan builds inroads to Trump camp
Akihisa Nagashima has held talks with Republican lawmakers and others close to President-elect Donald Trump.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 26, 2024
Trump pledges 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and more levies on China
The president-elect says he will sign executive orders to enforce the measures when he returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Trump's shadow looms as Xi and Biden hold final meeting
The talks focused broadly on efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease the countries’ tense relationship.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya before their meeting in Kyiv on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Top Japan diplomat makes surprise visit to Ukraine
The trip comes amid growing fears about the conflict’s expansion following North Korea’s dispatch of troops to Russia for combat operations.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2024
Ishiba and Yoon unite on 'strong concerns' over North Korean troops in Russia
Tokyo and Seoul have stressed that, with the involvement of North Korea in the Ukraine war, the conflict has expanded to include Asia.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel makes a speech aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during Freedom Edge trilateral exercise between the United States, Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 16, 2024
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel weighs bid for DNC chair: report
Such a move would come as the Democratic Party tries to regroup after an election that saw Republicans win control of the White House, Senate and House.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2024
Ishiba meets Biden and Yoon, as Trump's White House return looms
The three sought to further cement ties by announcing the creation of a “trilateral secretariat” to better coordinate and implement their goals.
Bankruptcies and suicides rise as Japanese struggle with mounting debt
Lawyers estimate that personal bankruptcies in Japan are on track to reach the highest since 2012 this year.
Honda-Nissan megamerger in the works
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida (left), Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe (second from left) and Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors, hold a news conference on merger talks on Monday in Tokyo.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?
Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Japan accuses Google of violating antimonopoly law
The Japanese antitrust watchdog said that Google forced smartphone makers to preinstall its search app on their devices, sources say.
Okinawa people stage rally against sexual assaults by U.S. servicemen
Sorane Sakihama, a 22-year-old college student, speaks at a rally in the city of Okinawa on Sunday protesting against sexual assaults by U.S. soldiers.
For baseball fans, 2024 brought The Summer of Shohei Ohtani
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts to a standing ovation from fans after hitting his 50th home run of the season, against the Marlins in Miami on Sept. 19.
A brief history of ‘osechi ryōri,' Japan's edible tradition for the new year
Japan's traditional New Year cuisine has a long history, though modern developments have led to slight changes in the way things work.
Japan accuses Google of violating antimonopoly law
The Japanese antitrust watchdog said that Google forced smartphone makers to preinstall its search app on their devices, sources say.
Casual workouts, cool living, ‘complete’ food: Japan’s health trends of 2024
In 2024, efficiency trumped effort among Japan's fitness-focused aspirants.
Is Japan finally ready to tap its abundant geothermal energy potential?
Steam rises from a geothermal plan in Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture. Despite its long history and potential, geothermal provided just 0.3% of Japan's overall energy mix in the fiscal year from April 2023

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?
By Kathryn Wortley

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