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November 22, 2024
 

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Ben Blanchard
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 23, 2022
Taiwan casts wary eye at China amid Ukraine crisis
While Taipei is always on alert, there have been no unusual maneuvers by Chinese forces in recent days, officials say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 14, 2022
Inside Taiwan's brutal navy frogman bootcamp
Of the group of 31 who started the 10 week course, only 15 finished, with the closing week at the sprawling Zuoying navy base in southern Taiwan being the last test.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 13, 2021
Taiwan threat assessment says Chinese invasion would be very difficult
A full invasion with troops landed and ports and airports seized would be very difficult to achieve due to problems in landing and supplying troops, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 26, 2021
Model soldiers and secret bunkers: Taiwan's front line with China
At the height of the Cold War, Kinmen saw the last wartime battles between China and Taiwan. Now locals are encouraging tourism.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 5, 2021
Taiwan warns it needs to be on alert to 'over the top' China
Taiwan has reported 148 Chinese air force planes in the southern and southwestern part of its air defense zone over a four day period beginning on Friday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 18, 2021
Taiwan mobilizes diplomats to seek out COVID-19 shots
The effort has become more urgent since a sudden rise in domestic cases hit the island, which has vaccinated less than 1% of its population.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 8, 2021
China sends more jets as Taiwan says it will fight to the end if there's war
The democratic self-governed island has complained of repeated military activities by Beijing in recent months.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 11, 2020
How China is trying to subdue Taiwan with 'gray-zone' warfare
Beijing is conducting waves of threatening forays from the air while ratcheting up pressure tactics to erode Taiwan's will to resist, say current and former Taiwan military officers.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 29, 2020
China-U.S. tensions raise Taiwan conflict fears
Both Beijing and Taipei have held extensive military exercises in recent weeks.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 28, 2019
Amid crises, Xi Jinping seems set to uphold Communist Party rule at secretive China conclave
China's Communist Party leaders Monday kicked off their most important meeting this year, with President Xi Jinping expected to champion the Chinese model of governance while fighting protracted economic and political crises at home and abroad.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 18, 2019
U.S. may call out China on rights at U.N. gathering of leaders
The United States is considering how it will confront China during next week's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations over its detention of 1 million Muslims in a remote region, at a time when some diplomats warn that U.S. leadership in global institutions is waning and China's influence is...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jun 16, 2019
How Hong Kong protests and Beijing pressure forced Carrie Lam to cave on extradition bill
With an escalating U.S. trade war, a faltering economy and tensions in the South China Sea vexing her bosses in Beijing, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam appeared in no mood to compromise on a planned extradition law at recent meetings, according to foreign envoys and business people who met with...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 11, 2019
China struggles to ease concerns over 'Belt and Road' initiative as summit looms
China is struggling to ease worries about President Xi Jinping's signature plan to build a new Silk Road as it readies for a major summit in late April, especially among Western nations wary about debt, transparency and Chinese influence.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Feb 27, 2019
Simmering tension with Taiwan means China defense budget likely to defy slowing economy
A slowing economy is unlikely to crimp China's 2019 defense budget growth, as Beijing earmarks more spending for modernization and big-ticket items like stealth jets, and focuses on Taiwan after a stern New Year's speech from President Xi Jinping.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Feb 28, 2018
China's military flexes muscles for domestic objective: more funding
With stealth jets entering service, leaked pictures of new high-tech naval artillery and proud reports of maneuvers that "dare to shine the sword," China's armed forces are putting on a show of power as they lobby for greater defense spending.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 27, 2018
With eye on U.S., China to revamp top tier of diplomats, sources say
China is expected to announce a reshuffle of its top diplomats at an annual meeting of parliament in March, aiming to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's growing suspicion of Beijing, several sources familiar with the plan said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 26, 2018
China pushes back against criticism of plan for Xi to stay in power
China's plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely has sparked social media opposition, drawing comparisons to North Korea's ruling dynasty and charges of creating a dictator by a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 4, 2017
China reluctant to press North Korea with further sanctions, seeks more from West
North Korea's latest nuclear test is likely to pile more pressure on China to take tough action against its neighbor, but Beijing already doubts economic sanctions will work and says it is not its sole responsibility to rein in Pyongyang.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 2, 2017
Xi takes steps to lifelong sole leadership on a par with Mao
A recent scene at a dusty Inner Mongolia military base provided evidence of Chinese President Xi Jinping's consolidation of political power even as he faces pushback in his ruling Communist Party ahead of a critical gathering next month.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 8, 2017
Due to proximity, China will pay biggest price for new North Korea sanctions
China will pay the biggest price from the new United Nations sanctions against North Korea because of its close economic relationship with the country, but will always enforce the resolutions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

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