Flash floods kill many in Indonesia and Timor Leste Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Flash flooding is known to have killed at least 50 people in Indonesia and Timor Leste (East Timor). The severity of the situation and threat to livestock means the final death toll is likely to be higher. Landslides,…
Taiwan train derailment kills at least 48: Tomb Sweeping Day tourists Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Tragedy hit Taiwan after a train derailment killed at least 48 people. Reports are still sketchy, but it is believed that over 70 remain trapped after the derailment carrying approximately 470 passengers. Apparently, many passengers were…
Over 100 reported killed in another bloody day in Myanmar Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Myanmar is reaching an extremely dangerous period since the ousting of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. For bloodshed is increasing to unimaginable levels. Therefore, with over 100 reported deaths in the last 48 hours, regional…
Japan mimicking America and following the China containment policy Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is mimicking America to the extreme when it comes to Washington’s containment policy of China. Hence, the recent meetings between senior American and Japanese officials in Japan resulted in the same anti-China mantra. Security talks in…
More deaths in Myanmar: Military coup leaders in a cul-de-sac Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Reported deaths since the military coup in Myanmar have now reached at least 90 people. At the same time, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians of the National League for Democracy (NLD) face…
Japan utilizes America, Australia, and India to lambast China during the Quad summit Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan utilized the Quad summit with America, Australia, and India to lambast China. Indeed, this is a familiar tactic while all nations maintain strong economic ties with China…
Myanmar news: Second NLD member dies in custody Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The political crisis generated by the military coup in Myanmar shows no signs of abating. Indeed, with the second death of a member from the National League for Democracy (NLD) dying in custody, the crisis is increasingly becoming…
Myanmar and more deaths after anti-coup protesters are attacked by security forces Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The crisis in Myanmar is increasingly turning violent after the military coup against the leadership of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Thus at least 18 people have been killed in the last 24…
Myanmar violence disturbs Japan and calls for reinstalling democracy Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is increasingly disturbed by the use of violence by the security apparatus in Myanmar. Hence, unlike Western nations that failed to support Myanmar during the democratic path under State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi,…
At least two die in Myanmar after more protests against the military coup Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Protests against the military coup in Myanmar are continuing in various parts of the country. Hence, with news that at least two protesters have been killed by the police, the fear is that…
Japan reliance on foreign Covid-19 vaccines and bottlenecks: China and Russia helping internationally Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China, Japan, and the Russian Federation all belong to the geographic space of Northeast Asia. Indeed, the Russian Federation is a transcontinental nation. However, despite China and the Russian Federation producing coronavirus (Covid-19)…
China and the United Kingdom impose respective media bans Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In a perfect world, media organizations would be based solely on journalism and providing independent news. However, the agenda of the day be it overtly controlled politically like in China – or based on politically correct modes…
Japan must foster its own approach to the Myanmar crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan must foster its own independent approach to the Myanmar crisis while working with the United States of America, the European Union (EU), and regional nations. It seems likely that sanctions will be…
Myanmar coup leaders face increasing protests Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military coup in Myanmar against the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi – and her political allies – is triggering increasing protests. Hence, the internal convulsions of the military coup are still unfolding. Protests denouncing the military coup continue…
The ratio of Covid-19 deaths is low from Japan to Vietnam Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis hit the headlines after Wuhan in China witnessed a high number of deaths and infections. Apart from Wuhan, the rest of China mainly escaped the ravages of the coronavirus. Similarly, the…
Japan and the United Kingdom to strengthen geopolitical ties Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United Kingdom and Japan are strengthening geopolitical ties based on the growing rise of China. In theory, the mantra is a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, in reality, it is the containment of China – alongside…
Myanmar coup and the betrayal of Aung San Suu Kyi Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Timess The internal and external convulsions from the military coup in Myanmar remains uncertain. However, what is certain, is that the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi was betrayed by many Western democratic nations. Therefore, rather than…
Japan continues to welcome Western military support in East Asia aimed at China: UK strike group Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times If you view history through the prism of longevity then China wasn’t a threat to Japan. Nor did this nation endanger the sovereignty of Japan. On the contrary, for over…
Kim Jong-un of North Korea deems America to be the main enemy: Japan and President Trump Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times North Korea is making its posture known to Joe Biden, the President-elect of America. Of course, tensions between America and North Korea are decades old. Thus, irrespective of the rocky…
European Union and China poised to sign a significant investment deal Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A major investment deal between China and the European Union (EU) looks set to be signed in 2021. If so, EU business companies would gain important access to the lucrative Chinese market. Therefore, optimism is…
Japan and India support a free and open Indo-Pacific region: China isn’t boosting allies Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of China isn’t creating further divisions in Northeast Asia or the Asia Pacific region. However, Japan is constantly upping the ante by endless bi-lateral – and multi-lateral – power plays…
Christians killed in a terrorist attack in Indonesia Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In Indonesia, you have approximately 30 million Christians in this majority Muslim nation and religious violence – and persecution – is a problem. On top of this, you have ethnic and cultural issues in various parts of the…
Singapore introduces tighter travel restrictions on people traveling from Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The government of Singapore is tightening travel restrictions on people entering from the nation of Japan. This relates to increasing coronavirus (Covid-19) infections in Japan. Japan and Singapore had signed a reciprocal agreement in September regarding travel.…
Australia and Japan agree on a historic Defense Pact Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have agreed in principle to a significant Defense Pact. Of course, China isn’t happy about events. However, democratic nations need to focus on strengthening their respective…
China, Japan, and South Korea sign the mega trade bloc RCEP Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China, Japan, and South Korea – along with twelve other nations – signed the mega trade bloc called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Hence, the largest free-trade bloc in the world cements the Asia-Pacific.…
Japan will not sign the United Nations Nuclear Ban Treaty based on geopolitics Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is protected by the nuclear umbrella of the United States. Hence with Northeast Asia being a major area of competing militaries that have nuclear weapons, then naturally Japan refuses to join the…
Afghanistan ISIS attack aimed at the Shia kills at least 24 Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another barbaric terrorist attack by ISIS (Islamic State – IS) aimed at Shia Muslims in Kabul killed at least 24 young people. Over many decades different Sunni Islamist terrorist groups have targeted the Shia in…
South Korea suspected flu jab related deaths now reaches 36 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Many nations are worried about the impact of influenza and the coronavirus (Covid-19) at the same time during seasonal highs. Hence, while the elderly – and others – get the yearly flu jab, this year the…
US firm alleges China hacking Japan Covid-19 projects: Skepticism is needed Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga needs a calm head because these days China is being blamed for countless things. Often, without clear evidence that it is related to state involvement. According to an information security firm…
PM Suga of Japan to visit Vietnam and Indonesia: Anti-China hawks need silencing Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga claims to want to preserve the mantle of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe. Yet, some individuals in his Cabinet appear more hawkish towards China and the Russian Federation. Therefore, if…
Southeast Asia: Crucible of Indigenous Survival Special Contribution: Gideon Sim The misleading portrayal of Southeast Asia as an oasis of economic growth and calm in global media belies the boiling over of ethnic tensions and discontent. From Mindanao where Philippine government forces extrajudicially kill indigenous Lumad and Moro minorities; to West Papua where the Indonesian…
Japan protests after China patrol incursion: Early test for PM Suga Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan is facing his first geopolitical test after two Chinese patrol ships entered the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands. This comes shortly after recent anti-China stances according to political elites…
