North Korea and South Korea test ballistic missiles: the US muted, Japan angry, and China diplomatic Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Korean Peninsula witnessed the launching of tested ballistic missiles by North Korea and South Korea within hours of each other. Japan condemned the launch by North Korea. However,…
Failed Japan mission in Afghanistan means help from China, Russia, and regionally Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan, like other nations, was caught off guard by the speed of the Taliban take over in Afghanistan. Henceforth, with America and other nations evacuating tens of thousands of people, it…
China says “alien models” will fail externally and internally: Afghanistan, Visegrad, and the Asia Pacific Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China is witnessing events in Afghanistan from a different prism similar to the Russian Federation. Indeed, internally in China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is now focused on preserving traditions wrapped…
Kazakhstan Surges to Third Place in Global Crypto-Currency Production, behind China and US Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: John C. K. Daly The Jamestown Foundation While many crypto-currency advocates worldwide promote this sector as the next step in international finance, multiple governments are becoming increasingly leery because of digital currencies’ energy-intensive mining requirements, volatile price…
China’s Hypersonic Missiles: Methods and Motives Publication: China Brief By: Richard Weitz The Jamestown Foundation Introduction The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is pursuing various hypersonic delivery systems to augment its already impressive arsenal of precision strike capabilities. Hypersonic missiles are emerging as a highly valued weapon system for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)…
Japan wins first-ever Table Tennis Olympic gold after beating China Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Japan won its first-ever table tennis gold medal at the Olympics after Jun Mizutani and Ito Mima beat Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen from China. The amazing mixed doubles final went all the way to the last…
Curfew at night in Afghanistan to provide more security in areas held Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The pull-out of American forces in Afghanistan under President Biden of America is witnessing fresh Taliban momentum. Nerves are obviously fraying within government-controlled areas because the Taliban supports a strict and draconian Islamic Sharia…
China sends India Covid-19 assistance despite frosty relations Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Increased territorial tensions between China and India have been put aside because of the severity of the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in India. Hence, President Xi Jinping of China reiterated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India that China…
America and Japan in usual anti-China mantra under Biden and Suga Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The former leader of Japan, Shinzo Abe, could contain anti-China hawks during his leadership. However, it is noticeable under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that the Japanese Foreign Ministry is enacting a hawkish policy aimed at…
China and South Korea rebuke Japan over planned nuclear plant water into the sea Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China and South Korea have rebuked Japan over plans to release nuclear plant water into the sea. Of course, the nuance in Japan is releasing “treated water.” However, this isn’t fooling China…
Japanese poet of the ninth and tenth century Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Heian court was served by the poet Mibu no Tadamine between 898-920. Thus one can imagine the flows of internal Japanese culture and the impact of the Middle Kingdom (China) on this esteemed poet from bygone days. Indeed, the Nara…
Poetry of ancient Japan enriched by the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The eighth-century Japanese scholar and poet Abe no Nakamaro (698-770) belongs to the cultural world that was inspired by the Middle Kingdom (China). From a very young age, he showed exemplary skills suited to the world of academia. In this…
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…
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…
Tanaka Hōji and Japan art: Taoism to Meiji era and words of Lao Tzu Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) is a Japanese artist who belongs to the traditions that predate the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Hence, despite the modernizing convulsions of the Meiji Restoration on the art world of Japan, the…
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 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…
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…
Japan art and the window of Nagasaki: Impact of China Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Edo Period (1603-1868) is known for keeping foreign people out and gradually closing the country. However, the past cultural bonds that shaped Japanese high culture preserved. Hence the small window of Nagasaki enabled a limited opportunity for Shen…
Japanese poetry of bygone days and the influence of China Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Mibu no Tadamine reached his height during the late ninth and early tenth centuries. It is known that he was active in the Heian court between 898-920. Therefore, one can imagine his world through the prism…
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…
Art of Japan and the holy Buddhist monk Kaō Ninga Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The holy Buddhist monk Kaō Ninga belongs to the world of bygone days. Hence, while the ideas of the fourteenth century represent the highpoint of his artistic life during the Muromachi period, earlier ideas equally blessed this gifted monk.…
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.…
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…
Covid-19 deaths and infections in China are estranged: Why mainly Hubei? Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Over one million people are known to have died from coronavirus (Covid-19) internationally. However, the initial epicenter of Hubei province in China remains an enigma. Therefore, while Wuhan in Hubei is synonymous with the coronavirus,…
Prime Minister Suga showing early nationalist signs Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is showing early nationalist signs even if not overtly. Hence, it is striking that several members of his Cabinet and policies announced seem to have a nationalist slant. Of course, some of this is natural…
PM Suga of Japan and President Xi of China talk by phone Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China held their first talks by phone since Suga became the new leader of Japan. Unsurprisingly, both leaders promised to foster closer relations…
