Biden and the Democrats Cold War mentality: The Russian Federation and Ukraine Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The leadership of President Joe Biden is witnessing the Cold War mentality that exists within the ruling Democrats. This is similar to the neoconservatives of the Republicans outside of the views of Donald Trump.…
Evidence of ethnic massacre of Tigrayans in Ethiopia reported Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia recently confirmed that massacres had taken place in Tigray. He also said that this applies to both sides in the conflict. Hence, the BBC finding of a massacre of people speaking…
Myanmar crisis continues unabated: 270 deaths since the military crackdown Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the military coup in Myanmar against State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, the daily deaths of protesters and bystanders by the state apparatus have become the norm. Thus, the death toll since the coup took…
Ethiopia confirms ethnic massacres in Tigray and the involvement of Eritrea Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Ethiopia confirmed for the first time that the armed forces of Eritrea helped during the conflict in Tigray. Also, the leader of Ethiopia admitted that ethnic massacres had taken place. The Ethiopian…
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…
Extrajudicial killings in Colombia between 2002 and 2008 reach 6,400 people Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military peace deal to solve the protracted conflict in Colombia was signed in 2016. However, for many families, the peace deal rings hollow because loved ones in vast numbers were killed in extrajudicial killings.…
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…
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…
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…
Tanzania to join Mozambique against Islamists in border areas Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The growing menace of Sunni Islamic terrorism in northern Mozambique is gradually spilling over to remote border areas in Tanzania. Hence, the armed forces of Mozambique and Tanzania have agreed to joint military operations. Of course, the…
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…
Alleged massacre in Ethiopia: Tigray crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions in the region of Tigray in Ethiopia are ongoing and many people have died in recent clashes. The thorny issues of power concentration, federalism, regional grievances, ethnicity, religion, a unitary state, and political differences all exist in Ethiopia to…
Armenia in crisis because of events in Nagorno-Karabakh: Deeds of NATO Turkey Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Armenian populated Nagorno-Karabakh region is in shock after recent battleground setbacks in and around this region. Thus the announcement by the leader of Armenia to an agreement with Azerbaijan of ending the conflict…
African Union calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia: Tensions in Tigray Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Ethiopia is multi-ethnic and multi-religious and many faultlines exist. Thus, issues around power concentration, regional dynamics, political differences, and ethnic issues can quickly spiral out of control. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed…
Russia sends peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh: France is watching events Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Russian Federation agreed with Armenia and Azerbaijan to send peacekeepers to the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Hence, 1,960 military personnel from the Russian Federation will monitor and help to de-escalate military tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.…
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…
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…
Turkey increased military sales six-fold to Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Military sales by Turkey to Azerbaijan have increased six-fold this year. Alongside this, Turkey is utilizing international Islamist terrorists just like in Northern Syria and more recently Libya. Therefore, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh – and Turkey’s historical animosity…
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…
Armenian losses mount in Nagorno-Karabakh: NATO Turkey, terrorism, and France Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Under President Erdogan of Turkey, this nation continues to meddle against the Arabic speaking and regional Christian world. It matters not if upsetting Gulf states by supporting Qatar and its role in backing the Muslim Brotherhood,…
Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia needs to warn Turkey Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh are nothing new in recent times. However, with Armenia announcing a general mobilization and imposing martial law, this time the situation appears more dangerous. Both nations have blamed…
Japan and diplomacy with China: Australia, India, Japan, and America to meet Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Miniter Yoshihide Suga is the new leader of Japan. Thus, the meeting between senior officials from America, Australia, India, and Japan in Tokyo early next month will be analyzed carefully. It is known…
Colombia massacres keep on mounting Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Increasing levels of violence in Colombia this year are setting off alarm bells. This is based on the fragility of this nation over many decades. Therefore, in parts of the country, the centralized state is but a figment of the imagination.…
Japan and South Korea and the GSOMIA merry-go-round: Japan should focus on China and Russia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Korean Peninsula is divided between North Korea and South Korea because both Korea’s don’t trust each other. Thus with South Korea repeatedly turning against Japan when relations between both Korea’s…
Japan to mark the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima while protected by US nuclear umbrella Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan will mark the 75-year anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Like usual, an extremely solemn reminder of the brutality of war. However, many words relating to joining…
Afghanistan admits to 3,500 military deaths in 2020: Reverberations of Obama Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Afghanistan acknowledged that over 3,500 security forces have been killed since February peace talks. These talks resulted in a frayed peace agreement between America and the Taliban. However, on the ground, the…
America, Australia, and Japan in Naval Exercises in Asia Pacific waters Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of Australia, Japan, and the United States are currently holding trilateral naval exercises in the waters of the Asia Pacific. Thus democratic nations are showing commitment toward the freedom of sea-lanes throughout the…
Moscow Develops Next-Generation Combat Infantry System Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Roger McDermott The Jamestown Foundation Moscow plans to develop and introduce next-generation infantry combat systems (ICS) to further advance this high-technology feature of the modern and future Russian soldier. The current Ratnik (“Warrior”) ICS will be replaced, by 2025, with the new Sotnik (“Centurion”)…
Okinawa already burdened by U.S. military bases now fears Covid-19 crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It is known that approximately 100 infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) have hit several military bases of the United States (U.S.) in Okinawa. This will increase internal discontent in Okinawa because this part of Japan is…
