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Philip J. Cunningham
For Philip J. Cunningham's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 10, 2023
ChatGPT has a lot to say, even about Japan-U.S.-China ties
OpenAI's ChatGPT was launched just over two months ago and is so effective at generating human-like prose that it is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2022
The unmasking of Xi
COVID-19 rules apply to China's masses but evidently not to so much to the country's powerful and elite.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 10, 2022
Keeping cool as U.S.-China tensions simmer
Both Beijing and Washington need to make sure the new low in relations does not become the new normal.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 2, 2022
What did Xi know about Ukraine, and when did he know?
Putin's declaration of military action was timed to begin just after the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Was the Russian leader's “restraint” a way of showing respect?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 16, 2022
An Olympic athlete representing two nations
“I'm American when I'm in the U.S. and I'm Chinese when I'm in China,” says Olympic skier Eileen Gu.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2022
Deja vu: Putin, another Chinese Olympics and rumors of war
Fighting broke out on Aug. 1, 2008, between Russia-backed separatists and Georgian government forces as the Olympics were getting set to open in Beijing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 21, 2022
Why no major world power wants ASEAN to split up over Myanmar
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi last week commended the Cambodian leader's visit to Myanmar, the first by a foreign leader since the coup.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 24, 2021
U.S. and China deviate from the diplomacy script
“Strong smell of gunpowder and drama” was the way Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian described the U.S-China meeting in Anchorage.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2021
Seasoned U.S. diplomat needed as China envoy
Who will be the next U.S. ambassador to China? It’s time for U.S. President Joe Biden to stop playing politics and choose someone of a diplomatic temperament who knows China well.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 27, 2021
Biden gets dream team on China: But what if the game is changing?
It is unclear whether Biden's team can remain immune to the wish-lists of the consulting firms and corporate hands that put a silver lining on their political exile during the Trump years.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY
Jan 21, 2021
The ugly truth about a 'beautiful sight' in Hong Kong
One weaponized use of the Nancy Pelosi's quote in reference to the Capitol attack comes from a staunchly nationalistic Beijing tabloid.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 4, 2017
For China's billionaires, all that is gold does not glitter
China's newly minted big money men project larger-than-life personalities, but their good fortune can be rescinded at a moment's notice if they displease the reigning commissars.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 24, 2017
Beijing is watching Justin Bieber
In China it is politics, or the perception of such, that is the surest route to getting stamped 'banned by Beijing.'
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 21, 2017
Trump's words returning to haunt him
What goes around, comes around, especially with a man who flip-flops his position on an almost daily basis.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 10, 2017
Xi got played, but he played it well
Imagine being guest of honor at a state dinner planned to trumpet bilateral ties only to have your host lean over and whisper, 'We're bombing Syria tonight.'
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 2, 2017
Anti-missile missile system missing the point in South Korea
THAAD offers little protection to South Korea, while greatly exasperating ties with China.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 23, 2017
Sorry Trump, Cambodia owes the U.S. nothing
The $500 million bill that Uncle Sam has come knocking for is a pittance compared to the destruction the U.S. wreaked on Cambodia by incessant B-52 bombing during the Vietnam War.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 13, 2017
Vault7 and the electronic panopticon
If the Russians are looking to invade Americans' privacy, the U.S. government is already there.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 27, 2017
Donald Trump unleashed
All administrations lie, spin and deceive, but judging from early indications, the new U.S. team is off the charts.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2016
CIA should come clean about Russian 'hacking'
If the CIA has indisputable evidence that Russia threw the U.S. election, it should put up or shut up.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores