Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Asia Pacific | Focus Sep 30, 2013
Troop command top issue as Hagel visits South Korea
Sixty years after the end of the Korean War, the United States and South Korea still cannot agree on who should take charge if another war breaks out with the communist neighbor to the north. For years, Washington has been trying to persuade the ...
Politics & Diplomacy Aug 21, 2013
Japan, U.S. defense chiefs may meet in Brunei
Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera is arranging to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Aug. 28 on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings in Brunei, a government source said Wednesday. The Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs are expected to discuss a review of bilateral ...
Politics & Diplomacy Jun 3, 2013
Allies once again vow to be tough with North Korea
Japan, the U.S. and South Korea have vowed again to work together to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development and other recent provocations. Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin shared the view during talks ...
Politics & Diplomacy Jun 3, 2013
China affirms tough territorial stance
A top Chinese military official said Sunday that Beijing will not compromise on its claims to contested isles in the East and South China seas, despite its willingness to engage in discussions. “We should put aside disputes . . . and seek solutions through ...
Politics & Diplomacy Apr 30, 2013
Hagel vows defense commitments to Japan, including nuclear umbrella
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday stressed U.S. defense commitments to Japan, including the nuclear umbrella, in the face of growing missile threats from North Korea, while reiterating that Washington is against any action to weaken Japan’s administrative control of the disputed Senkaku ...
Asia Pacific Apr 12, 2013
North Korea sows confusion over launch
North Korea has been repeatedly moving multiple missiles around in an apparent bid to confuse outside intelligence gatherers ahead of an expected launch, Yonhap reports.
World Mar 17, 2013
U.S. beefs up missile shield against North Korea
The Pentagon plans to spend $1 billion to beef up its missile defense system in response to North Korea's faster-than-anticipated progress on nuclear weapons and missiles.
Politics & Diplomacy Feb 27, 2013
Hagel lands defense post but fails to win over opponents
Chuck Hagel is set to be sworn in as U.S. defense secretary, battered by a confirmation fight even as he faces challenges from Pentagon budget cuts to withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
Global-related Feb 4, 2013
Hagel draws the wrong lesson from Suez crisis
by Michael Doran
Chuck Hagel has learned the wrong lessons from the Suez crisis. Dwight Eisenhower later regretted breaking the only immutable rule of a realist foreign policy: Support your friends and punish your enemies.
Global-related Feb 4, 2013
Why Obama went with Hagel to run Defense
by Bob Woodward
A doctrine of Barack Obama holds that war is sometimes necessary and that war at some level is an expression of human folly. Chuck Hagel would agree.