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May 06, 2024
 

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George Sioris
For George Sioris's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMENTARY / World
May 6, 2001
Thailand's model of religious harmony
CHIANG RAI, Thailand -- To all students of Buddhism, the terms "Mahayana" and "Theravada" -- the greater and lesser vehicle, respectively -- reflect the dichotomy of this great teaching into northern and southern schools.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 14, 2001
A Japanese PM as seen from abroad
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- It is beyond the parameters of this column to plunge into the murky waters of Japanese domestic politics. But the case of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori -- and the ways this case has generally been reported in the foreign media -- calls for some scrutiny, especially since it automatically affects Japan's broader global image.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 1, 2001
A time of hopeful change in the Philippines
MANILA -- Political life is always exciting in this fascinating country of over 7,000 islands, be it in periods of great upheavals, as with the two famous "EDSA" popular movements or during subsequent periods of transition in search of calm and stability, as at the present moment.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 14, 2001
The anti-Buddhist fury in Afghanistan
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Indignation at the ongoing destructive fury of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia has been unanimous, with protests coming from the Muslim as well as the non-Muslim world. In fact, the recent destruction of the unique Buddhist monuments in Bamiyan prompts reflection on the huge gap between blind religious fanaticism and tolerance and moderation.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 24, 2001
'Learned societies' still have a key role
CHIANG MAI, Thailand-- The complex cultures of Asia have always attracted the interest of Western scholars. This is the origin of what came to be later known as "Learned Societies," institutions based on intellectual curiosity and a deep-rooted volunteer spirit.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 10, 2001
Reflections on a ticklish relationship
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- While I fully endorse the spirit and the letter of a recent article in The Japan Times by former British Ambassador Sir Hugh Cortazzi on civil servants and politicians, I am conscious that what follows may be dismissed as an instance of the well-known bureaucratic tendency to defend "the fraternity." Nevertheless, this is a delicate and important topic that is often ignored or misunderstood by the public.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2001
Avoiding generalizations about ASEAN
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Recent days have seen the emergence of a number of cliches in the press with reference to policies and trends in Asia and particularly to ASEAN. Among the most common are the following:
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2001
Reflections on an imbroglio in Vientiane
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- On the eve of the recent important meeting between the European Union and ASEAN in Vientiane, Laos, a great uneasiness and disappointment prevailed in ASEAN capitals because of the perceived lack of interest in ASEAN on Europe's part.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2001
A landmark event in Buddhist studies
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- The 72nd birthday anniversary of the king of Thailand continues to inspire a rich variety of spiritual, artistic and cultural contributions to Thai society.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 27, 2000
Asia debates the merit of political debates
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- I don't want to add to the endless debate over the chances of the two U.S. presidential contenders. Rather, I want to focus on the debates and some possible corollaries for Asia.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 24, 2000
Asia getting mixed messages from U.S.
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- The issue is not new, but it has recently resurfaced: How is U.S. foreign policy coordinated and articulated, particularly when it affects Asia?
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 9, 2000
ASEAN+3 gives Asia hope for the future
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- A new acronym emerged recently in the world of international relations: APT. For those unaware of its meaning, we translate: "ASEAN Plus Three," i.e., the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 10, 2000
High costs a barrier for foreign students
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- An editorial in The Japan Times a few weeks ago focused on the Japanese government's efforts to increase the number of foreign students in Japan. No one would disagree with the government's dual aims of assisting in the development of human resources of poorer Asian countries and increasing the international community's understanding of Japan. However, there are three questions that merit examination:
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 12, 2000
Summit highlights need for new diplomacy
CHIANG MAI, Thailand — In an era of great change, diplomacy, like many other disciplines, must adapt and innovate. Some changes are already visible.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 30, 2000
ASEAN strives to make a comeback
CHANG MAI, Thailand -- The attention paid by the international media to the ASEAN gathering in Bangkok has been unusually lavish. If the Association of Southeast Asian Nations forum was in need of publicity, it was certainly obtained in abundance. The beautiful land scape near the River of Kings, usually a focus of colorful tourist activity, has now been converted into a prominent diplomatic stage, not only for deliberations but also for ministerial retreats.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 2, 2000
Winds of change blowing through Asia
CHANG MAI, Thailand -- The recent historic handshake between South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang captivated the world. As emotions over the summit subside, what can be said about Korean developments when viewed from a broader Asian perspective?
CULTURE / Books
Jun 27, 2000
Myanmar's artistic splendors
MYANMAR STYLE: Art, Architecture and Design of Burma. Asia Books, Bangkok. Baht 1,695. About 12 years ago, a coffee-table book titled "Thai Style," with beautiful photos and elegant accompanying text, enjoyed great success in the wide and expanding circles of admirers of Siam.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 17, 2000
A clash of perceptions in the Philippines
MANILA -- It so happened that I arrived at Manila airport just one day after a bomb explosion there that, fortunately, created more worries than victims and was quickly characterized as "an oversize pyrotechnic." Still, it doesn't take long for a visitor to the Philippines to realize that this "pearl of the Orient seas" is unusually tense. The airport bomb was not a one-time incident. It and several similar incidents recently cannot be taken lightly: History shows that Muslim grievances in the south spawned bloody retaliations against Spaniards in the north during the 18th century. That is why the issue of Mindanao -- and the struggle to establish an autonomous Muslim state there -- dominates life in the Philippines today.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 5, 2000
Rethinking strategic partnerships in Asia
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Some cliches keep resurfacing in strategic jargon: Japan and the United States share the most important bilateral relationship in the world; stability in Asia-Pacific; harmony in the triangular interactions among Japan, China and the U.S. But these concepts are facing challenges.
COMMENTARY / World
May 13, 2000
A layman's view of the ADB meeting
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- A high-profile meeting of ministers, financiers and bankers at a venue known as the cultural capital of Thailand represented quite a change here last week. The 33rd annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank's Board of Governors was not only a novelty for exotic Chiang Mai, but also one of the most remarkable in the bank's history. The event attracted considerable interest on the part of both the media and nongovernmental organizations at a time when the whole region appears to be approaching the first stage of a timid recovery after Asia's black year, 1997.
Japan says Biden's description of nation as xenophobic is 'unfortunate'
The National Diet building in Tokyo
G7 eyes plan on U.S.-led $50 billion aid package for Ukraine
A local resident visits the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Thursday. The U.S. is in talks with close partners to lead a group of allies that would give as much as $50 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Japan drops to 70th in press freedom rankings
A businessman reads a newspaper outside a train station in Tokyo.
Japan’s record-low children population weighs on growth
The number of children 14 years old or younger fell for the 43rd straight year to around 14.01 million as of April 1.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
'Monster' Inoue ready to tear down Luis Nery in title defense at Tokyo Dome
Naoya Inoue (left) and Luis Nery following a pre-fight news conference in Yokohama on Saturday, two days ahead of their super bantamweight title fight.
Debate on constitutional revision at a standstill despite Kishida's pledges
With less than two months left before the conclusion of the current session of parliament, any possibility that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can deliver constitutional reform before the end of his term as Liberal Democratic Party president in late September, as he has promised, appears remote.
Sapporo court ruling on Ainu fishing rights presents tough questions
A traditional Ainu preserved food called <i>satchep</i> (dried fish) being made at the government-run National Ainu Museum and Park, nicknamed Upopoy, in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on Dec. 25. The Sapporo District Court ruled last month that the Raporo Ainu Nation's rights as an Indigenous people did not extend to having an inherent right to fish for commercial reasons.
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu on Thursday.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.

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