Jesse Johnson - The Japan Times

November 04, 2025

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Jesse Johnson

ASIA PACIFIC

May 16, 2016

U.S. Navy secretary to visit New Zealand as talk of port calls heats up

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus is set to visit New Zealand this week for a trip that could move Washington closer to resolving a decades-old dispute with Wellington over port calls for U.S. vessels, it was learned Monday.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 15, 2016

China slams 'hyped-up' Pentagon report on state of its military

Beijing lambasted the U.S. Defense Department on Sunday over its annual report on the state of China's military, calling it a "hyped-up" move that "deliberately distorted the nation's defense policies."

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 14, 2016

Beijing's 'coercive tactics' lay foundation for long-term maritime goals, Pentagon report says

China has used "coercive tactics" to boost its presence and control over disputed areas of the South China Sea and is shifting gears to beef up its military assets in the contested waters, a report released Friday by the Pentagon said.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 11, 2016

China says U.S. patrols justify defense facilities in contested waters

China's Defense Ministry traded blame with the U.S. on Wednesday over rising tensions in the South China Sea, a day after Washington sent a guided-missile destroyer near a Chinese-controlled man-made island.

JAPAN

May 11, 2016

Obama steps into regional spat over victimhood

A plan for the first-ever visit to Hiroshima by a sitting U.S. president was expected to draw a mixed reaction in the region, where China and South Korea have accused Japan of glossing over its actions in World War II and playing up its own victimhood.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

May 11, 2016

'Minimalist' U.S. sail-bys in South China Sea could reinforce Beijing's claims

Washington on Tuesday called a third U.S. Navy maneuver in a disputed part of the South China Sea a robust stand on freedom of navigation. However, the fleeting sail-by fits an approach that some critics have called "minimalist" — one that could strengthen Beijing's claims.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS

May 10, 2016

Duterte's South China Sea stance could shake up security ties with Japan, U.S.

Take a breath. Tough-talking Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte is unlikely to ride a jet ski to plant a flag on a China-held island, as he promised in a stump speech.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 8, 2016

Forbidden fruit: China bans 'erotic' banana-eating live streams

Bananas may be China's new forbidden fruit — at least online.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 7, 2016

Images show North Korea may be preparing fifth nuke test: think tank

Satellite imagery taken Thursday — just a day before North Korea kicked off a key summit of the country's ruling party — shows that Pyongyang may be preparing to conduct its fifth nuclear test "in the near future," a U.S. think tank said Friday.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 3, 2016

North Korea party congress set to be Kim's coronation

As its "70-day campaign of loyalty" wraps up, North Korea on Friday will hold its first Workers' Party Congress in nearly 40 years, with young Kim Jong Un looking to cement his position as the country's supreme leader — showing his people and the world who's in charge.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

May 1, 2016

Beijing launches charm offensive ahead of South China Sea court ruling

Beijing has launched a charm offensive to shore up its position in the South China Sea ahead of a key international court decision widely expected to rule against its claims to the disputed waters.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Apr 30, 2016

China denies Hong Kong port call request by U.S. carrier group

China has denied a request by a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to make a port call in Hong Kong, the U.S. State Department said Saturday, as tensions continue to rise over the disputed South China Sea.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Apr 27, 2016

China says Australia sub deal strengthens U.S., warns Canberra to keep out of regional disputes

Chinese state-run media said Wednesday that Australia's choice of France to build its next-generation fleet of submarines avoided a "worst-case scenario" by not choosing Japan but issued a warning to U.S. ally Canberra not to upset the shifting security balance in the region.

Japan Times

JAPAN / ANALYSIS

Apr 26, 2016

Australian politics, Japan's lack of experience behind failed bid to build subs

In a stunning reversal of fortunes, Japan — the onetime front-runner in the multibillion-dollar tender to build Australia's next-generation submarine — fails in its bid to assemble the vessels.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Society

Apr 25, 2016

Xi says China must be on guard against nefarious religious influences from abroad

In a meeting with top Communist Party officials, Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged authorities in staunchly atheist China to be on guard against foreign infiltration via religion.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Apr 24, 2016

Beijing, four ASEAN nations reach 'consensus' that South China Sea shouldn't affect ties

China has reached an agreement with Brunei, Cambodia and Laos that the South China Sea dispute "should not affect relations" with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

JAPAN

Apr 23, 2016

Australian police to investigate submarine tender leak: report

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have been asked to investigate how classified information on the country's 50 billion Australian dollar submarine tender emerged — the second such probe into leaks in the program, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. said Friday.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Apr 23, 2016

U.S. warplanes conduct operation near key Chinese-held reef in South China Sea

A contingent of six U.S. military aircraft that were left behind in the Philippines after the conclusion of joint exercises this month have conducted their first air and maritime situational awareness flights near disputed territory in the South China Sea.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Apr 20, 2016

Canberra all but rules out Japan sub bid: report

Canberra has all but eliminated the much-hyped Japanese bid to build the country's 50 billion Australian dollar fleet of new submarines, a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. said Wednesday.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Apr 17, 2016

Beijing urges 'discretion' over South China Sea as New Zealand leader Key visits

China has urged New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to exercise "discretion" during his visit to China that started Sunday — an apparent attempt by Beijing to wield its considerable economic leverage in its dispute over the contested South China Sea.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.

The second life of Japan's net cafes

By Alex K.T. Martin

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