Jesse Johnson - The Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS

Feb 26, 2018

Xi's move to erase term limits puts Chinese president on collision course with Japan's Abe

China has set the stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in his post indefinitely in a position some have compared to that of an “emperor” — a move that could put the Asian powerhouse on a collision course with Japan and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 26, 2018

South Korea's Moon urges U.S. and North to lower threshold for talks

South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged the United States and North Korea to each cede some ground in an attempt to broker talks between the two countries centered around resolving the nuclear crisis as Pyongyang reiterated its openness to dialogue and Washington said it was taking a wait-and-see approach....

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 25, 2018

China to scrap term limits for president, paving way for Xi to stay at helm

In a move likely to pave the way for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to stay at the country's helm beyond his second five-year term, the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee has proposed to remove term limits for the president and vice president.

JAPAN

Feb 22, 2018

Scenarios abound for Japan getting dragged into a U.S.-China conflict: expert

Could a few tiny islets in the East China Sea help light the fire that sparks a wider conflagration in East Asia? What about preventive strikes on North Korean nuclear and missile sites? A collision near one of Beijing's man-made islands in the South China Sea?

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 21, 2018

North Koreans dropped out of meeting with Pence at last minute, U.S. says

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence was prepared to hold a historic meeting with top North Korean officials during his visit to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea earlier this month but was rebuffed by the North at the last minute, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 20, 2018

South Korea to announce plan for joint military exercises before April

In a move that is likely to enrage nuclear-armed North Korea, the South Korean Defense Ministry said Tuesday that by the end of next month it will announce plans for postponed joint military exercises with the United States.

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 19, 2018

North Korea 'fully ready for both dialogue and war,' state media says

North Korea is "fully ready for both dialogue and war" and prepared to respond to any U.S. "provocation by prompt counterstrike," state-run media said Monday as the Winter Olympics continued in South Korea.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 19, 2018

John Kelly and Secret Service agent scuffled with Chinese security officials over nuclear 'football' in Beijing, report claims

White House chief of staff John Kelly, a U.S. Secret Service agent and the U.S. military aide in charge of the so-called nuclear football were involved in a skirmish with Chinese security officials during President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in November, a report said Sunday.

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 14, 2018

Chinese newspaper says Britain is 'trying to validate its existence and grab attention' with South China Sea patrol

Chinese state-run media has blasted London for its plans to send a warship through the disputed South China Sea next month, saying that "by acting tough against China, Britain's Ministry of Defence is trying to validate its existence and grab attention."

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 12, 2018

Pence raises prospect of U.S. talks with North Korea amid pressure campaign

In what could amount to a significant recalibration of its stance toward nuclear-armed North Korea, the United States has said it is open to talks with the isolated country, Vice President Mike Pence said in an interview published Sunday.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS

Feb 11, 2018

Divide and conquer? North Korean 'charm offensive' likely to exacerbate fissures in U.S. alliance

Divide and conquer? Maybe not, but North Korea's "charm offensive" and leader Kim Jong Un's invitation to South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit Pyongyang "in the near future" will exacerbate existing fissures in Washington's alliance with Seoul as Pyongyang seeks to further chip away at the relationship....

JAPAN

Feb 10, 2018

U.S. sailors investigated over alleged drug ring in Japan

The U.S. Navy is investigating allegations that sailors from the 7th Fleet based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, are involved an alleged drug ring in Japan.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 10, 2018

Trump picks U.S. Pacific Command chief Harry Harris to be ambassador to Australia

U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris — known for his strident views on China's military expansion and nuclear-armed North Korea — to be the United States' next ambassador to Australia.

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 8, 2018

In apparent first, Chinese air force deploys advanced fighter jets to South China Sea

The Chinese air force has made public for the first time a deployment of advanced fighter jets for a "joint combat patrol" over the disputed South China Sea.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 7, 2018

Kim Jong Un sister to visit South Korea as part of Olympic delegation

In a stunning move, North Korea will dispatch the powerful younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un as part of a high-level delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South, Seoul said Wednesday.

WORLD / Politics

Feb 7, 2018

Trump orders Washington parade to showcase U.S. military muscle

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked for a large-scale military parade in Washington to showcase American power and highlight his role as commander-in-chief, the White House and Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.

ASIA PACIFIC

Feb 6, 2018

North Korea calls Trump 'dolt-like' and compares 'bloody nose' strike to Iraq War run-up

Nuclear-armed North Korea unleashed a raft of insults and threats against the U.S. and its leader on Tuesday, calling Donald Trump "dolt-like" and comparing recent reports of a possible "bloody nose" limited strike against Pyongyang to the run-up to the Iraq War.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 4, 2018

Pentagon mistakenly labels Taiwan as part of China in key nuclear policy document

The U.S. Department of Defense temporarily removed and reposted its new Nuclear Posture Review report from its website after mistakenly labeling Taiwan as part of mainland China — the latest lapse by the Trump administration involving the sensitive issue.

JAPAN / Politics

Feb 2, 2018

Commander of U.S. Osprey squadron in Okinawa fired after deadly August crash off Australia

The commanding officer of one of Okinawa Prefecture's two MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey squadrons has been fired, nearly six months after a crash involving the aircraft killed three U.S. Marines.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Feb 2, 2018

Top U.S. envoy says America not close to taking military action against North Korea

The U.S. special envoy for North Korea has said that while Washington was keeping all options on the table, he did not believe the United States was close to using military action to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile ambitions.

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