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July 27, 2024
 

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Ben Blanchard
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 18, 2021
Taiwan mobilizes diplomats to seek out COVID-19 shots
The effort has become more urgent since a sudden rise in domestic cases hit the island, which has vaccinated less than 1% of its population.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 8, 2021
China sends more jets as Taiwan says it will fight to the end if there's war
The democratic self-governed island has complained of repeated military activities by Beijing in recent months.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 11, 2020
How China is trying to subdue Taiwan with 'gray-zone' warfare
Beijing is conducting waves of threatening forays from the air while ratcheting up pressure tactics to erode Taiwan's will to resist, say current and former Taiwan military officers.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 29, 2020
China-U.S. tensions raise Taiwan conflict fears
Both Beijing and Taipei have held extensive military exercises in recent weeks.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 28, 2019
Amid crises, Xi Jinping seems set to uphold Communist Party rule at secretive China conclave
China's Communist Party leaders Monday kicked off their most important meeting this year, with President Xi Jinping expected to champion the Chinese model of governance while fighting protracted economic and political crises at home and abroad.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 18, 2019
U.S. may call out China on rights at U.N. gathering of leaders
The United States is considering how it will confront China during next week's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations over its detention of 1 million Muslims in a remote region, at a time when some diplomats warn that U.S. leadership in global institutions is waning and China's influence is...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jun 16, 2019
How Hong Kong protests and Beijing pressure forced Carrie Lam to cave on extradition bill
With an escalating U.S. trade war, a faltering economy and tensions in the South China Sea vexing her bosses in Beijing, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam appeared in no mood to compromise on a planned extradition law at recent meetings, according to foreign envoys and business people who met with...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 11, 2019
China struggles to ease concerns over 'Belt and Road' initiative as summit looms
China is struggling to ease worries about President Xi Jinping's signature plan to build a new Silk Road as it readies for a major summit in late April, especially among Western nations wary about debt, transparency and Chinese influence.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Feb 27, 2019
Simmering tension with Taiwan means China defense budget likely to defy slowing economy
A slowing economy is unlikely to crimp China's 2019 defense budget growth, as Beijing earmarks more spending for modernization and big-ticket items like stealth jets, and focuses on Taiwan after a stern New Year's speech from President Xi Jinping.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Feb 28, 2018
China's military flexes muscles for domestic objective: more funding
With stealth jets entering service, leaked pictures of new high-tech naval artillery and proud reports of maneuvers that "dare to shine the sword," China's armed forces are putting on a show of power as they lobby for greater defense spending.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 27, 2018
With eye on U.S., China to revamp top tier of diplomats, sources say
China is expected to announce a reshuffle of its top diplomats at an annual meeting of parliament in March, aiming to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's growing suspicion of Beijing, several sources familiar with the plan said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 26, 2018
China pushes back against criticism of plan for Xi to stay in power
China's plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely has sparked social media opposition, drawing comparisons to North Korea's ruling dynasty and charges of creating a dictator by a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 4, 2017
China reluctant to press North Korea with further sanctions, seeks more from West
North Korea's latest nuclear test is likely to pile more pressure on China to take tough action against its neighbor, but Beijing already doubts economic sanctions will work and says it is not its sole responsibility to rein in Pyongyang.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 2, 2017
Xi takes steps to lifelong sole leadership on a par with Mao
A recent scene at a dusty Inner Mongolia military base provided evidence of Chinese President Xi Jinping's consolidation of political power even as he faces pushback in his ruling Communist Party ahead of a critical gathering next month.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 8, 2017
Due to proximity, China will pay biggest price for new North Korea sanctions
China will pay the biggest price from the new United Nations sanctions against North Korea because of its close economic relationship with the country, but will always enforce the resolutions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 30, 2017
Trump warms to Xi, but risks leaving allies out to dry
U.S. President Donald Trump's warm words for Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "good man" will reassure Beijing that he finally understands the importance of good ties but risk leaving America's allies in the region puzzling over where they fit into the new order.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Apr 4, 2017
When Trump and Xi meet, will it mean conciliation or collision?
When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, their summit will be marked not only by deep policy divisions but a clash of personalities between America's brash "tweeter-in-chief" and Beijing's cautious, calculating leader.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 2, 2017
Beijing cozies up to EU in wake of Trump's 'America First' policy
China has launched a charm offensive with the European Union since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, shifting its stance on trade negotiations and signaling closer cooperation on a range of other issues, European diplomats say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 29, 2017
Trump's policies on trade, climate and the U.N. push China toward EU
China has launched a charm offensive with the European Union since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, shifting its stance on trade negotiations and signaling closer cooperation on a range of other issues, European diplomats say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 29, 2017
As Trump stresses 'America First,' China plays the world leader
China is calmly mapping out global leadership aspirations from trade to climate change, drawing distinctions between President Xi Jinping's steady hand and new U.S. President Donald Trump, whose first days have been marked by media feuds and protests.
Japan's population continues to fall even as foreign resident count rises
The number of residents in Tokyo as of Jan. 1 rose by 0.03% from a year before, data shows, marking a year-on-year increase for the first time in three years, while the country's other 46 prefectures saw their populations continue to decline.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
One dead, three missing as heavy rain batters Tohoku
Camera footage shows the Mogami River bursting its banks in Tozawa, Yamagata Prefecture, on Friday morning.
Yen melt-up nudges Japanese stocks into correction territory
Japanese stocks are down 10% from their July peak as the yen strengthens.
Yen rally could help end crushing wage decay in Japan
Some economists say a sticky weak yen trend would have a negative impact on Japan's real wage growth.
When did summer in Japan stop being fun?
Summer in Japan is now consistently brutal enough to drive you indoors and keep you there until autumn.
Japan’s minimum wage set for record ¥50 hike in major boost
Demonstrators rally to demand a big hike in minimum wages in Tokyo last week.
Japan loses top spot on strongest passport list to Singapore
Japan had the strongest passport for six years running from 2018, before being dethroned by Singapore on the 2024 list.
Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan eyes gold — and the future — as Olympic men's soccer campaign begins
Japan midfielder Yu Hirakawa controls the ball during a match against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals
By Alex K.T. Martin

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JNTO promotes sustainable tourism initiatives

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