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May 04, 2024
 

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Ben Blanchard
For Ben Blanchard's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 12, 2023
Trip shows Taiwan determined to safeguard freedom and democracy, Tsai says
'Faced with continued authoritarian expansionism, it is even more critical for democracies to actively unite,' she said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 27, 2022
Taiwan to extend conscription to one year, citing rising China threat
China's growing assertiveness toward the island, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have prompted debate calls to boost defense.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Oct 12, 2022
Fearing war in Xi's next term, Taiwan bolsters defenses
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has made modernizing the country's armed forces a priority, developing what she has called 'comprehensive asymmetric warfare capabilities.'
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 19, 2022
Strong earthquake in southeastern Taiwan kills one and injures 146
More than 600 people are trapped on the scenic Chike and Liushishi mountain areas by blocked roads, though there were no injuries and rescuers were working to reopen the roads.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 16, 2022
'Humor over rumor': Taiwan eyes Ukraine messaging model if China attacks
Taiwan is looking at Ukraine's ways of communicating its message to the outside world at a time of conflict, by making use of tools such as satellites and deploying humor.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 31, 2022
Taiwan shoots at Chinese drone after president warns of 'strong countermeasures'
Footage of at least two drone missions showing Taiwanese soldiers at their posts, and in one case throwing rocks at a drone, have circulated widely on Chinese social media.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 28, 2022
Taiwan opposition defends 'brave' China outreach after controversial visit
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said the visit was wrong and that opposition parties should recognize that China is 'the instigator of the destruction of peace in the Taiwan Strait.'
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 22, 2022
Taiwan touts 'democracy chips' in meeting with Indiana governor
Gov. Eric Holcomb was making the third trip to Taiwan this month by a U.S. delegation after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited briefly, infuriating China.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 3, 2022
Supply chains snarl Taiwan tech firms as some strive to meet demand
Companies are reporting a strong market for products, especially in automotives and high-end computing, but difficulty in securing inputs.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 9, 2022
Taiwan studies Ukraine war for own battle strategy with China
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of 'asymmetric warfare,' as has been seen in Ukraine, to make its forces more mobile and hard to attack.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 23, 2022
Taiwan casts wary eye at China amid Ukraine crisis
While Taipei is always on alert, there have been no unusual maneuvers by Chinese forces in recent days, officials say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 14, 2022
Inside Taiwan's brutal navy frogman bootcamp
Of the group of 31 who started the 10 week course, only 15 finished, with the closing week at the sprawling Zuoying navy base in southern Taiwan being the last test.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 13, 2021
Taiwan threat assessment says Chinese invasion would be very difficult
A full invasion with troops landed and ports and airports seized would be very difficult to achieve due to problems in landing and supplying troops, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 26, 2021
Model soldiers and secret bunkers: Taiwan's front line with China
At the height of the Cold War, Kinmen saw the last wartime battles between China and Taiwan. Now locals are encouraging tourism.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 5, 2021
Taiwan warns it needs to be on alert to 'over the top' China
Taiwan has reported 148 Chinese air force planes in the southern and southwestern part of its air defense zone over a four day period beginning on Friday.
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.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Yen swings stir talk that Japan is in the FX market once again
An electronic screen in Tokyo displays the yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and the graph showing its recent swings, on Thursday.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Japan's May 1 intervention may have cost ¥3.66 trillion, BOJ data suggests
An electronic screen displays a graph showing Japanese yen exchange rates surging against the dollar amid signs of intervention by authorities, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
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.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces
By Stephen Mansfield

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