Ben Blanchard - The Japan Times

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Ben Blanchard

For Ben Blanchard's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Sep 9, 2016

China responds strongly to North Korean nuclear test but is unlikely to do much

China criticized North Korea's nuclear test on Friday, but Beijing is unlikely to follow up with strong action because its influence is limited and it believes the United States and South Korea share responsibility for growing tensions in the region.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Aug 31, 2016

China promises humane, lawful treatment of detained Canadian Christian accused of spying

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang promised on Wednesday that a Canadian man held in China for two years on suspicion of spying would be treated humanely and lawfully, but the man's family expressed frustration and called for his release.

ASIA PACIFIC

Aug 30, 2016

China wants to hold successful G-20 but suspects West may try to derail agenda

China is hoping to cement its standing as a global power when it hosts leaders from the world's biggest economies this weekend, but suspects the West and its allies will try to deny Beijing what it sees as its rightful place on the international stage.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Aug 1, 2016

Emboldened Chinese military presses Xi for stern response to South China Sea ruling

China's leadership is resisting pressure from elements within the military for a more forceful response to an international court ruling against Beijing's claims in the South China Sea, sources said, wary of provoking a clash with the United States.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Jul 19, 2016

Trove of documents from purged Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang, smuggled to Hong Kong, to be published

A collection of documents from Zhao Ziyang, who was China's reformist Communist Party chief until he was toppled in 1989 for opposing the Tiananmen crackdown, has been smuggled out of the country and will be published in Hong Kong this month, according to a publishing house that is turning them into a book.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Jul 12, 2016

For China, Trump perhaps better the devil they don't know

In 2010, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provoked outrage in Beijing when she pushed the South China Sea to the top of the regional and U.S. security agendas.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Jul 7, 2016

Beijing warns U.S. on sovereignty ahead of South China Sea ruling

The United States should do nothing to harm China's sovereignty and security in the South China Sea, China's foreign minister told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, ahead of a key court ruling on China's claims in the disputed waterway.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / Economy

Jun 26, 2016

China touts AIIB's greater understanding of developing world

The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be different from institutions like the World Bank because it has a greater understanding of the developing world's needs, officials said Sunday at its first annual meeting.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 27, 2016

China tries to ease worries about overseas military bases

China has launched an unusual charm offensive to explain its first overseas naval base in Djibouti, seeking to assuage global concerns about military expansionism by portraying the move as Beijing's contribution to regional security and development.

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 21, 2016

Missing Chinese columnist who called for Xi to resign 'taken away' by police, lawyer says

Chinese police "took away" a well-known columnist last week before he tried to board a flight for Hong Kong and his whereabouts are still unknown, his lawyer said Monday.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Jan 18, 2016

South China Sea? For Beijing, Taiwan is the No. 1 security issue

For China, whose President Xi Jinping is already taking an increasingly muscular approach to claims in the East and South China seas, the question of Taiwan trumps any other of its territorial assertions in terms of sensitivity and importance.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Jan 12, 2016

Source says North Korea seeks China's aid on treaty with U.S., tests to continue without one

North Korea is seeking a peace treaty with the United States, China and South Korea to formally end the Korean War, and it will not stop its nuclear tests until one is achieved, a person who relayed the same message from North Korea to China has said.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Dec 20, 2015

Taiwan arms deal enough to give China bloody nose, but no more

A new U.S. arms package for Taiwan will help boost the self-ruled island's ability to inflict a bloody nose on China in the case of an attack, enough to make Beijing think twice before launching a military adventure.

Japan Times

WORLD

Sep 27, 2015

Celebrated in China, Xi's U.S. profile dims in shadow of pope

On Friday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoyed the symbolic high point of his first state visit to the United States — a 21-gun salute as he stood with President Barack Obama outside the White House.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Aug 31, 2015

China party says no disrespect meant with Jiang sign removal

The removal of a stone plinth sign written by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the entrance of a key Communist Party training center is not a sign of disrespect, a senior official said on Monday, after rumors of destabilizing party infighting.

ASIA PACIFIC

Aug 1, 2015

On Army Day, China warns of growing border security risks

China's military warned on Saturday on its founding anniversary of growing risks along its borders, including in the disputed waters of the South and East China Seas.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Jul 14, 2015

Poor intelligence, porous borders stymie Chinese control of Uighurs

Poor intelligence and porous borders with Southeast Asia are stymieing China's efforts to stop the flow of ethnic minority Uighur Muslims heading to Turkey, where China says many of them end up fighting for Islamists in Syria and Iraq.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC

Jun 29, 2015

China says changing position on South China Sea dispute would shame ancestors

Changing position on China's claims over the South China Sea would shame its ancestors, while not facing up to infringements of Chinese sovereignty there would shame its children, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Apr 1, 2015

Beijing risks a no-show at WWII events as Western leaders fear jingoism

China is trying hard to get world leaders to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing this year, including a military parade, but some diplomats said President Xi Jinping could be left standing on the stage with few top Western officials.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Oct 16, 2014

China likely set to expel disgraced security chief from party

China's disgraced former domestic security chief, Zhou Yongkang, looks set to be expelled from the ruling Communist Party at a key meeting next week, sources said, possibly paving the way for his formal prosecution.

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

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

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