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May 05, 2024
 

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Mark J. Valencia
For Mark J. Valencia's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 28, 2015
The South China Sea spats: an alternative point of view
In the eyes of other countries, China has behaved badly in the South China Sea. In China's view so have other claimants — and the U.S. and now Japan.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 10, 2015
New round of China-bashing
What is altering the status quo and 'destabilizing' the South China Sea? Is it China's reclamation activities or is it the U.S. military rebalance?
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 16, 2014
U.S.-China skirmishes beg for guidelines on 'spying'
What do the dangerous encounters at sea and in the air between Chinese and American ships and aircraft have in common, and how can they be prevented or managed?
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 1, 2014
China, U.S. moving closer to viewing war as inevitable
The 'tipping point' in China-U.S. relations has been defined as where the two conclude that conflict is unavoidable and begin preparing for it in earnest while trying to hide their true intentions. Has that point been reached?
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 20, 2014
Ambiguous fisheries law sets up in-your-face conundrum for China
The ambiguity of China's 'new' fisheries law courts conflict by setting up an in-your-face conundrum for its neighbors
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 6, 2013
ADIZs: separating fact from fiction
The fact that China's new air defense identification zone overlaps that of Japan, Taiwan and South Korea is not 'illegal' and is perhaps part of a strategy to level the legal playing field vis-a-vis Japan's claims in the disputed area.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 7, 2013
Sea treaty mutiny simmers
Some of China's political analysts and particularly military officers seem to be questioning why China ratified the Law of the Sea Treaty in the first place.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 30, 2011
Realpolitik drama unfolds in the South China Sea
Observing the diplomatic maneuvering over the South China Sea issues in the runup to and including the July and November Bali summits was like watching a multi-act Shakespearian play unfold. The main protagonist was China, which was bedeviled by several nymphs — the counter claimants to the South China Sea islands and maritime space.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 1, 2011
ASEAN rises to a challenge
Last week a sense of optimism wafted out of the Bali meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN and China agreed on "guidelines" for implementing their previously agreed 2002 Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2002
Japan's rights and wrongs in the 'fishing boat' incident
HONOLULU -- Japan's violent pursuit of a suspected North Korean boat in the East China Sea has prompted both domestic and international controversy. Domestic opposition critics are questioning Japan's right to use force on the "high seas" and are using this incident to argue against expanding Japan's military activities. Prime Minister Junchiro Koizumi may use this incident to justify his plans to strengthen the military and its authority. He also wants to pass a law allowing such suspect foreign ships in Japan's 200-mile exclusive economic zone to be arrested and, if they resist, to be fired upon. A law allowing such actions in Japan's 12-mile territorial sea was passed last November.
COMMENTARY / World
May 24, 2001
Rampant piracy posing political problems for Southeast Asia's policymakers
Piracy is alive and well in Southeast Asia, and it is posing political problems for policymakers. Piracy incidents in and around the Straits of Malacca and Singapore have recently increased at an alarming rate -- in both number and severity. But these modern pirates are a far cry from the swashbuckling rogues of old.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 28, 2000
Protecting Japan's right to freedom of navigation
HONOLULU -- Japan's economic security depends on safe and secure passage of its oil imports and trade through the Malacca/Singapore Straits and the South China Sea. Yet a recent upsurge in piracy, "creeping" jurisdiction and possible conflict between rival claimants in the Spratly Islands threaten these sea lanes.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 2, 2000
Cooperation is key to ending Northern Territories impasse
Russia and Japan appear to be creeping toward an interim solution to the Northern Territories imbroglio. There are two possibilities being discussed -- joint administration and control of some or all four islands, and a two-stage agreement in which Russia gives up or shares Shikotan and the Habomai group and promises to return or share Kunashiri and Etorofu later. In either arrangement, both countries would win and no one would lose. Russia's territorial integrity would be partially preserved, Japan's legitimacy and presence in the islands would be restored and the islands' abundant terrestrial and marine resources would be jointly developed to the economic benefit of both.
Japan says Biden's description of nation as xenophobic is 'unfortunate'
The National Diet building in Tokyo
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu on Thursday.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces
Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
Japan drops to 70th in press freedom rankings
A businessman reads a newspaper outside a train station in Tokyo.
Traders spooked by intervention risk trim record yen shorts
Traders edged back from record bets on yen weakness this past week, in a period that included a likely bout of intervention by Japan to prop up the currency.
'Monster' Inoue ready to tear down Luis Nery in title defense at Tokyo Dome
Naoya Inoue (left) and Luis Nery following a pre-fight news conference in Yokohama on Saturday, two days ahead of their super bantamweight title fight.
Debate on constitutional revision at a standstill despite Kishida's pledges
With less than two months left before the conclusion of the current session of parliament, any possibility that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can deliver constitutional reform before the end of his term as Liberal Democratic Party president in late September, as he has promised, appears remote.
Sapporo court ruling on Ainu fishing rights presents tough questions
A traditional Ainu preserved food called <i>satchep</i> (dried fish) being made at the government-run National Ainu Museum and Park, nicknamed Upopoy, in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on Dec. 25. The Sapporo District Court ruled last month that the Raporo Ainu Nation's rights as an Indigenous people did not extend to having an inherent right to fish for commercial reasons.
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu on Thursday.
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.

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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
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