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Gabriel Dominguez
For Gabriel Dominguez's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
(From left) The Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te, who is also Taiwan's vice president, faces off against the main opposition Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih and the Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je on Saturday's presidential election.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 9, 2024
Close race emerges as Taiwan election enters final stretch
Expectations that front-runner Lai Ching-te would simply stroll to victory on Saturday have been dashed, with his polling lead having narrowed significantly.
Taiwanese flags at the Ministry of National Defense in Taipei in December 2022
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 8, 2024
U.S. policy unlikely to shift after Taiwan poll, ex-de facto envoy says
Any differences in Washington's reaction would be "nuanced," and rather involve "adjustments in degree than in type,” said former AIT chief Douglas H. Paal.
The Ground Self-Defense Force's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade takes part in a marine landing drill on Tokunoshima island, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Nov. 19.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 29, 2023
Kishida’s military build-up plans face bumpy road ahead
One year on, questions remain as to whether the embattled leader, whose support rate recently dipped to new lows, can follow through on his pledges.
A woman holding an umbrella walks near a fluttering Taiwanese flag outside the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei in November.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 25, 2023
What’s at stake in Taiwan’s January presidential election?
Depending on the outcome, the closely watched vote could have markedly different security and economic implications for the entire region.
A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missile at the Air Self-Defense Force's Miyakojima Sub Base in Okinawa Prefecture in November
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2023
In major shift, Japan eases rules on exporting defense gear
The policy change could see Japan make its first export of lethal military equipment as early as next year.
ASEAN leaders and their spouses release paper lanterns into the air with students from ASEAN member states during a lighting ceremony for the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit at Azabudai Hills in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 18, 2023
With China in mind, Japan expands security ties with ASEAN
At a leaders summit, the two sides agreed to deepen security ties in areas such as defense equipment and joint training and exercises.
Prime Minster Fumio Kishida joins ASEAN leaders for a family photo before the start of the ASEAN-Japan summit in Jakarta in September.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 14, 2023
With eye on China, Japan and ASEAN to unveil ‘new vision’ for ties
The three-day summit will see the two sides launch a wide range of cooperation initiatives.
Defense ministers from Japan, the U.K. and Italy hold a meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 14, 2023
Japan’s next-gen fighter project with U.K. and Italy hits milestone
The three countries agreed to establish an intergovernmental organization, divide up work share and set out the roles of each partner.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping receives European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel ahead of the 24th EU-China Summit in Beijing on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 8, 2023
Amid trade and Ukraine concerns, EU takes strong stance in Beijing
Europe’s top two officials visited China with a list of economic grievances, calling on Beijing to improve market access and cut trade imbalances.
A CV-22 Osprey at the U.S. military's Yokota Air Base in Tokyo in September 2018
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2023
U.S. Osprey crash rekindles safety concerns in Japan
The unique aircraft has had its share of incidents, but still has a relatively safe record compared to other military aircraft.
Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive for a document exchange ceremony and joint news conference after their meeting in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 28, 2023
With eye on China, Japan and Vietnam take ties to ‘new heights’
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong agreed to elevate the relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
An official shot for this year’s lineup for NHK’s annual “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 22, 2023
Things get warmer with Xi; Johnny’s get the cold shoulder
While Japan and China look to ease tensions, NHK makes things tense with a Johnny’s-less “Kohaku” announcement.
A Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released Monday.
WORLD / Politics / EXPLAINER
Nov 22, 2023
Houthi ship hijacking stokes fears of escalating Israel-Hamas war
The group warned they would continue to target vessels linked to Israelis until the end of the military campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO summit in San Francisco on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 20, 2023
Beyond security: U.S. pulls Manila closer via economic cooperation
Despite mounting tensions in the South China Sea, Marcos said a “major step” in enhancing bilateral relations was a landmark nuclear deal with the U.S.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a family photo during an APEC summit in San Francisco on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 17, 2023
Kishida and Xi aim for trade progress despite lingering tensions
Their talks signaled initial momentum toward a cautious detente, although the two countries appeared to prioritize an improvement in economic ties.
U.S. President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders week in Woodside, California, on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 16, 2023
Biden and Xi agree to pick up the phone to avert crisis. But now what?
Agreed measures are unlikely to be enough to improve bilateral ties, as neither side appeared willing to tackle fundamental differences head on.
Japan's decision to provide patrol boats to Bangladesh will make Dhaka the second beneficiary of defense equipment under Tokyo’s new official security assistance military aid program.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2023
Bangladesh to get patrol boats under Japan's military aid program
The move makes Dhaka the second beneficiary of defense equipment under Tokyo’s new aid program.
Three of Shield AI’s V-Bat drones, which can fly both autonomously and as swarm with a program called hivemind, are seen during testing near Devils Lake, North Dakota, last June.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2023
Japan joins U.S.-led effort to regulate military use of AI
Japan and 44 other countries have endorsed a U.S.-led initiative aimed at setting guardrails around the military use of this cutting-edge technology.
U.S., Japanese and South Korean navy destroyers take part in joint missile defense exercises in international waters between South Korea and Japan in April.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 13, 2023
Japan, U.S. South Korea to share missile-warning data
Following talks between the countries' defense chiefs, the three sides said the mechanism is now "in the final stages of testing."
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (from left), U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh ahead of their bilateral meetings in New Delhi on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 11, 2023
U.S. pulling India closer to West as strategic interests converge
At “two-plus-two” talks Friday, the nations' top diplomats and defense chiefs agreed to accelerate defense-industrial collaboration.

Longform

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