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April 30, 2024
 

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Frank Ching
Frank Ching is a Hong Kong-based writer who has covered developments in China for several decades. He opened The Wall Street Journal’s Bureau in Beijing after the U.S. and China established diplomatic relations in 1979, becoming one of the first American reporters to be based in China since 1949.
For Frank Ching's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 3, 2021
In defense of Taiwan, Biden makes a ‘slip of the tongue’
Joe Biden may intentionally be telegraphing the message to China that he fully intends to protect Taiwan with the aim of deterring a Chinese attack.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 5, 2021
China is close to dominating the world stage
Recent global matters all see China deeply involved, even when its name isn't mentioned.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 4, 2021
U.S.-China talks: Salvaging a relationship
The slogan when U.S.-China relations were first restored was “Friendship first, competition second.” Now, no one speaks about friendship. It is competition first, last and in between.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 7, 2021
China’s war against poverty may not be all that it seems
“Much of the poverty reduction in the first years after 1978 was simply a result of reversing bad Maoist policies,' according to one U.N. economist.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 9, 2021
China ages before it can become rich
One problem is that the Communist Party views people not as individual human beings but as tools to be manipulated to suit party policy at different times
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 10, 2021
Hong Kong’s fading attractions: Will the new Carrie Lam Show help?
Hong Kong is changing so much that it is quickly becoming unrecognizable. With China tightening its grip over the former British colony, it is losing much of its old attraction.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 7, 2021
China’s Taiwan conundrum: Will use of force to unite be followed by new division?
If Taiwan doesn't agree to be absorbed peacefully, it will be forced to do so. Beijing now feels that there is little likelihood of peaceful unification.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2021
China says 'patriotism' in Hong Kong means loving the party
Hong Kong's Basic Law provides that foreigners can serve as judges and up to 20% of legislators can be foreign nationals. An emphasis on patriotism puts such people in an awkward position.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 7, 2021
Biden plays Deng’s card against Xi
Chinese officials are clearly disappointed that he doesn't seem to be thinking of China and did not mention China during his inaugural address.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 6, 2021
As world says good riddance to 2020, China hails its new status
China's position in the world has been elevated as a result of the pandemic, despite criticism that its early missteps and cover-ups made possible the spread of the virus around the world.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 23, 2020
These two jailed Canadians deserve your Christmas wishes
Hopefully, the buildup of publicity of people sending Christmas cards to the imprisoned Canadians will put moral pressure on China, causing it to abandon its practice of hostage diplomacy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2020
Can Hong Kong return to the situation before the national security law?
In the current political climate, it is difficult to see China reversing its current course of greater integration of Hong Kong into the mainland.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 22, 2020
After 23 years of Chinese rule, Hong Kong is back to square one
Hong Kong's chief executive has created a path for the city's leadership to remove legislators at will, without involvement of the legislature itself or the judiciary.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 11, 2020
China's lesson from the U.S. election? No, thanks.
Beijing has made clear it hopes that a change in the U.S. administration will lead to an improvement in the bilateral relationship.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 27, 2020
China shocked to discover the developed world views it in a negative light
China risks losing the trade and investment that it needs from the developed world. To be seen as a “responsible major country,” it must behave accordingly.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 6, 2020
China sits at epicenter of raging U.S. election thunderstorm
Beijing's position on the contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party, is that it has no position.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 23, 2020
U.S.-China dialogue suggests Xi supports Trump in election
With Trump, perhaps unwittingly, doing China's work, there's every reason for Beijing to help him win votes in November.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 28, 2020
Crisis tests China's system of governance
The system's obsession with controlling information means it isn't flexible enough to prevent a crisis from developing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 29, 2019
China and Japan make progress on cordiality track
Despite a mutual desire for improved relations, problems keep popping up, underlining deep-seated differences.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 26, 2019
Japan-China warming: People power at work
The impact of Chinese tourists is more than economic; the visitors to Japan are having a diplomatic impact as well.
When will Japan intervene to support the yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki has reiterated the government's readiness to take an appropriate action as the yen continues to slide against the U.S. dollar.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Raising kids in Japan as a single parent? It takes a village.
Making things work as a foreign, single mother in Japan isn't easy, but these tips and tricks can help you through the hardest parts.
Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990
The yen dropped to ¥160.245 per dollar on Monday before heading into the other direction to ¥155.01 amid speculation of an intervention by Japanese currency authorities.
Man, 28, arrested in Okinawa over burned bodies found in Tochigi
Hikaru Sasaki enters the Metropolitan Police Department's Osaki police station in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward on Monday after being arrested on suspicion of disposing of two bodies found in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, earlier this month.
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.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.

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