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July 06, 2025
 

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Benjamin Kang Lim
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
May 1, 2019
China's vast fleet seen tipping the balance of power in the Pacific
A generation ago, from mid-1995 into early 1996, China lobbed missiles in the waters around Taiwan as the self-governing island prepared to hold its first fully democratic presidential election. Washington forcefully intervened to support its ally, sending two aircraft carrier battle groups to patrol...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Apr 28, 2019
New missile gap leaves U.S. scrambling to counter China, in shift that leaves Japan at risk
China's powerful military is considered to be a master at concealing its intentions. But there is no secret about how it plans to destroy American aircraft carriers if rivalry becomes war.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Apr 26, 2019
How China is replacing America as Asia's military titan
In 1938, in the midst of a long campaign to bring China under Communist Party rule, revolutionary leader Mao Zedong wrote: "Whoever has an army has power."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 27, 2018
With eye on U.S., China to revamp top tier of diplomats, sources say
China is expected to announce a reshuffle of its top diplomats at an annual meeting of parliament in March, aiming to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's growing suspicion of Beijing, several sources familiar with the plan said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 2, 2017
Xi takes steps to lifelong sole leadership on a par with Mao
A recent scene at a dusty Inner Mongolia military base provided evidence of Chinese President Xi Jinping's consolidation of political power even as he faces pushback in his ruling Communist Party ahead of a critical gathering next month.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 5, 2017
China anti-graft overhaul paves way for Xi to retain ally — and sets precedent for him to stay on beyond 2022
China's sweeping overhaul of its anti-corruption architecture could enable President Xi Jinping to justify retaining his key ally and top graft buster Wang Qishan beyond retirement age, sources with ties to the leadership say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 2, 2017
China considering strong measures to contain Taiwan: sources
China's military has become alarmed by what it sees as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's support of Taiwan and is considering strong measures to prevent the island from moving toward independence, sources with ties to senior military officers said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 20, 2016
China sees THAAD deployment as 'weather vane' under Trump
Whether President-elect Donald Trump goes through with a deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea will be a key indicator to how political ties unfold with China, sources with ties to the leadership in Beijing said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 2, 2016
Duterte visit to China may lead to changing alliances in East Asia
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will travel to China this month on a visit that could redraw alliances in East Asia after his incendiary comments about the United States and active courting of Washington's chief rivals.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 2, 2016
Xi said consolidating grip on power in China by curbing rival bloc, giving allies more power
One year before a Communist Party conclave that could decide who will eventually replace him as China's next leader, President Xi Jinping is maneuvering to reduce the power of a rival political bloc while seeking to get members of his own faction onto the country's top ruling body, according to three...
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...
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 / Politics
Jan 11, 2015
Fear and retribution rule amid Xi's crackdown on corruption in China
Chen Zhenggao, a member of the Communist Party's elite Central Committee, clearly has enemies.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 11, 2015
Scrutinized Chinese officials frozen in headlights of Xi's anti-graft campaign
The sustained scrutiny of Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign has been traumatic for many Communist Party and government officials who have grown rich on their power to dispense favors. With so much attention on their lifestyles, spending, travel, entertainment and networks of friends...
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.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 21, 2014
With crash probe, China turns up heat on ex-security chief Zhou
Little is known about the exact circumstances in which Wang Shuhua was killed. What has been reported, in the Chinese media, is that she died in a road accident sometime in 2000, shortly after she was divorced from her husband. And that at least one vehicle with a military license plate may have been...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 30, 2014
China ex-leaders OK'd Zhou probe
Two former Chinese leaders gave their consent to investigate ex-domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, a sign the corruption probe won't open a rift in the Communist Party.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jul 30, 2014
Massive graft, rivalry behind purge of China's oil mandarins
Oil executive Jiang Jiemin rose to power in communist China in time-honored fashion: by hitching his star to a mighty mentor.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society / FOCUS
Jul 1, 2014
Beijing quietly tightening grip on Hong Kong
Since Britain handed back colonial Hong Kong in 1997, retired primary school teacher and Falun Gong devotee Lau Wai-hing has fully exercised the freedoms China promised this city of 7.2 million.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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