Eric Teo Chu Cheow - The Japan Times

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

Meta

Eric Teo Chu Cheow

For Eric Teo Chu Cheow's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

COMMENTARY / World

Apr 13, 2006

Chen raising the ante in cross-strait ties

SINGAPORE -- As preparations are made for Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States and a presidential election is scheduled for spring 2008 in Taiwan, there are indications that the next two years could prove challenging for the main parties involved in cross-strait relations -- Beijing, Taiwan's Chen administration and the Pan-Blue opposition coalition, as well as Washington.

COMMENTARY / World

Mar 2, 2006

Diplomatic reposturing in the Mideast

SINGAPORE -- Certain Middle East nations are repositioning themselves diplomatically, a move that holds great significance in the international arena.

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 16, 2006

From shame to governance

SINGAPORE -- Asia has been hit by three recent scandals involving a renown scientist, an upstart IT entrepreneur and a national charity in South Korea, Japan and Singapore, respectively -- Asia's three most developed economies. What lessons can one draw from them? What repercussions will they have on the social transitions shaking Asia today?

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 9, 2006

Battling to win the hearts of Taiwanese

SINGAPORE -- As flights cross the Taiwan Strait at the start of the Year of the Dog, hopes have been high for a possible rapprochement in ties between Beijing and Taipei. But observers are split on whether to expect "a new spring" or renewed tensions across the strait in the next two years before Chen Shui-bian steps down as Taiwan's president.

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 16, 2006

Concern grows in Japan over Asian ties

SINGAPORE -- From a Southeast Asian perspective, recent developments underscore an internal angst in Japan over the growing "China threat" and how Japan will come to terms with its military aggression of the 1930s and '40s. Meanwhile, debate continues in Japan on revising its "pacifist" Constitution and determining Tokyo's future international political and economic roles.

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 5, 2006

U.S.-China ideological rivalry heats up

WASHINGTON -- Two recent events in Asia have again directly underscored the "ideological" tussle between Washington and Beijing, which is increasingly seen as a benevolent power and even as offering a model for socioeconomic development. As Asian leaders gathered last month in Kuala Lumpur for the East Asian Summit, antiglobalization protests against the sixth World Trade Organization ministerial meeting gathered steam in Hong Kong.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 27, 2005

Religious revival fills a void in China

SINGAPORE -- As constitutional debate gathers steam in Japan over the separation of state and religion, Japanese ma want to consider China's efforts to resuscitate participation in religion.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 13, 2005

Japan-China feud clouds EAS launch

SINGAPORE -- The East Asia Summit gets under way in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday under Malaysia's chairmanship. The EAS will be held concurrentl with the summits of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the ASEAN-Plus-Three (Japan, China, South Korea) grouping.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 1, 2005

China juggles growth, stability

SINGAPORE -- As China's annual Central Economic Conference gets under-way in Beijing early this month, Beijing looks set to sustain the new social-economic shift that was laid out by the 5th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCP) in mid-October. The plenum signaled the Chinese leadership's new social, economic, cultural and political outlook.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 21, 2005

Sino-Japanese relations continue to cool

SINGAPORE -- China appears to be in a political and diplomatic quagmire as it contends with a "new" Japan that is described by Chinese observers and analysts as growing increasingly conserva- tive, hawkish and nationalistic. Beijing is alarmed by Japan's so-called return to "normalcy" under the orchestration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Moves to amend the Japanese Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9 symbolize the worst of China's strategic nightmares.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 14, 2005

Can DVDs help stabilize and unite Asia?

SINGAPORE -- Despite and beyond the copyright infringement issue, the booming "DVD phenomenon" in Asia appears to have a strategic importance to governments and a real psychological value to consumers. In fact, the DVD is replacing the video cassette as the best-selling item on the consumer market in Asia today. Even the poorer consumers in Asia's least-developed countries are beginning to gain access to DVDs thanks to the latest economic and technological developments. From China and Indonesia to Thailand and Laos, the DVD is ironically fast becoming symbolic of Asia's rise and well-being; it may also help maintain stability and awaken a sense of regional integration.

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 29, 2005

Get ready for a newly confident Japan

SINGAPORE -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's landslide election victory, which saw his ruling coalition gain control of more than two-thirds of the Lower House, could open a new era for Japan as the country faces the future with greater confidence and seeks to redefine its role in East Asia.

COMMENTARY / World

Sep 5, 2005

Crucial time for U.S.-China-Japan ties

SINGAPORE -- This week will be crucial for the U.S.-China-Japan relationship as U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao begin their summit in Washington on Wednesday, five days ahead of a key general election for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Bush's closest ally in Asia. While Chinese distrust of Koizumi is at a peak, Bush is banking on Koizumi's success in the snap election so that Washington can continue its strategic partnership with Tokyo in missile defense and the war on terror. Bush also wants Koizumi's economic reforms to succeed so that Japan can better counterbalance China's growing strength.

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 29, 2005

Southeast Asia watches Koizumi's gamble

SINGAPORE -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took an unprecedented political gamble in dissolving the Lower House and calling a snap general election for Sept. 11 -- after the Upper House rejected his postal privatization bills Aug. 8. The privatization of Japan Post symbolizes Koizumi's reform plans for Japan's economy and society. At stake is the disposition of some $3 trillion in assets accumulated through Japan Post's savings and insurance programs. Koizumi wants to "free" these assets to stimulate the economy. If successful, Koizumi could break the stranglehold of certain local politicians who oppose fundamental social and political restructuring because it threatens their vested interests.

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 20, 2005

Consolidating against conflict, disaster

SINGAPORE -- Despite some initial difficulties, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations preserved its cohesion as a credible regional organization to end a weeklong series of annual meetings on a good note late last month in Vientiane:

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 5, 2005

How London blitzed Paris for the Games

SINGAPORE -- London's winning bid for the 2012 Olympics at the 117th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Singapore came as a surprise July 6. The IOC voted 54-50 for London after Madrid, New York and Moscow were eliminated in the earlier rounds. French newspapers were already reporting Paris' victory as a fait accompli. So what lessons can be learned from the London and Paris bids?

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 9, 2005

Beijing aims to politically isolate Koizumi

SINGAPORE -- The feud between China and Japan over the contents of Japanese history textbooks, sovereignty of the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's periodic visits to Yasukuni Shrine came to a head in April when anti-Japanese riots broke out in some Chinese cities.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 25, 2005

EU lessons for East Asian regionalism

SINGAPORE -- Recent referendums in both France and Netherlands dealt a blow to European integration as voters overwhelming rejected the proposed EU Constitution 55-45 percent and 64-37 per- cent, respectively. Nine countries, including Germany, Spain and Italy, have already approved the constitution via a parliamentary process. Britain, Denmark and Luxembourg, which had planned to hold referendums, have now canceled them.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 6, 2005

China showing a knack for taking risks

SINGAPORE -- A China that is willing to take ideological and political risks is emerging not only in affairs involving Hong Kong and Taiwan but also in the increasingly troubled relations with Tokyo and Washington.

COMMENTARY / World

May 28, 2005

Jakarta and Beijing cozy up

SINGAPORE -- During Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent visit to Jakarta and Bandung for the Golden Jubilee Commemoration of the 1955 Bandung Conference, Indonesian organizers underscored China's place at the conference and Hu stayed an extra day to sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and China, a partnership with four Asian strategic dimensions.

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

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.

For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on

By Lance Henderstein

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa

A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports