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April 20, 2024
 

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Kirsty Needham
For Kirsty Needham's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
The U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class maritime security cutter USCGC Bertholf pulls into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii in June 2012.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 10, 2024
U.S. Coast Guard rebuts China's criticism of South Pacific vessel boardings
Last month six Chinese fishing boats were found to be violating Vanuatu's fisheries law by local police on board a U.S. Coast Guard boat.
The United States has cautioned Pacific Islands nations against assistance from China after reports surfaced that Chinese police are working in Kiribati.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 28, 2024
U.S. cautions after Hawaii neighbor Kiribati gets Chinese police
The news comes as Beijing renews a push to expand security ties in the Pacific Islands in an intensifying rivalry with the United States.
U.S. President Joe Biden chats with Kiribati President Taneti Maamau as Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown looks on during a summit at the White House in Washington in September.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 23, 2024
Chinese police are working in Kiribati, Hawaii's Pacific neighbor
Kiribati has not publicly announced the policing deal, which comes as Beijing renews a push to expand security ties in the Pacific islands.
A Beijing court heard Yang Hengjun's trial in secret in May 2021 and the case against him has never been publicly disclosed. He has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States.
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Feb 5, 2024
Beijing court gives Australian writer suspended death sentence
Yang Hengjun had been accused of spying for a country China has not identified and the details of the case against him have not been made public.
Flags of Solomon Islands and China flutter near the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on July 11, 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 17, 2024
China helps Pacific Islands with policing, not defense: ambassador
Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2019, with Nauru joining just after Taiwan's election.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday following the defeat of the Voice referendum.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 15, 2023
Australia referendum failure may mean more divisive politics
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese misread the public mood, analysts said, as he took responsibility for the referendum result.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Ramos-Horta during a meeting in Dili, East Timor, in June 2022
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 29, 2023
Timor president says China military cooperation 'never discussed'
China's increased efforts to form security ties with developing countries in close proximity to Australia have raised alarm bells in Canberra.
U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders during the U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit at the White House in Washington last September.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 19, 2023
No clear winner in U.S.-China contest in the South Pacific
The vast ocean region, pivotal in World War II, is in the spotlight again amid tensions over Taiwan.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 6, 2023
China leads tech race, highlighting need for AUKUS sharing, think tank says
An analysis of 2 million science papers showed Beijing had a commanding lead in both hypersonics research and the technology to counter it, electronic warfare and key undersea capabilities.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 24, 2023
After cyclones leave many homeless, Vanuatu takes climate plea to world stage
More than 3,000 people are still in evacuation centers three weeks after two category-four cyclones hit Vanuatu, which has a population of 319,000 spread across 80 islands.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 10, 2023
Pacific's Micronesia in talks to switch ties from Beijing to Taiwan
Beijing and Taiwan have a history of competing in the Pacific islands, where four of Taiwan's 14 diplomatic allies are located.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 5, 2022
Unpredictable Solomon Islands fuels U.S. concern as China's influence grows
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's unpredictable diplomacy will make it hard for Washington to make up lost ground with the island nation as Beijing seeks to expand its security presence.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 28, 2022
Australia commits to Pacific islands defense training as China plans rival meet
Australia will double its funding for aerial surveillance of the Pacific islands vast fishing zone and provide financing for Pacific islands to build more resilient infrastructure.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 14, 2022
Hero to hindrance: Australia's Morrison hurts party's election hopes
The PM's personality is now a liability, with public attacks from members of his own party and polls showing his government on track to lose to the Labor Party in the May 21 election.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Apr 27, 2022
Solomon Islands pact with China roils Australian PM's election campaign
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison saw a hawkish stance on China as an electoral strength. But now his party is on the back foot on national security.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 20, 2022
Solomon Islands PM says China security pact won't undermine regional peace
The move has heightened concerns in Canberra about the potential for a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 kilometers away.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 24, 2022
Australian PM loses control of WeChat Chinese account as election looms
With a national election due by May, the government would have aimed to use the Morrison account to promote its policies during the Chinese New Year celebrations starting Feb. 1.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 21, 2022
World rushes aid to tsunami-hit Tonga as drinking water and food run short
The first flights from Australia and New Zealand landed in Tonga on Thursday with much-needed supplies of water for sanitation and hygiene as well as shelter, communication equipment and power generators.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 20, 2022
First aid finally reaches Tonga as telephone lines partially restored
The delivery of the supplies brought in by aircraft was contactless to ensure Tonga remains free of the coronavirus.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 11, 2022
Pacific may be most likely to see 'strategic surprise,' U.S. policymaker says
The comments by U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell were apparently in reference to possible Chinese ambitions to establish Pacific-island bases.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran
A reported strike against Iran by Israel on Friday came against the backdrop of Iran's support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault into Israel on Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of Gaza.
In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
Former No. 1 Kento Momota retires from international badminton at 29
Badminton star Kento Momota leaves a news conference after announcing his retirement from Japan's national team, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

Podcast

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

Longform

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

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