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July 13, 2025
 

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Mark J. Valencia
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 26, 2021
Japan, the U.S. and Vietnam not on same page with China
Vietnam knows that the unpredictable giant China will always be there, while the U.S. and its allies' presence in the region is fickle and fleeting.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 6, 2019
Lessons of the Japan-South Korea maritime spat
The confrontation has implications for the rest of Asia, and the United States.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 6, 2018
U.S. makes up lost diplomatic ground over South China Sea
After setbacks, the U.S. is making progress in its diplomatic struggle with China.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 14, 2017
'Quad' cooperation in the South China Sea?
Australia, Japan and India are unlikely to risk antagonizing China by joining U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 13, 2017
Why U.S. South China Sea policy is failing
Rather than fight a long term losing battle at the expense of Southeast Asian nations as well as that of peace and stability in the South China Sea, the U.S. should be proactive, accept reality and share power with China in its own backyard.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 21, 2017
Hypocrisy in the South China Sea
There are no 'innocents' in the South China Sea — only degrees of rationalization.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 23, 2017
Trump's South China Sea policy taking shape
The Trump administration's policy regarding the South China Sea is a continuation of the Obama administration's policy but with more emphasis on the military dimension.
COMMENTARY / World
May 14, 2017
Trump's troubling South China Sea policy
For those nations that believed in and depended on the U.S. to defend them and their shared principles, Trump has kicked off a whole new ball game fraught with uncertainty.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 3, 2017
Compromise with Kim beats status quo
It's time for a bold approach of addressing North Korea's genuine fears in return for a freeze of its nuclear weapons and missile development programs.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 17, 2017
Trump will leave analysts guessing on U.S.-China ties
Analysts trying to parse U.S. policy in the Trump era regarding the South China Sea must be prepared for stark contradictions and intellectual whiplash.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2017
As Trump takes office, U.S. China bashers have a field day
Statements being made by American officials overestimate U.S. power and resolve, and underestimate those of China. That is how wars start.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 17, 2017
Perilous South China Sea plan
If the U.S. pursues U.S. Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson's South China Sea position as policy, it will almost certainly mean high tension, instability and conflict in the region.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 17, 2016
What does Trump mean for the South China Sea dispute?
U.S.-China relations in general — and particularly in the South China Sea — are likely in for a rough patch.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 30, 2016
Behind Manila's pivot to China
America's colonial rule still casts a long shadow over the Philippines and its relationship with the U.S.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 15, 2016
Prelude to war with China?
The South China Sea contretemps has taken a decided turn for the worse.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 25, 2016
Parsing the Sunnylands Declaration 'principles'
The Sunnylands Declaration is full of false hopes and disengenousness.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 15, 2016
Deceit and hypocrisy in the South China Sea
The deceit and hypocrisy of nearly all the claimants and major actors are complicating and confusing the issues in the South China Sea.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 27, 2016
Implications of the U.S. Navy's FONOP program
When the U.S. last fall sent a warship on a Freedom of Navigation Operation near a Chinese-occupied reef, the message was unfortunately both confused and confusing.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 14, 2015
Singapore in the thick of U.S. strategy on China
Singapore may not want to admit it, but it is now part of the U.S. military challenge to China — and the risk that entails.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 17, 2015
Maritime security cooperation in Asia: visions and realities
In Asia, multilateral maritime security regimes are not robust, but what exists is a start — a shaky foundation — that hopefully can be firmed up and built upon.
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Nissan clinches $4.5 billion bond deal after orders soar
Nissan Motor has raised $4.5 billion through a junk bond sale in U.S. dollars and euros, part of which carries a record-high coupon rate.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
An emoji used to say it all. Now it might say too much.
Apple’s Craig Federighi shows off a set of emoji at a conference on June 13, 2016. While the small pictures have proved helpful in conveying nuance in our texts, younger people are using them less often.
‘Our ultimate goal is to save every single Japanese video game’
After nearly shuttering earlier this year, the Tokyo-based Game Preservation Society continues its work to save the early history of Japanese gaming.
Rare vintage shots and first-time shows at TOP’s 30th anniversary
The museum's curators selected a wide array of works from the archives for the milestone exhibitions. Among other photos, Nobuyoshi Araki's work from the series "Winter Journey" (1990) was included in the "Continuity and Change" exhibition that concluded in June.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.

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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