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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 20, 2021

With Afghanistan withdrawal, Biden focuses on the big picture

By eliminating a distraction for U.S. decision-makers and ending the drain on their resources, it allows the U.S. to better address real dangers it faces. For many, that is China.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 19, 2021

Why sanctions could worsen the tragedy in Myanmar

The modest democratic progress Myanmar made during the period of awkward coexistence between the NLD and the military over the last decade appears to have been completely wiped out.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 19, 2021

Beijing huddles with friends as it seeks to fracture U.S.-led 'clique'

China is shoring up ties with autocratic partners like Russia and Iran while using sanctions and threats to try to fracture the alliances the United States is building against it.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 18, 2021

The 'Quad' has the potential to become a truly historic undertaking

Last month, U.S. President Joe Biden invited the leaders of Japan, Australia and India to join him online for a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (“Quad”). Under the Trump administration, the foreign ministers of the Quad countries had convened twice since 2018, but the March 2021 summit represented...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Apr 18, 2021

‘At the End of the Matinee’: Love and longing in the recent past strike a chord

In his novel, Keiichiro Hirano provides a detailed view of politics, culture and economics at the start of the 21st century alongside a story about star-crossed lovers.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 16, 2021

'Run, Sara, Run': Is Duterte's daughter playing her father's game?

Campaigns backing Sara Duterte-Carpio, 42, to succeed the autocratic and capricious president whose war on drugs killed thousands are gathering pace.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 16, 2021

Hong Kong schools devote a day to China’s national security

The shift to a forceful inculcation of national security issues, even among young children, comes as Beijing increases its control over almost all sectors and institutions in Hong Kong.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 15, 2021

China still needs an expansionary economic policy

The People's Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) is likely to maintain its monetary policy stance, if not tighten it.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Apr 14, 2021

Suga-Biden summit offers chance to hash out a plan on China

Although the summit will be largely symbolic, it'll also be a chance to cement a unified stance on China — or at least clarify how far they're willing to go together.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 14, 2021

Biden scrambles to create Plan B on LGBT rights as Equality Act meets resistance

Biden vowed on the campaign trail to pass a law protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination within his first 100 days in office.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 12, 2021

Singapore faces biggest-ever challenge to succession planning

The rumblings started shortly after Singapore’s ruling party won 89% of seats in last year’s election.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 12, 2021

Chinese shows blur Western brands over Xinjiang cotton dispute

The censorship has exposed the unexpected political tripwires confronting apolitical entertainment platforms.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 10, 2021

Timing is everything when it comes to the politics of the Kawai scandal

Former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai does an about face when it comes to accusations of vote-buying, but some aren't buying the idea that his decision was a result of soul searching.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 10, 2021

Biden forms panel to study possible U.S. Supreme Court expansion

The a bipartisan commission will study potential U.S. Supreme Court changes including expanding the number of justices beyond the current nine.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 10, 2021

Salvaging the Iran nuclear deal

Make no mistake, Japan only wishes to see stability in the Gulf and ultimately a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 8, 2021

U.S.-China cold war will have more than two sides

The real danger ahead, however, is not so much a new cold war as binary modes of thinking that see stark divisions and antagonisms where none exist.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 7, 2021

Talk of U.S.-led Beijing Olympics boycott puts Japan in tight spot

Japan has been wary of checking China on rights issues, partly out of fear of economic retaliation from its largest trading partner.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 7, 2021

Japan could leverage ODA to broker Myanmar peace

Japan's economic weight and diplomatic trust in Myanmar should be wisely leveraged in order both to dissuade the military from invoking further violence.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 4, 2021

Was the Suez container ship crisis unforeseeable?

Last week, a massive container ship wedged itself between both banks of the Suez Canal in Egypt, completely blocking the waterway and affecting 10% of the world’s trade traffic. I could not keep silent about the matter, having been to the canal several times, as I spent two years beginning in 1979...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 4, 2021

Myanmar protesters take up Easter eggs as symbol

Despite killings, protesters are coming out every day to reject the return of military rule after a decade of tentative steps toward democracy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2021

Millennials and global consumers push U.S. companies to get political

Georgia's decision last month to strengthen identification requirements for absentee ballots drew condemnation from many U.S. companies this week, including Microsoft Corp. and Citigroup.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 1, 2021

'Do not tempt the law': Hong Kong police warn residents to avoid red lines on politics

For Hong Kong residents wondering what sort of behavior might breach the Beijing-imposed national security law, one of the city's top police officers says it's the wrong question to ask.
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 31, 2021

World’s top pension fund faces moment of truth on China debt

The GPIF's decision will also be crucial for other Japanese public and private pension funds which have been mulling opportunities to invest in Chinese government debt.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Mar 30, 2021

National consensus needed on the role of Self-Defense Forces in emergencies

While the SDF provide invaluable assistance in times of natural disaster, their potential role in large-scale international crises still needs to be examined.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 30, 2021

Myanmar civil war fears growing after airstrikes on ethnic army

The prospect of a wider fight with potentially dozens of armed militias risks even more bloodshed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2021

H&M stores closed by China landlords as Xinjiang fallout continues

Some of the mall operators said the decision to shutter was made by the landlords because of disrespect shown by H&M toward China.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo