On March 6, 2011, Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara resigned officially due to accepting donation from a Korean national. Most countries have laws banning officials from accepting foreign donations directly or indirectly. Obama was forced to return some donations in 2008 for this same reason. Maehara's receiving of 250k Yen is paltry though, and I don't think that is … [Read more...] about Seiji Maehara, Japanese Foreign Minister resigns; for 250k Yen or Kuril Islands?
Foreign Relations
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on China’s Foreign Policy
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held a live questions and answers session with journalists detailing China's foreign policy. The session was done in both Chinese and English. I thought Minister Yang was very articulate and Chinese brand of international relations will be well received around the globe. I will highlight some points and also weigh in on the Reuters … [Read more...] about Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on China’s Foreign Policy
Russia Today on Russian-China relations and countering the “West”
Russia Today featured Martin Hennecke, an associate director at a financial services firm in Hong Kong, commenting on the Russia-China relationship. This was during the backdrop of Vladimir Putin's meeting with Xi Jinping, who is expected to inherit Chinese President Hu Jintao's job in 2012. The Russia Today news anchor said "Russia and China today agreed to help each other … [Read more...] about Russia Today on Russian-China relations and countering the “West”
Chinese banks finance $2.6 billion Baha Mar in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has been hit hard by the financial crisis in developed countries and the resultant dwindling tourism. Back in July of 2010, China Daily reported two agencies approved for financing the Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas, enabling much needed job creation. The resort is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean. In this report, construction officially started few days … [Read more...] about Chinese banks finance $2.6 billion Baha Mar in the Bahamas
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks Internet ‘freedom’
A lot has already been written in the Western media about the yesterday U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speech on Internet 'freedom.' In her speech, Clinton singled out China for being "repressive" on the Internet, and for that reason, the predictable narrative is out yet again: U.S. vs. 'bad' China, 'bad' China, or U.S. being too harsh to, still, a 'bad' China. This … [Read more...] about U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks Internet ‘freedom’