[Editor's note: the English version of post was first posted on Huffington Post and can be found here; and the Chinese version can be found on Guancha.cn here] SHANGHAI -- A few weeks ago at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Shinzo Abe made a bold pitch to Asia to buy in on a new type of Japanese leadership. According to Mr. Abe, the peace that is at the foundation of … [Read more...] about Why Asia Should Say No to Mr. Abe’s Vision of International Law for Asia
China-Japan Relations
Deconstructing Japan’s Claim of Sovereignty over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands
In addition to our post on “The Inconvenient Truth Behind the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands” by Han-Yi Shaw, the article "Deconstructing Japan’s Claim of Sovereignty over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands" by Ivy Lee and Fang Ming in Japan Focus is also worth reading. The Shaw article focuses more on the political history surrouding the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands while the Lee-Ming article … [Read more...] about Deconstructing Japan’s Claim of Sovereignty over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands
Obama Asia tour: US-Japan treaty ‘covers disputed islands’ – A Case of Dipping into One’s Savings to Live Large?
It's never good to dip into one's savings just to live large. Gluttony and largess - when one can ill afford it - is foolish ... and a sign of decadence. To me, the U.S. so-called pivot to Asia - emblemized by President Obama's trip to Japan - represents just that. The New York Times - even with its usual spin PR in over-drive - already calls the trip a "setback." In an … [Read more...] about Obama Asia tour: US-Japan treaty ‘covers disputed islands’ – A Case of Dipping into One’s Savings to Live Large?
Making a Mockery of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) – and the Precedents it Sets?
Wow, here is an update on the China ADIZ and the recent aftermath. While I did expect U.S. and Japan to express some kind of reservation over China's recent establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Seas, I had not anticipated the full sound and fury of the storm! Within hours after China's public announcement of the ADIZ, the U.S. decided to … [Read more...] about Making a Mockery of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) – and the Precedents it Sets?
Abe Wins Huge in Japan… and some thoughts on the coverage…
On Sunday, Abe and his party secured a victory to win landslide victories. According to Foreign Policy, Riding a wave of stimulus money to the voting urns, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party secured a majority in both of the country's legislative houses, delivering a stamp of approval for his economic policies and possibly setting up Japan … [Read more...] about Abe Wins Huge in Japan… and some thoughts on the coverage…