East Asia
Japan To Significantly Expand Its Military Spending Over Next Five Years
Japan will set a new target for its military spending over the next five years to 43 trillion yen ($318 billion) in total.
Nationwide Protests set China to loosen COVID restrictions
A fire in a high rise building in Urumqi, China sparked rare nationwide protests against the state’s harsh coronavirus restriction policies.
2022 Taiwanese Local Elections: A Full Report
Taiwanese local elections, also known as Taiwanese midterm elections, were held Nov. 26.
North Korea Launches Another Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Test
This Friday, North Korea launched a new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that is reported to be its strongest yet. The missile, speculated to be Hwasong-17, is reported to have landed near the waters of Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido.
Increased Political Polarization among Korean media and the Fall of MBC
Korea’s political landscape has become increasingly polarized since President Park’s political scandal and President Moon’s inauguration before Yoon took hold of office this year.
Japan joined NATO Cyber Defense Center and deepened cooperation in techs with its members
On November 4, the Japanese Ministry of Defense (JMOD) officially declared that Japan “will formally join NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence’s (#CCDCOE) activities, following the completion of participation procedures.
South Korea Mourns Itaewon Halloween Crowd Surge Victims
A crowd surge that happened in the Itaewon district in South Korea’s capital Seoul has left 156 people dead and over 150 injured this past Halloween weekend.
Shanghai Disney Abruptly Shut Down After COVID-19 Case Detected
Shanghai Disneyland, one of the major tourist attractions in Shanghai, has been closed since the beginning of November 2021 due to detected COVID-19 cases.
Lee Jae Yong’s appointment as the New Samsung Chairman and the Future of the Korean Economy
Since Lee Jae Yong’s appointment as the Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, it took 10 years for Lee to finally inherit his father’s Samsung kingdom amidst Korean political turmoil and a global supply chain crisis.
Kakao Outage Sparks Public Anger
These disruptions highlighted the nation’s dependence on the corporation, thus sparking the conversation of the company’s monopolization in the industry.
China Released Q3 Economic Data after Unexpected Delay
On October 24, just one day after the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the National Bureau of Statistics of China published the data on the Chinese economy in the third quarter of this year.
Korean Democratic Party Stumbles Again with Massive Lee Scandals
Since Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative regime took power this May, the transition from the previous liberal regime of Moon Jae-in has been a rough ride for Korea during the last few months, with unprecedented political polarization amongst the general population.
Chinese Americans Fired in Semiconductor Industry Exodus
On Oct. 13, in response to the new restrictions announced by the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on the export to China of advanced semiconductors, chip-making equipment, and supercomputer components, major Chinese technology companies suspended large waves of their American employees.
South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Backward Step For Gender Equality
In alignment with his campaign promise, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has announced his push towards abolishing a Gender Equality Ministry.
US Politicians Question China’s Status As A “Developing Country”
The US Senate put forward a proposed amendment on Sept. 21 calling for China not to be treated as a developing country and voted 96-0 in favor of the amendment. “The People’s Republic of China is not a developing country, and the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations should not treat the PRC as such,” said Dan Sullivan, a senator from Alaska, in his remarks prior to the vote.
North Korea Threatens Preemptive Strike If Threatened: Should The West be Concerned?
Speaking at a massive military parade commemorating the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army, Kim Jong Un emphasized the importance of nuclear weapons
What do rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific mean for China?
Tensions in the Asia-Pacific region continued to rise after AUKUS members released a joint statement noting their intentions to develop hypersonic weapons.
Korean Obsession Over College and the Fall of Cho's Family
Alongside the tough power transition from President Moon to President-elect Yoon, Korean society is experiencing a side-effect of its obsession with college.
Korea's new Blue House and the dawn of an uneasy transition
South Korea is going through a particularly tough transition of power for the future government due to various matters, including the move of the Blue House, which is Korea’s counterpart of the United States’ White House.
Meeting of high-ranking Chinese and Indian officials shows hope for cooperation, with reservations
The foreign ministers of China and India met last week for the first time since border clashes between the two countries ensued nearly two years ago.