East Asia
A New Chapter: Japan and South Korea Soften Relations
On Sunday Oct. 21, Japan, South Korea, and the US conducted their first joint aerial exercise near the Korean Peninsula. The exercise comes on the heels of revived tensions between North Korea and its two Northeast Asian neighbors, as well as continued efforts to soften South Korean-Japanese relations due to the growing threat of China.
The Plight of Japan’s Imperial Family
For years, Japan’s imperial family has struggled to find heirs. Now, the Japanese government hopes to reform the system, and in doing so, preserve a lineage that claims to have stood for over 2,000 years.
Belt and Road Forum: More Than Infrastructure
China continued its push for an alternative international environment at the third Belt and Road Initiative forum this past week. The conference took place from October 17 to 18, hosting two dozen world leaders and delegations from more than 100 countries, where they discussed the global infrastructure and development endeavor that began a decade ago.
China vies for Middle East Influence through Palestinian Support
In 1965, China became the first non-Arab nation to forge ties with the Palestinians. A couple decades later in 1988, China officially recognized Palestinian statehood.
Breaking Up the Unification Church of Japan
Last year’s assassination of the Japanese former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched a year-long examination into the Unification Church, ending on Friday, October 13, 2023, with the Japanese government officially asking the Tokyo District Court to legally dissolve the Church.
Taiwan Examines Israel-Hamas Conflict, Searching for Insight
Countries all around the world are watching the war between Israel and Hamas — and Taiwan is no exception.
China Ramps up Efforts to Tackle its Population Crisis
On Tuesday October 10, 2023, Chinese state media announced the CCP’s plan to conduct a nationwide survey to “monitor China’s population developmental changes and provide a basis for the Communist party… to formulate… population related policies.” The survey comes as China begins to see its long-growing population begin to shrink for the first time in six decades.
Chinese Economy Further Recovers During May Day Holiday
China’s national consumption and sales of enterprises have rebounded and grown at astounding rates.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Attacked By Political Radical
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was attacked by a man at a fishing port in Wakayama, a prefecture in Japan.
The Increasingly Active Foreign Policy of Japan
On April 3rd and 4th, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan held a joint military drill in the sea of Japan.
US, Japan, and South Korea Hold Joint Anti-Submarine Drill Against North Korea
On April 3 and 4, the US, Japan, and South Korea held a joint anti-submarine drill to prepare for a potential conflict with North Korea.
Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou Visits Mainland China
Former Taiwan president Ma Ying-Jeou announced that he was going to pay a visit to mainland China in his personal capacity.
Russian and Chinese Presidents Meet Despite ICC Warrant
Chinese President Xi Jingping left Russia on the 22nd after holding two days of in person discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ending the 40th occasion the two leaders have met in person in the past decade.
Korean President Yoon Meets with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida
President Yoon Suk-yeol flew to Tokyo to meet Prime Minister Kishida on March 16th, which is the first official Korea-Japan summit in 12 years.
Honduras to shift its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China
Honduran president Xiomara Castro announced that Honduras is preparing to shift its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China.
China sets its GDP growth target at 5 percent for 2023
On March 3, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang released his report on the work of the government for the fiscal year of 2022.
China Floats Politically Charged Mediation in Ukraine
Feb. 24 was an auspicious day in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict; the date marked one year since hostilities, and nine years since the Russian partition of Crimea. On that day in 2023, China made its first major offer of mediation to the embattled nations.
Japanese Foreign Minister Meets With Chinese Counterparts In Munich, Germany
On February 18, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi met with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts, Wang Yi and Park Jin.
Possible Arrest of Lee Jae Myung and the Fate of the Korean Democratic Party
President Yoon of South Korea approved the request to arrest Korean Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung on February 20th.
Chinese and Indian Soldiers Clash on Disputed Eastern Sino-Indian Borders
On Dec. 9, Chinese and Indian soldiers clashed on the eastern Sino-Indian border around the disputed region of Arunachal Pradesh/ Southern Tibet, where most of the 1962 Sino-Indian War took place.