4 d. ago Beijing bristles as Japan weighs missile export to Philippines

Tokyo is considering exporting a missile system to the Philippines as it seeks to ease its weapons-export restrictions, Japanese media reported – a move likely to draw criticism from Beijing. The missile system, dubbed Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile, is of the same type that Tokyo plans to deploy on Yonaguni, an island only 110 kilometres (68 miles) away from Taiwan. Beijing has blasted the deployment on Yonaguni as “extremely dangerous”. Kyodo News reported on Sunday that Japan has...

Events

4 d. ago China bristles as Japan weighs missile export to Philippines

Tokyo is considering exporting a missile system to the Philippines as it seeks to ease its weapons-export restrictions, Japanese media reported – a move likely to draw criticism from Beijing. The missile system, dubbed Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile, is of the same type that Tokyo plans to deploy on Yonaguni, an island only 110 kilometres (68 miles) away from Taiwan. Beijing has blasted the deployment on Yonaguni as “extremely dangerous”. Kyodo News reported on Sunday that Japan has...

Events

5 d. ago ‘Looming crisis’: why US universities are cutting critical Japanese studies

Academics are bemoaning the decline in programmes focused on Japanese language, culture, history, art and other social science subjects at universities in the United States, warning that a “short-sighted approach” could threaten future trade and business opportunities as well as the critical diplomatic relationship. Funding for liberal arts courses at US universities has been under pressure for some years, they point out, but that appears to be accelerating as greater emphasis is placed on...

Events

1 week ago Former editor Hu Xijin urges restraint in official media’s criticism of Japan

A former editor-in-chief of a Chinese nationalist tabloid has called upon official media to manage public expectations properly and refrain from using “harsh language that does not reflect the actual situation” when criticising Japan. Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, affiliated with Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, said some social media accounts run by official media had used “harsh language that does not reflect the actual situation” when criticising Japanese...

Politics

1 week ago China’s UN envoy pours fresh scorn on Japan’s ‘unrepentant’ Takaichi

China’s ambassador to the United Nations has doubled down on his criticism of Japan, calling Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi’s earlier comments on Taiwan “highly dangerous” and damaging to the post-war international order. According to state broadcaster CCTV, Fu Cong said in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday that Japan was “unrepentant” for the “blatantly provocative” remarks of its prime minister. He said Takaichi’s comments marked the first time a Japanese leader had...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump defends policies amid pushback over Chinese students, H

Cutting international student enrolment by half would destroy America’s university system, and H-1B visas for skilled workers are necessary, US President Donald Trump said while defending policies that have triggered pushback at home and abroad. In an interview with Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham that aired on Monday and Tuesday, Trump said the US had “a lot of people coming in from China” and other countries, and highlighted America’s “massive system of colleges and universities”. “And if we...

Politics

3 w. ago Beijing slams Japanese PM for ‘seriously damaging’ ties over Taiwan comment

Beijing has criticised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for “seriously damaging bilateral ties and challenging post-war international order” over her remarks last week that Japan could deploy its military in the event of a contingency involving Taiwan. Takaichi on Friday told the Japanese parliament that a Taiwan contingency involving the use of military force could be interpreted as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, which could allow Tokyo to engage in military action...

Politics

4 w. ago Texas A&M deputy chemistry chair Fang Lei joins US$3 billion Chinese lab

Fang Lei, a long-time professor with Texas A&M University’s chemistry department, has returned to China to join the cutting-edge Yongjiang Laboratory, a state-backed research centre that has drawn a cumulative investment of more than 26 billion yuan (US$3.65 billion) in less than four years. Fang built a distinguished career in the United States over nearly two decades, rising to be deputy head of the chemistry department at Texas A&M. He resigned from the university earlier this year to assume...

Economics

last month Japanese tourist’s death stokes outcry over Seoul’s ‘light’ drink

The death of a Japanese tourist in a drink-driving crash in Seoul has sparked criticism in Japan over what many see as South Korea’s lenient punishment for such offences. A post believed to be written by the victim’s family member has drawn wide attention online, questioning whether strong penalties are possible under South Korean law. A social media user with the handle abcz8756 wrote on Tuesday, “In Korea, my mother and sister were hit by a drunk driver. My mother died, and my sister is in...

Events