Posted in: Ishiba curries favor with Trump on economic front See in context
Yes, looks like plain sailing. But Japan should really spend beyond 2% on defense for its own good, given the aggressiveness shown by China, which has the strong intention and ability to create trouble along the entire First Island Chain, starting with Taiwan, the Senkakus and the Ryuchiu Islands, not to mention N Korea and Russia are big troublemakers too.
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Trump's climate withdrawal creates rare discord with Big Oil See in context
Those DEI oil executives? Can wail if they so like.
-3 ( +0 / -3 )
Posted in: Japan's foreign minister stresses importance of U.S. alliance under Trump See in context
Japan must increase its spending on defense to boost the US-Japan alliance. Trump is not going to tolerate a country spending 1.2% of its GDP while facing close-range China threats. Period.
-1 ( +2 / -3 )
Posted in: Nearly 90% of Chinese view Japan negatively: poll See in context
Basically, Chinese have a love-hate Japan complex, fluctuating easily between the two extremes. So when they say they love Japan, remember that they can flip to the hate extreme in a wink; and vice versa. Those polls cannot reveal the complex.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan, China seek broader bilateral talks to improve public sentiment See in context
Likely useless, given China is bent on invading Taiwan and annexing the South China Sea.
1 ( +4 / -3 )
Posted in: Ishiba's diplomatic knack in doubt amid blunders, no Trump meeting See in context
Should have chosen Takaichi Sanae.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Trump's against climate action. But some right-wing governments are all for it See in context
He is against extreme, excessive climate actions.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers See in context
Why not develop new ones nearby?
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan to draw up new strategy to beef up defense industry, exports See in context
Should sell a lot to Taiwan somehow.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: U.S. to deploy missile units to Japan islands in Taiwan contingency See in context
Next, and more importantly, is to extend diplomatic recognition to Taiwan. As China is beset with internal problems and weakens, that will become feasible at low cost.
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Ishiba arranging 1st summit with China's Xi in November See in context
Xi is in a weak position within the CCP, so Ishiba should have some advantage.
3 ( +4 / -1 )
Posted in: Harris fends off Biden's 'garbage' comment fallout; Trump pushes cheating claims See in context
"appeared"? biden said it point-blank. whereas the MSG blabber was by a professional insult comedian. so this article is fine-doctoring the biden incident. not fair.
-1 ( +8 / -9 )
Posted in: Ishiba sends offering to Yasukuni Shrine ahead of election See in context
Long overdue. Should have visited in person.
-1 ( +2 / -3 )
Posted in: NHK exec who resigned over Chinese staffer's remarks rehired See in context
The fired staffer should be sent back to China where he belongs.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan navigating diplomatic repercussions over stance on death penalty See in context
Japan is fine with the death penalty. Let other woke countries wake up one day and regret.
-3 ( +1 / -4 )
Posted in: Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat See in context
Stop doing any business with communist China. Period.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Nippon Steel reapplies for U.S. Steel buyout review See in context
It should be done, sooner or later. That way it could bypass some deadening US regulatory holdups which are killing US industries.
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan destroyer inadvertently entered China waters; captain sacked See in context
Were the instruments on the battleship interfered with by Chinese signals? I am a sailor and my experience on the seas around Japan tells me that the MSDF and the JCG 海上保安庁 have excellent skills and discipline. In fact, in 2013 when i sailed past the Goto Retto i met a typhoon and my engine compartment was flooded and i used my wireless system to call for help. The JCG got my pan-pan signal and came to my rescue. I spoke to them in English and they were absolutely professional. They started out from Sasebo and reached me in two hours and towed me for about another two hours to a tiny fishing port -- normally a closed port to foreign boats, parked and tied my boat tight and safe against the winds, and allowed me to wait out the typhoon and do repairs. Great hospitality from the locals too, i must add. So i doubt if the MSDF boat wasn't deliberately misled into Chinese waters for the Chinese to score a diplomatic point or even worse.
4 ( +6 / -2 )
Posted in: Next Japan PM's possible no-show at ASEAN summits may favor China See in context
Those who have nothing better to do will visit Beijing and enjoy its lavish state dinners, all paid for by money-starved host, and come away still very happy to be in the American fold.
-1 ( +3 / -4 )
Posted in: Harvest moon See in context
deanZZR, seems you are a bit amiss re the festival in Chinese history. Since the Yuan Dynasty the festival has acquired a revolutionary connotation, or more exactly a han-nationalistic sentiment against "foreign barbarians" who purportedly ruled China oppressively. If you talk to people in the recently exiled Hong Kong overseas community this week, they will show you photos of their mooncakes with anti-CCP slogans baked onto them. The element of rebelliousness, however, has been suppressed by the current Chinese and Hong Kong governments, quite understandably. Hundreds of years ago, before all that politics, the festival had just been one of the more important dates on the lunar calendar, pure and simple. The Japanese celebrate the festival more from the calendar-season perspective, as the political connotations are quite irrelevant to them. Many foreigners who have been in Japan for a long time understand that too and can make a distinction between the different ways of talking about and celebrating the festival. Hope this helps.
1 ( +3 / -2 )
Posted in: Peace pledge See in context
China peace? Begin with Taiwan and the Philippines please.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Bill to ban TikTok in U.S. unless it divests from Chinese parent clears Congress See in context
Ban it. TikTok is the e-fentanyl. They should have done it long ago. The next one should be Zoom, but it is much more difficult as it owned and controlled by Chinese who had gained US citizenship. Democratic countries beware.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Taiwan happy with U.S. aid package; China objects to arms sales See in context
Now it is Japan's turn to do more to defend Taiwan against imperialist Fascist China, which would ultimately be for Japan's own good too.
10 ( +11 / -1 )
Posted in: OpenAI unveils voice-cloning tool See in context
What are the social benefits of inventing voice cloning, if any? The article unfortunately doesn't mention any.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: More foreign students set to be eligible for Japan gov't scholarships See in context
Harsh but sensible. If kids are born here or mostly raised here, there is a higher likelihood that they will stay for life here, and investing on their future is good for the country. On the other hand, foreign students who come here to do university work and who get scholarships may soon depart for other countries and never return, and so the investment on them will not be as efficient.
-2 ( +0 / -2 )
Posted in: Netanyahu snaps back against growing U.S. criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza See in context
If HAMAS shows no real remorse then Israel should go all in. Schumer should keep quiet or he will lose his next election, which won't be a bad thing though.
-7 ( +2 / -9 )
Posted in: Bernie Sanders wants U.S. to adopt a 32-hour workweek See in context
Oh in socialist heavens people don't need to work at all. Don't you see that young people in China are lying flat? America should follow suit. 32 hours? What a bad deal.
-2 ( +1 / -3 )
Posted in: Cabinet OKs new foreign trainee program to promote longer stays See in context
Should discriminate between letting in people from friendly countries and those from hostile states. This is critical in ensuring a healthy development of Japanese society going forward.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Canada can increase role in Indo-Pacific through IPEF: Japan envoy See in context
For Canada to really step forward, Trudeau must renounce the pro-China stance of many of his predecessors including his father. But it is not easy, as Canada has been quite thoroughly been infiltrated by Chinese interests.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Biden opposes plan to sell U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, citing need for 'American steel workers' See in context
Mr Biden thought that Japan buying a US steel mill would bring it home. What a president.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Vance attack on Europe overshadows Ukraine talks at security conference
Posted in: Vance attack on Europe overshadows Ukraine talks at security conference
He's just venting his pent up frustration that Trump took his role as VP.
Posted in: Vance attack on Europe overshadows Ukraine talks at security conference
Posted in: Vance attack on Europe overshadows Ukraine talks at security conference