East Asia

North Korea: WHY CHAIRMAN KIM THINKS THE WAY HE DOES

(The following is the most recent analysis of the North Korean impasse by the special advisor on this issue to the president of South Korea)…

XI’S MACAU: ONE THING CHINA’S PRESIDENT WAS HAPPY TO NOTE – THIS SURELY ISN’T HONG KONG

From the South China Morning Post (excerpt) — China’s President Xi Jinping began a three-day visit to Macau on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary…

Hong Kong: WHEN THE ‘PRINCIPLE’ OF THE THING IS THE PROBLEM OF THE THING

TOM PLATE WRITES — There’s often little more than a thin line between admirable principle and annoying stubbornness, and that line is not always easy to…

AMBUSH IN TOKYO: FASHION GETS CORNERED BY CULTURE … BUT BY HAPPY DESIGN

NILE BROWN WRITES — Broad shoulders, billowy trousers and bold neon colors permeate AMBUSH’s recently released Spring/Summer 2020 lookbook. At first look, it may appear…

Hong Kong: THE DARK NON-DEMOCRATIC LEGACY THE SHIFTY BRITISH WITTINGLY LEFT BEHIND

From the NEW STATESMAN (famous London weekly) – … Hong Kongers are not only revolting against social inequalities, declining standards and the threat of becoming…

CHINA-US RELATIONS: NO FORCE CAN CONTAIN CHINA EXCEPT BEIJING

TOM PLATE WRITES — American foreign policy rarely rises to the level of coherence recommended by its policy intellectuals and thoughtful diplomats; but without their persistence,…

CHINA: THE DEEPLY DISTURBING QUESTION OF XINJIANG

TIA CARR WRITES – The United Nations has recently called for an “immediate and unfettered access” to the autonomous region of Xinjiang, China. This echoes…

JAPAN: PEACE-MESSAGE BEARING POPE FRANCIS DAZZLES TOKYO TOWN

TALIN DEROHANESSIANS WRITES –For the first time in nearly 40 years, a Catholic Pope visited Japan. The date was November 23, and the top items…

CHINA’S FAMOUS NANCHANG FLIGHT CONVENTION: SOARING WITH BOTH DELIGHT, AND NATIONAL-SECURITY CONCERNS

ANDRE HACOBIAN WRITES – On November 2 the internationally famous Nanchang Flight Convention kicked off a much-anticipated two-day event in eastern China, showcasing new heights…

SNEAK ATTACK: ADIDAS GETS ANOTHER JUMP ON ITS COMPETITION IN ASIA

ANNALISA DEL VECCHIO WRITES – With the Asian market in mind, Adidas shut down its footwear factories in Germany (Ansbach) and the United States (Atlanta) and…

NORTH KOREA: THE DEPORT OF LAST RESORT

DANIELA GUEVARA WRITES – In an unusual case this month, South Korea has deported two North Koreans back to their home country. The ruling came…

CONGRATULATIONS HONG KONG!

From Asia Media International in Los Angeles — Congratulations, Hong Kong! Under conditions of the greatest stress, you have pulled off a mainly spotless and…

WITH OR WITHOUT GLASSES, ASIA’S WOMEN HAVE THEIR OWN VISION

TALIN DEROHANESSIANS WRITES — It’s no surprise that women in Japan are held to strict beauty and dress standards. Now they have been banned from…

CHINA BASEBALL: NOT QUITE AT THE SUPERPOWER LEVEL … YET

MATHEW ANDROVETT WRITES — Baseball has become massively popular in Asia over the past few decades. Nationally organized leagues, such as Japan’s Nippon Professional League,…

CHINA: A HIGH NOTE FOR PEKING OPERA AT LMU

DIANA CASTILLO WRITES- On November 5, leading opera artist Shang Changrong and the distinguished film and TV director Teng, presented their opera musical “Cao Cao…