BRIAN CANAVE WRITES – Has Taiwan developed its first medium-range guided missile that can be used against mainland China? According to South China Morning Post and Michael Tsai, defense minister of the former government of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, this is true. In fact, Taiwan had successfully developed the…
Category: East Asia
NORTH KOREA: Ball Is In China’s Court
RYAN LIPPERT WRITES – It will take a lot more than a friendship with Dennis Rodman to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. After a short period of reduced tension between North Korea and the international community, things are now back to the way they were. North Korea’s nuclear program…
NORTH KOREA: Change of Heart Through Basketball?
Last week, former NBA star Dennis Rodman visited North Korea, watched a basketball game with Kim Jong-un, and in the process showed that there may be hope for better relations between North Koreans and Americans, if not between the governments themselves. Rodman came to North Korea to work on a…
TAIWAN: We’re Protecting Our Cyber Security
In light of news that the Chinese military has been engaged in cyber-espionage attacks around the world, the publication Taiwan News asked both the Executive Yuan and the Taiwanese National Security Council what’s been done to ensure the country’s cyber safety. The National Security Council has yet to provide a…
JAPAN: Support, Hopes Grow for 2020 Olympic Bid
Tokyo’s effort to host the 2020 Summer Olympics has finally hit its stride. According to The Daily Yomiuri, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, popular support for the capital bid hit 83% in a February survey. That’s up 11% from January, and the poll found an equally encouraging decline in people…
JAPAN: Is This the Best PM Abe Can Do?
In the wake of North Korea’s nuclear test, national security issues have become an even greater priority for Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who is in the early stages of his second run as Prime Minister. However, his responses to the DPRK are already under fire, especially from liberal circles,…
CHINA: Who’s Hertz, Who’s Avis?
Despite recent media reports that China had surpassed the US when it comes to trade, the recent reports from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that this is not, in fact, the case. The two largest economies in the world, China and the United States have always been neck and…
TAIWAN: Activism and Organizing Through Social Media
Two issues ago, Asia Media covered the media monopoly in Taiwan. To combat this monopolization, many college students, activists, and opposition politicians are taking action to create an anti-media monopolization campaign through the usage of social media. This on-going protest campaign started in July of last year. With the acquisition…
NORTH KOREA: International Drama Queen.
North Korea has been, and is increasingly becoming, a topic of heightened concern within the international community. In December, their government tested long-range rockets, violating international law. Although the North Korean government claims that the rockets were carrying satellites for their space program, the U.N. increased sanctions against North Korea…
CHINA: Better Brace Yourself!
Fake it til’ you make it. Teens in Asia are taking that concept literally as they apply fake braces on their teeth as a fashion trend. This curious fad first started in Southeast Asia, and it is now taking Asia by storm, making its way into many Chinese teenagers’ mouth.…
CHINA: Always a Villain, Never the Hero
Chinese authorities once praised him; now he’s being condemned. Back in November, Zhu Ruifeng, a blogger from Beijing, released image stills of a tape exposing a sex scandal featuring Chongqing district party chief Lei Zhengfu. At first, China Daily newspaper received independent bloggers who used the Internet as a “tool…
JAPAN: Japanese Politics Welcomes Modernity …. a Little, Bit, Anyway
After years of restrictions, the use of the Internet will likely be liberalized for use in election campaigns. According to the Daily Yomiuri, one of Japan’s leading dailies, the nation’s major political parties have jointly agreed to allow the use of services, like Twitter, during future campaigns. Drafted by the…
TAIWAN: Barbie Gets Sweeter
Elementary school teacher. Nurse. Lifeguard. Since her 1959 introduction, Barbie has served many roles. The Barbie that was both a bakery chef and a regular chef, has come to life in Taiwan. Barbie’s Cafe in Taiwan caused a media frenzy last week when it opened in Taipei. Media sources from…
JAPAN: New Year, New Government, Same Issues
Both the passage of time and the ushering in of new leaders have proven to be fruitless in the alleviation of the tension felt in East Asia. It may be well into the new year, but the ties between Japan and China continue to exhibit signs of deterioration thanks to…
China Blog Blotter: Too Soon for Equal Rights?
“Gays Dare to Love” was the slogan for the Equal Rights for Gays Parade that took place in Hong Kong recently. Much like America’s own Pride Parades, Equal Rights for Gays Parade is public, loud, and flamboyant. Although parades like these have happened in the past in Hong Kong, this…
CHINA: A Glorious Print Revolution
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) publicity chief recently accentuated efforts to improve the media’s reporting style during an inspection tour of the Party’s flagship newspaper. Liu Qibao visited the headquarters of the official newspaper of the CCP Central Committee, The People’s Daily, and remarked that media organizations should start to…