https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231215_24/ According to this article, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has determined that Taiwan’s restrictions on imports from China have constituted trade barriers. They have announced the results of an investigation into whether Taiwan’s restrictions on imports, which is about 2,500 agricultural, industrial and other items from China, have been considered to be trade barriers. The reasons for these conclusions… Read more »
Link to the article – https://apnews.com/article/japan-kishida-cabinet-change-funds-scandal-0d99973eed7827adb94320ec68d5101f Summary – The Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, replaced four of his Cabinet ministers Thursday in an effort to contain the damage from a widening slush fund scandal that has shaken his governing party and his grip on power within it. One of the replaced cabinet members said he submitted his resignation along with… Read more »
https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20231214/cf6ba624d1a84b84a46a5d0d800d8ec9/c.html According to this article, the state of Laos and the Association of Southern Asian Nations are joining forces to initiate a culture of the responsible use of plastic, under the Save the World project. According to local newspaper Pasaxon, this is under the purview of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information and is financed by the ASEAN Cultural… Read more »
Link to the article – https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/why-indian-ocean-could-be-chinas-achilles-heel-taiwan-war-2023-12-14/ Summary – Everyday China receives nearly 60 fully loaded very large crude-oil carriers to support their economy and power their country. The problem that China may face with this is that when crossing the Indian Ocean, these tankers lack protection in a naval theatre dominated by the U.S. A conflict with China over Taiwan,… Read more »
Link to the article – https://english.news.cn/20231214/3d2ec8ddeb264b69909730290db6fdc7/c.html Summary – China and Vietnam are solidifying their relationship that has already been friendly for many years. Xi Jinping took his first trip to Vietnam in 6 years to visit and make an agreement that is the first of its kind in the past 10 years, one with strategic significance. The countries plan to… Read more »
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231213_38/ According to this article, the countries of China and Vietnam have signed into a range of agreements to help strengthen ties despite there being territorial disputes. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first visit to Vietnam after six years, where he has met with the country’s leaders in order to secure dozens of deals. On the second day… Read more »
Link to article: https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Fears-grow-Japan-U.S.-alliance-may-be-affected-by-Osprey-crash Late last month a fatal crash of a U.S. military Osprey airplane occurred in Japan, reigniting safety concerns among Japanese citizens. These concerns have been furthered by the United States’ choosing to continue flying the planes over Japan’s soil. Following the crash, Tokyo called on Washington to suspend Osprey flights, except for search and rescue purposes,… Read more »
