Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 160

Incoming Japan PM Ishiba's 'Asian NATO' idea test for US diplomacy

Shigeru Ishiba, tapped to be Japan's next prime minister, may cause diplomatic headaches for the U.S. with proposals to revamp Tokyo's closest alliance by locking Washington into an "Asian NATO" and stationing Japanese troops on U.S. soil.Ishiba, elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday, outlined his plan in a paper to the Hudson Institute think tank last week. He argues

Ex-Defense Minister Ishiba Shigeru Will Be Japan’s Next Prime Minister

Japan's incoming prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said he wanted to clean up his ruling party, revitalise the economy and see off security threats from powerful neighbours after triumphing in his fifth and what he called final leadership bid on Friday.The 67-year-old former defence minister narrowly prevailed over hard-line nationalist Sanae Takaichi in an unpredictable race with a record nine

China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine sank earlier this year, US officials say

China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine sank pierside in the spring and the Chinese Navy tried to conceal the loss, according to two US defense officials. The attack submarine was the first of its new Zhou-class line of vessels, the official said, under construction at a shipyard near the city of Wuhan. The Zhou-class submarines have a distinctive X-shaped stern, designed to improve

China Establishes Defense Mobilization Units Around Taiwan’s Outlying Islands

As part of broader preparations for war, China is expanding and streamlining procedures for national defense mobilization – including near Kinmen.The resolution from the Chinese Communist Party 20th Central Committee’s third plenary session in July 2024 indicated that top leader Xi Jinping is reviving Mao Zedong’s wartime preparations, such as organizing large-scale militia divisions, stockpiling

A Growing Sense of Urgency: Is This Beijing’s Economic Reckoning?

There is a mounting sense of urgency in China’s policymaking circles as the country’s economic slowdown becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. After months of weak recovery and growing distress in key sectors, Beijing appears to be coming to grips with the gravity of the situation. In response, on September 24, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) unveiled a sweeping set of measures, signaling

EU China Policy Under von der Leyen 2.0

On September 17, the new European Commission under re-elected President Ursula von der Leyen was announced in Brussels, opening a new chapter that will shape the next five years of the European Union. This announcement came not long after the Draghi report was published earlier this September to address how the EU can improve its internal policies, also featuring China and the United States as

Japan sails warship in Taiwan Strait for first time: reports

A Japanese warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China for the first time, according to reports in Japanese media. The JS Sazanami, a naval destroyer, passed through the strait from north to south on Wednesday, accompanied by ships from Australia and New Zealand. The vessel was on its way to take part in military exercises in the South China Sea, Japanese ministers were

‘Education of hatred’: Killing of Japanese boy sparks soul searching in China over rising nationalism

The killing of a Japanese schoolboy in China has sparked an outpouring of anger and soul searching over the rise of extreme nationalism in the country, with some accusing the government of fanning anti-Japan sentiment and even the “education of hatred.”The tragic loss of a young life has once again thrown a spotlight on the complex relationship between Asia’s two biggest economies, which has been

A path towards freedom: the new route to Europe for desperate Chinese migrants

Since China’s zero-Covid regime was abruptly lifted, shortly after the 2022 protests, hordes of people have been leaving the country. Some are fed up with the political repression, which has spread far and wide under the current regime. Others feel hopeless about the economy, which has struggled to recover since the pandemic, with high youth unemployment rates and stagnant wages. For many, the

In Retrospect: The Death of Chiang Kai-shek

The generalissimo, in severely declining health, did not even appear in public during the final two years of his life. But until the end, Chiang held the title of President of the Republic of China, insisting that he was the sole legitimate ruler of the entire country. Even after Taiwan’s expulsion from the U.N. in 1971, Chiang rejected all attempts at compromise. As long as he was alive,