China and Japan have opened a military hot line between their defence authorities to avoid unwanted military incidents. The Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism was launched as long ago as 2018, but the global pandemic and a territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands prevented its operation. The uninhabited islands are controlled by Japan but claimed by China. The hot line will operate as a bellwether of trust between the two regional powers and will hopefully avoid any unnecessary confrontations.
New York-based author Clint Smith has signed a three-book deal with Random House. Smith, who won the National Book Critics Circle Award for How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America (2021), will write Just Beneath the Soil, about the impact of the second world war on people whose stories are less well-known. The book will be the first in the deal, with no confirmed release date yet given. Smith is also a poet and a staff writer for The Atlantic.
Japan and China have opened a hotline between their defense ministers as a way to build trust and improve communication amid concerns about Beijing's increasingly assertive military activities. The two sides are embroiled in a dispute over small Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, as well as concerns around self-ruled Taiwan. The hotline was initially agreed in 2018 as a way to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries. The two ministers talked for around 20 minutes on the hotline, and both expressed the importance of building trust while avoiding contingencies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the China-Central Asia Summit in northwestern China on 11/12 June. Leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will attend. The summit will be the first in-person high-level meeting between Xi and Central Asian leaders since Beijing established diplomatic ties with their countries over thirty years ago. At the conference, Xi is expected to deliver a keynote speech, exchange views with regional leaders on cooperation between China and Central Asia, sign "important political documents" and establish visa-free initiatives with multiple Central Asian countries.
A Chinese native has been charged by the US Department of Justice with stealing trade secrets from Apple, including information on autonomous vehicle technology. Weibao Wang, a former software engineer accused of stealing thousands of documents, is one of five individuals to be pursued as part of a government task force created to combat the theft of critical technology by foreign countries. Wang, who told investigators he had no plans to travel to China, immediately flew to Guangzhou upon being questioned by law enforcement officers who discovered a large volume of Apple data at his California home in 2018.
Japan's GDP figures for the first quarter are set to be the highlight for Asian markets on Wednesday, with expectations of annualised growth of 0.7%, the fastest rate in three quarters, leading to Tokyo stocks opening up 0.2%. China's weaker than expected economic data for April has resulted in slumps across Chinese financial assets, with April house prices also due on Wednesday. Although offshore investors have a new scheme to link Hong Kong with the mainland in order to access interest rate derivatives to help hedge their Chinese bond exposure, concerns about debt demand have cast extra doubt over the yuan's ability to gain reserve currency status.
Ukrainian officials have claimed that their air defence system intercepted six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles which had been pointed at Kiev, evidence which if confirmed, would suggest the country's ability to shoot down the most advanced weaponry from Russia. Ukraine accused Russia of launching an "exceptional" flurry of missiles and drones at Kiev, but said that it had stopped the Kinzhals. Russia claimed that one missile had hit an American-made Patriot system. This is one of Russia's biggest attacks since March, and Russia's chaotic defence system and lack of resources have failed to improve the country's 15-month war strategies.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use this weekend’s meeting of the Group of Seven (G-7) leaders in Hiroshima to promote the elimination of nuclear weapons, but there will be deep irony as Kishida is overseeing the greatest expansion of Japanese military power since the end of World War II. Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, threatened earlier this year that there would be a "nuclear apocalypse" if the West sent weapons to Ukraine, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently suggested his country might need to develop atomic weapons. The G-7 leaders will find common ground on Ukraine, but the issue of China’s increasing assertiveness is a trickier issue to resolve.
Japanese investment bank Nomura has hired two investment bankers to head its greentech unit’s coverage of mobility and automotive clients in the US and Europe. The company hopes to capitalise on the consolidation among older vehicle and equipment makers and newer rivals, many of whom were initially funded by SPACS, which have come to the fore on Wall Street this year. Nomura’s global co-head of Nomura Greentech, Duncan Williams, said venture-backed EV firms and low-emission vehicle producers will benefit from subsidies in many countries, but may face cash shortfalls as a result of higher borrowing and economic fears.
North Korea shows Kim Jong Un examining a military spy satellite that may be launched soon
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 02:05
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited the country's aerospace agency to support plans for the forthcoming military spy satellite launch. There has been no indication of the launch time, however, analysts suggest it may happen within weeks. It would use long-range missile technology that has been prohibited by past United Nations Security Council laws. Although previous missile and rocket tests have revealed the country's ability to deliver a satellite into space, there is doubt as to whether the satellite in question will be adequate for fulfilling reconnaissance requirements. South Korean analysts suggest the satellite produced by the state appears too small and poorly manufactured to support high-resolution images. Nevertheless, acquiring a spy satellite would be important for Kim's efforts to reinforce the country's defence as "US imperialists and (South) Korean puppet villains escalate their confrontational moves" against North Korea; its enemies are now boosting their nuclear deterrence strategies to deal with the threat from North Korea.
Japan's J.League is gaining a bigger fanbase in Thailand with interest among Thai viewers reaching 61% last year, triple the level seen in 2013, according to a survey by the league. The J.League has reportedly pushed deeper into the Thai market, while a grassroots surge has also helped the league gain in popularity. A poll conducted by a US firm showed interest in the league more than doubling over the past few years to 49%. Although behind England’s Premier League and Spain's La Liga, which garnered 84% and 62% of Thai interest respectively, analysts noted these were still positive numbers. Thai fans of the J.League are expected to account for a growing audience over the next few years, helped by the recent success of Thai player Chanathip Songkrasin at the Japanese club Consadole Sapporo and official J.League merchandise and events in Bangkok.
US President Joe Biden is expected to emphasise unity and Washington's dedication to the Asia-Pacific during his planned trip for the G7 Summit in Japan whilst navigating a delicate balance between countering China's economic coercion and avoiding further division among US allies. Biden also seeks to build a "little Nato" in Asia to contain Russia and China. While the G7 is expected to outline proposals on countering China's "economic coercion", it is important to not inflame nationalistic tendencies or put smaller countries in a difficult position where they become the target of coercive activities. The trick, according to experts, is to build more robust trade agreements, maritime security measures, and reinforcing supply chains rather than setting up divisions. China carried out 73 incidents of economic coercion aimed at 19 countries between 2020 and 2022, including trade sanctions, investment restrictions, tourism bans and popular boycotts.
Chinese companies are targeting South Korean talent as Beijing seeks to build up its technical abilities in key areas such as electric cars, semiconductors and exports including shipbuilding. The moves have reportedly intensified since Washington began restricting Chinese access to American technology and expertise. Strategies by Chinese firms have included both legal and illegal means of attracting skilled professionals including “tech leakage” and patent violations. Korea is creating a database of chip engineers at the country’s companies to monitor their travel in and out of the country, and has passed legislation to toughen punishments for leaks.
A Group of Seven summit is expected to face significant tensions on the issue of nuclear disarmament. Many atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima fear that the summit may be the last time that world leaders will call for disarmament. For those in the West, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has reminded them of the important role played by nuclear deterrence. The summit is also expected to discuss ways of curbing nuclear programmes in Iran and North Korea. Barack Obama, the last US President to visit Hiroshima, chose the city as an opportunity to express his hope for a world without nuclear weapons.
China's Premier Li Qiang has hailed the Netherlands as a "priority partner" in the face of heightened tensions with the US over its trade practices. During phone calls with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Li said he hopes that the Netherlands can help ensure Europe will "adhere to strategic autonomy, making greater contributions to the development of China-Europe ties". China has been hit by US export restrictions in recent months, with the Netherlands landing in the US crossfire after the Dutch government never granted ASML a licence to sell its most advanced semiconductors to Chinese customers.
Japan is currently the only member of the Group of Seven (G7) nations without legalized same-sex unions, and the country faced increased international pressure over LGBTQ rights ahead of this year’s G7 meeting. Japan’s lawmakers have reportedly agreed on a watered-down bill that will only promote understanding of LGBTQ rights, without offering any legal protection. Although discrimination against sexual minorities is not openly stated, some legal experts have described Japan as hostile for LGBTQ individuals. However, there is evidence of changing attitudes in the country, particularly among younger people and the powerful Japan Business Federation has endorsed legalisation.
Developed nations should increase the financial and technical support they offer poorer countries so that they can achieve similar decarbonisation aims as wealthier countries, according to a senior official from Japan’s environment ministry. Wealthy countries made commitments in 2009 to transfer $100bn annually between 2020 and 2025 to vulnerable states affected by climate change, but so far this figure has not been met. Japan is committed to funding $70bn over the period. The G7 leaders are expected to reiterate their climate goals during their upcoming summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
Leaders from Japan, South Korea and the US will discuss strengthening ties as a response to North Korea and Chinese assertiveness during a meeting today on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima. Top of their agenda will be North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat, with tensions increasing after a string of missile tests, including five ballistic missile launches last month. The three countries have doubled down on deterrence measures, such as the linking of radars for tracking North Korean missiles, and will discuss details of the real-time intelligence-sharing plans during their meeting in Hiroshima. They will also discuss economic security, strengthening supply-chains and "friendshoring" while looking to reduce dependence on China for critical materials. Earlier this month, officials from Tokyo and Seoul held their first consultation on economic security.
The Group of Seven (G7) is discussing "economic coercion" ahead of the Hiroshima summit with China in mind. A central theme in the upcoming conference is increasing economic security with greater international cooperation to reduce dependence on China for supplying strategically important goods, such as semiconductors, materials for electric vehicle batteries, and pharmaceuticals. China has increasingly adopted this tactic, putting import tariffs on Australian produce following its call for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, and blocking trade with Lithuania after the opening of an office in Taipei. The G7 meeting is expected to result in policy documents on specific policies, including economic security.
Will North Korea’s Foreign Minister Visit Mongolia This Year?
Diplomat
23-05-17 13:33
Mongolia is seeking to strengthen its relationship with North Korea, with the two countries set to mark their diplomatic relations’ 75th anniversary in 2023. Despite the pandemic disrupting people’s exchanges and economic and trade relations, Mongolia and North Korea have maintained their friendly relationship, periodically exchanging greetings and having their officials mentioned in Korean Central News Agency articles. Mongolia has had a long-standing relationship with North Korea, being the second country to recognize Pyongyang in 1948 and offering to host a summit between then-US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018-2019 that ultimately failed to transpire. Mongolia is notable as the only democracy in the region that has maintained close ties with North Korea, and it could help North Korea as a source of communication channels. Mongolia also plans to organise a meeting of around 40 female foreign ministers in Ulaanbaatar between June 29 and 30, with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui invited to attend.
