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Column
US-China ties: cooperation and competition
In the mid-1960s, when the world was dominated by the two superpowers ― the United States and the Soviet Union ― China routinely described their relationship as one of “colluding and contending” for power and influence. That was the view of a China that was economically weak and diplomatically isolated.…
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Column
Japanese flag haunts Koreans
The German law bans the use of the Hakenkreuz, the symbol used by the Nazi Party adopted by Adolf Hitler. Violators are fined or face imprisonment of up to three years. The Nazi regime and its collaborators engineered the Holocaust decades ago that massacred 6 million Jews. Today, Europeans pursue…
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Column
Violent sex crimes against children
Several years ago I wrote an article in this paper (“From sexually abused to abusers”) after a violent eroticised attack on a young girl. I stated that the mass media coverage of such crimes was useful because it reminded us that the types of people who reside inside the prison…
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Column
Independent offspring
Family lore has it that I have always been very independent. As a toddler, I refused to hold anyone’s hand when crossing the street. So my dad had to be creative: he convinced me to hold onto his belt loops instead. Thankfully, I wasn’t an impulsive kid, which is probably…
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[Indonesia Report] Australia troubled for growing asylum seekers
Australian Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen told reporters that he hoped to start sending asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Nauru later this week, AFP reported. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s planned to reopen the Howard government’s asylum seeker processing centre, to send the asylum seeker who try to enter…
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Column
To self-labeled ‘patriotic person’
Thank you for your “sincere letter” in response to my submission “Unseasonable diplomacy,” which appeared in the Sept. 2 issue of The Korea Times, concerning various issues, mainly diplomatic, between Korea and Japan. You left neither a name nor address so I can only respond to your anonymous reply in…
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Are executions good for society?
A senior Cheong Wa Dae official last week stated, “There should be discussions on whether executions can deter crimes first. There should be a social consensus to resume carrying out the death penalty.” We don’t know who issued this comment, because it was ― as is the accepted norm ―…
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Column
China-N. Korea economic ties
In late August, a high level North Korean delegation went to China. The country was represented by none other than Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of “Supreme Leader” Marshall Kim Jong-un. While the inner structure of the North Korean leadership remains obscure to outside observers, it seems plausible that Chang is…
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Column
[Indonesia Report] A blast Injured three people in Indonesia
An explosion took place in Depok City, Western border of Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, on Saturday night (Sept 8). Chief of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Senior Commissioner Rikwanto ordered Gegana, Indonesian National Police Special Response Unit, to investigate all the houses struck by the explosion in the Pondok Bidara Orphanage…
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Column
[Indonesia Report] Number of Indonesia volcanoes in alert
Indonesian Disaster Management Agency (BNPT) released a report on the list of Indonesia’s volcanic mountains on alert, saying that there were 22 volcanic mountains that are in standby and cautious status. Five volcanoes are in cautious status and 17 others are in standby status. BNPT categorized its alert status on three…
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