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East Asia
[Asia Round-up] It pays to be cautious about digital cash
The collapse of the bitcoin exchange MtGox tells a lot about both entrepreneurs and cyber buyers. Some US$450 million is said to have been lost from the debacle. The vision of inflation-less currency that can move easily and without cost between sender and receiver is an attractive one. But, one…
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East Asia
China’s powerful “threats” felt in South China Sea (2)
The statement issued by the ASEAN leaders said that “The Asian bloc is set to lend its full support to a peaceful resolution through dialogue and in full respect of democratic principles and rule of law.” This mentions only broadly the principles in resolving regional issues. This might be interpreted…
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East Asia
Tensions in South China Sea mounting over Chinese oil rigs (1)
Vietnam and Philippines directly involved, ASEAN countries cautious Amid physical clashes, calls for peaceful resolution rising An “inescapable” maritime dispute between China vis-a-vis Vietnam and the Philippines flared up in the South China Sea over China’s recent setting up of oil rigs, leading to China’s firing of water cannons and…
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East Asia
How long shall Lee Kun-hee be unconscious?
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee has remained unconscious until Tuesday. It seems that it will take more time until he regains consciousness, according to sources, May 13. Samsung Medical Center (SMC) said Lee had briefly experienced trouble breathing but his condition then stabilized, though he remained under sedation. An SMC…
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East Asia
Post Lee Kun-hee structure at Samsung?
How shall Samsung business group overcome the shock of Lee Kun-hee’s heart attack? Lee has been leading the Samsung group with his charismatic leadership until now. He has pushed the ‘Mach’ management and he has been the real leader of the group in every aspect of the conglomerate. However, his…
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East Asia
Overall Review of Global Papers’ Editorials
For a couple of days I have read through several newspapers and checked what they editorialized about. Considering that the abduction of schoolgirls has been a hot topic over the world for several weeks, it was understandable that the New York Times touched on this issue. It is an issue…
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East Asia
Cynicism and alienation growing in North Korea
There are many signs that cynicism and alienation is steadily growing within North Korean society and, especially, lower reaches of its elite. People who recently had opportunities to talk frankly to North Koreans (and I do not mean refugees), including the present author, have noticed that North Koreans are increasingly…
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East Asia
Samsung, after Lee Kun-hee’s heart attack?
This event may precipitate the succession plan at Samsung After Lee Kun-hee’s sudden heart attack over the weekend, emerged the issue of succession plan at the Samsung business group again. It has become a matter of grave concern how Samsung’s succession plan will evolve. While business watchers guess that the…
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East Asia
[Asia Round-up] Crisis in Ukraine could be a harbinger of Taiwan’s future
The crisis in Ukraine has implications for Taiwan. Taiwan and Ukraine share similarities in relation to the big powers: Ukraine is torn between the European Union and Russia, and Taiwan between the United States and China. Russia’s latest intervention shows its keenness to reassert control over Ukraine. China has always…
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East Asia
High Goals on Big Screens
Though soccer is considered the most famous sport around the globe, it’s still not presented well in movies. American football stole the spotlight, and it’s either documentaries or comedy movies like “She’s The Man” or “Shaolin Soccer”. Only recently those studios really started to do some real soccer movies. Recently,…
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