• East Asia

    Can KBS be free from Chong Wa Dae?

    KBS employees demanding boss’s resignation Hundreds of the Korean Broadcasting System(KBS) reporters, editors and producers started boycotting their work starting May 19, after a voting result was released supporting the boycott. Amid an abnormal state of broadcasting by the KBS, its employees demanded resignation of their president Gil Hwan-young, alleging…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    China, the guest of honour, shines

    Art Paris Art Fair 2014 At a walking distance from The Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Seine river, in a quiet and prestige area, the Art Paris Art Fair opened its doors to the public from the 27th to 30th March 2014. One day before the opening, dozens of artists,…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    [Asia Round-up] Xi Jinping’s visit to Europe– economic diplomacy?

    For the European Union, what was truly remarkable about Xi Jinping’s four-nation tour of Europe (The Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium) was the efforts that the Chinese President made to visit the key EU institutions in Brussels and to meet with its top leaders – President of the European Council…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    [Asian Books] By All Means Necessary

    By All Means Necessary How China’s Resource Quest is Changing the World By Elizabeth Economy & Michael Levi | Oxford University Press | 2014 In By All Means Necessary, Elizabeth C. Economy and Michael Levi explore China’s unprecedented massive quest for natural resources and the global impact of Chinese growth.…

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    Geisha girls

    Geisha girls parade down the streets toward Asakusa Shrine in the compound of Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Friday, May 16, 2014, prior to the annual Sanja Festival, one of the three major festivals in Tokyo, scheduled on May 16-18.

    Read More »
  • East Asia

    Kimono-clad woman at Yushima Tenjin shrine

    A kimono-clad woman strolls along a wall enclosure to Yushima Tenjin shrine in Tokyo, Thursday, May 15, 2014. The shrine is devoted to the “god of learning” so many students visit for prayers during the country’s high school and college entrance examinations every February.

    Read More »
  • 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…

    Read More »
  • 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…

    Read More »
  • 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…

    Read More »
  • 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…

    Read More »