• 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

    [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

    [Asia Round-up] Avoid setting dangerous precedent

    The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have started talks over the Abe administration’s bid to scrap the government’s traditional interpretation of the Constitution that Japan cannot exercise the right to collective self-defense. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to allow the nation to be able to use force to counter…

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  • West Asia

    “Nasser” – key word in Egyptian Presidential Elections

    A few years ago, and for almost half a century back, going to the polls was not a regular habit for Egyptians. The face of one ultimate president, Nasser, Sadat, and Mubarak, was shading the backdrop of the stage. So, Egyptians believed that even if they tried to choose an…

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  • South East Asia

    Shall Thailand submerge deeper into political turmoil?

    After the Thailand’s supreme court decision demanding instant ouster of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on May 7, Thailand seems to be sinking deeper into an unprecedented political turmoil. Yingluck’s supporters as well as opponents started to gather to express their support for their respective political camp. Separately, the National…

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  • South East Asia

    BIMSTEC vows to achieve founding goals

    The third summit of BIMSTEC ended in Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw on March 4 with a firm resolve to make continued efforts in accomplishing the founding aims and purposes of the seven-nation forum of South and South East Asia. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic…

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  • East Asia

    Pyongyang’s motives behind conciliatory gestures

    A remarkable chain of diplomatic initiatives from Pyongyang has marked the last two months. Since early January, North Korean ambassadors in a number of countries delivered public statements and conducted interviews where they emphasized that their government is ready to do all it can to improve inter-Korean relations. A number…

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  • Park to stick to current Cabinet for June polls

    President Park Geun-hye is expected to engage in a large-scale reshuffle of her administration in the wake of the government’s ham-fisted responses to the Sewol tragedy. However, most observers say that the shake-up will take place either after the June 4 local elections or just before them to help the…

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  • Large-scale Cabinet reshuffle unavoidable

    Many heads are expected to roll amid growing public outrage over the government’s lax, inefficient handling of the Sewol ferry disaster. President Park Geun-hye is likely to carry out a large-scale Cabinet reshuffle, holding a number of Cabinet members accountable for inept responses. Since the ferry carrying 476 passengers capsized…

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