Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com JEJU – Schoolchildren here sing a mournful song about a gigantic rock about 90 miles southwest of the island where the souls of fishermen lost at sea find their final repose. The rock cannot really be called an outcropping since it’s actually submerged several meters, but South Korea […]
Times247.com As Japan’s birthrate plummets, the estimated worth of its pet industry has risen to $10bn, with pampered pooches enjoying holidays at hot spring resorts, yoga classes and designer clothes. While the birthrate has been falling dramatically and the average age of Japan’s population has been steadily climbing, Japan has become a pet superpower. Official […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com KIN TOWN, Okinawa, Japan — The neon signs over the little bars and eating places beckon U.S. Marines like bright lights attracting moths to flames. From an old-time camp across the highway that runs up the eastern fringe of this island bastion of American military might, Marines hit […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com NAHA, Okinawa, Japan — The future of American power in Asia revolves closely around U.S. forces on this island that is home to a full panoply of U.S. air and ground forces well south of the Japanese “mainland.” Most people here would just as soon they go somewhere […]
John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Despite the persistent economic headwinds which are expected to slow economic expansion this year, “growth in the Asia and the Pacific area remains better than in any other region; continuing as an anchor of stability and a new growth pole for the world economy.” That’s the guardedly optimistic prognosis […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Despite reduced tension with Iran, global oil prices were expected to remain high throughout 2012. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said oil prices would remain high amid rising demand. The Paris-based agency said demand would increase in China and Japan with a decline reported in Europe and the United States. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com A series of naval exercises involving troops from China, Russia, South Korea, the U.S. and the Philippines are likely to significantly raise tensions in the Asia-Pacific. The largest China-Russian naval war game since 2005 is scheduled to start next week in waters very close to South Korea and […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com Beijing has blamed the U.S. as well as Japan and South Korea for provoking Pyongyang into persevering with its program to build weapons of mass destruction. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) administration has also called upon Washington to exercise “caution” in its plans to construct in Asia an […]
John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — In a world beset by war, ethnic conflict and humanitarian disasters, Burma seems one of those rare places where diplomats can say they are making a positive difference. Maybe that’s precisely because this Southeast Asian land, was until recently a pariah state, suffering from the self- inflicted wounds of […]
Sol W. Sanders Looking around the world, the striking characteristic is waiting out a number of crises. Their outcome seems almost artificially suspended, and their interaction on one another and their ultimate effect on the world is at issue. We start with the Euro. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s supplications in Beijing were perhaps laudable but a […]