2007

[Government and Policy] [Information and Research] [News] [Papers]

~ 2001 ;  2002-2004 ;  2005 ; 2006

 Government and Policy 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs very useful site

Foreign Policy Page Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

House of Councilors (National Diet of Japan, Sangi-in)

House of Representatives (National Diet of Japan, Shugi-in)

The Constitution of Japan English translated version

Japan-China Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

Overview - Japan-ASEAN Relations

Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations Japan's position on issues, Japan's Policy and Press Releases

Information and Research

NIRA (National Institute for Research Advancement, Japan)

Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)

Japanese Journal Information Web

The National Security-Archive U.S.-Japan Project Papers on diplomatic, security, and economic relations between the U.S. and Japan

Japan Center for International Exchange (A nonprofit and non-governmental institution, Japan)

Japan Policy Research Institute (JPRI) U.S.-Japan relationship and its implications for the Pacific Rim

Japan Economic Institute of America (JEI) information on Japanese economy, politics, foreign policy and U.S.-Japan relations

Kyodo News Web

Japan Times

Tokyo Opposes Taiwan's UN Referendum: Fukuda
(AFP, Dec. 29, 2007) Tokyo opposes Taiwan's planned referendum on UN membership, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said after holding talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. "We don't want a situation in which Taiwan's referendum leads to tensions between [the two sides]," said Fukuda.

Fukuda, Hu Agree to Seek Gas Rights Pact
(Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2007) Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to work toward an early settlement to the stalled dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea before Hu's visit to Japan, which was confirmed for next spring.

China, Japan Leaders Seek to Resolve Disputes
(Reuters, Dec. 28, 2007) Japan and China, keen to improve ties plagued by wartime history, sought to resolve disputes over energy resources, territory and military build-ups at top-level talks.

Japan Intercepts Missile in Space from Ship
(AP, Dec. 18, 2007) The Japanese military destroyed a mid-range ballistic missile in space with an interceptor fired from a ship off Hawaii in a test. The U.S. military has conducted similar successful tests in the past, but it is the first time a U.S. ally has shot down a ballistic missile from a ship at sea.

Japan Infuriated by China's Deletions from Joint Press Communique (Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2007) China deleted two views of Japan from a joint press communique that the two countries had agreed upon during bilateral economic talks on Dec. 1, sources said over the weekend.

China Hails Japan Summit But Energy Row Clouds Picture
(AFP, Dec. 3, 2007) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hailed a summit with Japan as "another step forward" in warming ties, but the mood was tempered by lingering tension over competing claims to offshore energy fields.

China - Japan Talks to Bolster Relations
(AP, Dec. 2, 2007) China and Japan began talks on trade and economic issues Saturday that are intended to bolster the recent warming of their long-uneasy relations. Only two modest agreements were struck -- one on a $420 million Japanese loan to China to fund six environmental projects, and the other a treaty to allow the countries' police and prosecutors to work directly on criminal extradition.

Japan Pressured over PLA Tour: Report
(AFP, Dec. 1, 2007) Japan canceled a tour for visiting Chinese sailors of an advanced AEGIS-equipped warship because of US concern that Beijing could gather confidential information, a newspaper said.

Chinese Warship Visits Japan
(New York Times, Nov. 22, 2007) A warship sailed Wednesday for the first port visit by the Chinese Navy to Japan since the end of World War II, Chinese state media reported.

Japan Fires Water Cannon at Chinese Activists
(Associated Press, Oct. 29, 2007) Japanese patrol vessels fired a water cannon Sunday at a boat carrying Chinese activists who were protesting Japanese claims to territory in the East China Sea, the activist group said.

Japanese Attend Chinese Military Drill for First Time
(Reuters, Sep. 26, 2007) Japanese observers got to attend a military drill in north-eastern China for the first time this week in the latest sign of warming ties between the two sides, Chinese media reported.

China's Military Assurances Fall Short: Japan
(Reuters, Sep. 1, 2007) A rare visit to Japan by China's Defense Minister has done little to erase mutual suspicion over the Asian rivals' military ambitions despite his assurances that Beijing poses no threat, Japanese media said.

Japan, China Eye Hotline to Boost Military Ties
(AFP, Aug. 30, 2007) Japan and China agreed to work to ease military tensions through a crisis hotline and ship exchanges despite lingering unease over Taiwan and Beijing's growing defense spending.

Japan to Develop Stealth Fighter Jets
(AP, Aug. 12, 2007) Japan is set to develop its own next generation stealth fighter jets to reduce its dependence on foreign technology and counter similar moves by China and Russia, a news report said.

Abe Reaffirms Japan's Commitment to Nonnuclear Policy
(AP, Aug. 7, 2007) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Japan was committed to its non-nuclear policy and would work toward the abolition of nuclear weapons as Hiroshima marked the 62nd anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attack.

Call by U.S. House for Sex Slavery Apology Angers Japan’s Leader
(New York Times, Aug. 1, 2007) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed some irritation at the resolution approved by the House of Representatives in Washington that calls on Japan to acknowledge its wartime sex slavery. His reaction indicated strongly that the Japanese government would not offer surviving victims an official apology.

Hsieh Proposes Japanese Version of 'Relations Act'
(TT, July 16, 2007) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh said that if he were elected next year, he would encourage Japan to adopt a "Taiwan relations act" similar to that of the US.

Japan Says North Korea, China Security Concerns
(Reuters, July 6, 2007) Japan kept up the pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons and missiles and expressed concern about the lack of transparency on China's burgeoning military spending in a government defense paper. "There are fears about the lack of transparency concerning China's military strength," the paper said.

Japan Official Resigns over A-bomb Quip
(AP, July 3, 2007) Japan's embattled defense minister resigned over his comments suggesting the 1945 atomic bombings Hiroshima and Nagasaki were inevitable.

Japan Should Defend U.S. from ICBM Attacks: Panel
(Kyodo News, June 30, 2007) Japan should be allowed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles fired at the United States, a government panel agreed, indicating the Constitution would need to be reinterpreted so the country could come to the defense of an ally under attack.

House Panel Calls for Japan Sex Slave Apology
(Reuters, June 26, 2007 ) A resolution calling on Japan to officially apologize for pressing thousands of women into sexual servitude in World War Two won strong approval from a U.S. congressional committee. The resolution was approved 39 to 2 by the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee in a step that allows the nonbinding measure to move to the full house.

Japan, China to Resume Talks on Gas Dispute
(AFP, June 26, 2007) Japan and China are set to resume talks on a longstanding dispute over drilling rights in the energy-rich East China Sea after the last round ended in deadlock.

Ties Soar as China, Japan Launch New Shuttle Flights
(Straits Times, June 26, 2007) In yet another sign of improving ties between Japan and China, the two countries yesterday agreed to begin shuttle flights between Tokyo and Shanghai. Four round-trip flights a day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport will start on Oct 8.

China Allows Small Anti-Lee Protest at Japanese Embassy
(Reuters, June 19, 2007) China allowed about a dozen people to protest a visit to Japan by former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui and the arrest by Japanese police of a Chinese citizen who threw a water bottle at Lee.

Japan Plants Coral to Save Sinking 'Territory'
(AFP, June 18, 2007) Japan has begun planting baby coral on a remote Pacific atoll in a multi-million-dollar project to save sinking islets and defend a territorial claim disputed with China, officials said. Japan regards the rocky isles of Okinotori, 1,700 kilometres south of Tokyo, as the southernmost point of its territory, letting it set its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone around them.

Taiwan's Lee Fires Shots at China from Japan
(AFP, June 10, 2007) Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui fired a defiant shot at China during a visit to Japan, urging Tokyo to take a harder line in an emotive row over a war shrine.

Japan and China Play Up Ties after Taiwan Row
(Reuters, June 9, 2007) Japan and China emphasised their friendly relationship at a bilateral meeting on Friday, a day after Beijing had shown irritation with Tokyo for allowing a visit by a former Taiwanese president. 

Taiwan Ex-Leader Visits Japanese War Shrine
(AFP, June 7, 2007) Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui made a pilgrimage to a controversial Japanese war shrine to mourn his brother in a visit expected to anger Beijing.

Japan 'Risking Ties with China over Lee's Visit': China
(AP, June 1, 2007) China warned Japan yesterday that it was putting relations at risk by allowing former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui to visit, as he courted more controversy by suggesting he might go to a Tokyo war shrine.

Japan Dangles Subsidies to Towns to Support US Bases
(AFP, May 24, 2007) Japan approved a plan to award subsidies to towns that drop their demands for a greater pullout of US troops based in the country. Tokyo and Washington agreed last year to transfer 8,000 troops from the southern island chain of Okinawa to the US territory of Guam.

Japan Wants Better Ties with China
(AFP, May 9, 2007) Japan said it hoped to keep improving relations with China after Beijing refrained from criticizing the Japanese premier for sending an offering to a controversial war shrine.

Japanese Premier Makes Gift to War Shrine but Does Not Visit
(New York Times, May 8, 2007) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan made a ceremonial offering to a controversial Tokyo war shrine last month but did not go himself, a shrine official said.

Japanese PM Recovers Support
(AFP, Apr. 16, 2007) Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has topped 50 percent for the first time this year after a landmark visit by China's premier, a survey said.

China and Japan Pledge Closer Ties
(AP, Apr. 12, 2007) Strengthening a fragile detente, Japanese and Chinese leaders meeting in Tokyo pledged to work together on North Korea, energy development and the environment, while defusing thorny disputes over history and territory.

China's Wen Hopes To 'Melt Ice' in Japan
(WP, Apr. 11, 2007) In what he called a mission to "melt the ice," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao opens a long-delayed visit to Japan on Wednesday to demonstrate China's new willingness to play down historic and strategic differences in favor of stable relations between Asia's two major powers.

Abe to Make 2nd Trip to China in Fall, Convey Plan as Wen Visits Wed (Kyodo News, Apr. 11, 2007) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided he will visit China again as early as in the fall, and will officially convey the plan to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when they meet in Tokyo on Wednesday, Japanese government sources said.

Abe Asks China to Come Clean on Military Budget
(Taipei Times, Apr. 8, 2007) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on China to explain its swelling defense budget, days before Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was set to arrive on an ice-breaking visit.

Japan, China Begin Experts' Meeting on E. China Sea Gas Dispute (Kyodo News, Apr. 6, 2007) Japan and China began a meeting of technical experts aimed at resolving a dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea, an official of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing said.

China's Wen Hopes for Successful Japan Trip, Warns about Shrine (Kyodo News, Apr. 4, 2007) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said he hopes his trip to Japan next week will end in success, and that top-level exchanges will continue in the form of a second visit to China by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by the end of the year.

Chinese Premier Wen to Visit Japan
(AP, Mar. 27, 2007) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Japan April 11 for a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the first such trip in seven years, Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday.

Abe's LDP Backers Seek Taiwan-India China Foil
(Kyodo News, Mar. 25, 2007) Some 20 Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers who see China as a threat will form a parliamentary league to push closer ties with Taiwan and India, possibly in May, LDP sources said.

Japan, China Start New Talks on Tangled History
(AFP, Mar. 19, 2007) Scholars from Japan and China on Monday opened new talks to draft a joint study of their history, a frequent source of friction between the Asian powers.

Australia, Japan Sign Landmark Defense Pact
(Straits Times, Mar. 14, 2007) Japan and Australia signed a ground-breaking pact to boost bilateral security ties in order to jointly tackle regional security threats such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation and even North Korea.

Japan-Aussie Security Deal Not Aimed at China: Abe
(Reuters, Mar. 13, 2007) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denied that a ground-breaking security agreement he is to sign with Australian Prime Minister John Howard today is aimed at reining in China.

Australia-Japan Defense Pact Won't Hurt China Ties, Howard Says (Bloomberg, Mar. 11, 2007) A security agreement between Australia and Japan won't harm the nation's ties with China, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard said. The two are scheduled to sign a security agreement in Tokyo, Japan's first such agreement with a country besides the U.S. since World War II.

China Says Japan Should 'Face Up' to History About WWII Sex Slaves
(WP, Mar. 7, 2007) The Japanese government should acknowledge that thousands of foreign women were forced to serve as sex slaves for Japanese troops in World War II, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said.

Prime Minister Denies Women Were Forced Into WWII Brothels
(AP, Mar. 2, 2007) Japan's prime minister denied that the country's military forced women into sexual slavery during World War II, casting doubt on a past government apology and jeopardizing a fragile detente with his Asian neighbors.

Japan Successfully Launches Its Fourth Intelligence Satellite
(AP, Feb. 25, 2007) Japan launched its fourth spy satellite, stepping up its ability to gather intelligence from orbit and to keep an eye on neighbor North Korea's nuclear program.

Japan Anger over US 'Sex Slave' Bill
(Reuters, Feb. 20, 2007) A proposed U.S. House of Representatives resolution calling on Japan to apologize for forcing women into sexual slavery in World War Two was groundless and regrettable, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said.

Japan to Join US in WTO Action against China
(AFP, Feb. 16, 2007) Japan has decided to join in a US complaint against China at the World Trade Organisation over Beijing's industrial subsidies. In the complaint, Japan will explain how Japanese firms have also been damaged by the subsidies, the Nikkei newspaper said.

China Warns Japan Not to 'Sensationalise' Island Dispute
(AFP, Feb. 6, 2007) China has warned Japan against "sensationalising" research activities by a Chinese vessel in disputed resource-rich waters. China issued the warning, which also appeared to be a tacit recognition that a Chinese vessel had indeed carried out research in the Diaoyu archipelago.

China and Japan Vow to Build Ties
(AFP, Jan. 29, 2007) Ministers from China and Japan wrapped up three days of closed-door strategic talks at the weekend, vowing to build 'mutually beneficial' ties.

Japan, China Plan Military Port Exchange
(AP, Jan. 22, 2007) Japan and China are hoping to send warships to each other's ports for courtesy calls soon to help ease tensions between the two Asian giants, an official said.

Japan Formally Upgrades Defense Agency to Ministry
(Reuters, Jan. 10, 2007) Japan formally elevated its Defense Agency to full-fledged ministry status, the latest sign of Tokyo's desire to emerge from the shadow of its defeat in World War II.

China Opposes U.S.-Japan Contingency Plan on Taiwan
(Bloomberg, Jan. 5, 2007) China opposes a U.S.-Japan military contingency plan over the Taiwan Strait, saying that such a plan must take into consideration the fact that the island is a part of China.

Can China and Japan Think Together? By Shiping Tang and Haruko Satoh (PacNet 52, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Dec. 2007) The thorny problem of history – which must be confronted – is as much a problem of domestic politics and nationalism of both states as it is a diplomatic one. And then there are conflicting issues of sovereignty, such as the disputes over gas field, the Senkaku/Diaoyu Island or a potential mishap over the issue of Taiwan that could saddle the process of reconciliation. Nonetheless, China and Japan have been learning to cooperate on a wide range of issues that may not each be fundamental but constitute important building blocks.

Fukuda Brings New Warmth to China-Japan Ties
(Reuters, Dec. 28, 2007) China and Japan made no major breakthroughs in resolving a row over natural resources in the East China Sea on Friday, but a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda signaled a new warmth in bilateral relations.

Japan Emerges as Key Battleground in Taiwan Presidential Race By Max Hirsch (Kyodo News, Dec. 18, 2007) Such is the significance of Japan to Taiwan's Mar. 22 presidential election, in which tacit support from the vital trading and strategic partner could make or break the diplomacy platforms of Ma and Hsieh. Hence, Japan has emerged as a key battleground in the political fight for Taiwan's top job, as both frontrunners scramble to curry favor with Tokyo.

China and Japan's Regional Tug of War
(Straits Times, Nov. 24, 2007) The competition between China and Japan to win the hearts and minds of the leaders and people of South-east Asia was almost palpable at the Asean meetings this week. The China-Japan competition for influence appears to be benefiting the region, going by the flurry of economic activity it has spawned. However, it would lead to uncertainty in the region of how to accommodate the different interests of China and Japan, especially in creating an East Asian identity.

Japan-China Relations at a Turning Point
(Editorial, Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 21, 2007) China is a nation of primary importance in Fukuda's diplomatic policy in this part of the world. Japan's relations with China is a decisive factor for success, or a lack of it, in efforts to build a good framework for international order in East Asia.

China and Japan
(Editorial, Japan Times, Oct. 29, 2007) China may not ever dominate Japan in the way many alarmists fear, but the balance of power between the two countries will undoubtedly continue to shift in the near future. The readjustment in relations, though, may occur in unexpected ways that are less obvious than government policy statements.

Abe's Battle for Overseas Mission
(Straits Times, Sep. 11, 2007 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, staking his job on extending Japan's refueling mission in aid of US-led operations in Afghanistan, embarked on his toughest-ever political battle. In a policy speech at the start of what is expected to be a very turbulent parliamentary session, he held up the mission by Japan's Self-Defense Force (SDF) in the Indian Ocean as an example of his country's international contribution.

China, Japan Race for the Moon
(Associated Press, Aug. 25, 2007) Japan claims its project is the biggest since Apollo. China says it is readying its probes to study the lunar surface to plan a landing. With Asia's biggest powers set to launch their first unmanned lunar missions, the countdown has begun in the hottest space race since the United States beat the Soviet Union to the moon nearly four decades ago.

Will Japan Follow India on the Nuclear Road? By Robyn Lim
(Straits Times, Aug. 22, 2007) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has arrived in New Delhi at the height of controversy about whether the Indian Parliament will ratify a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States. In 1998, Japan was appalled when India tested a nuclear weapon. But times have changed. If the new US-India deal goes through, as seems likely, will Japan be encouraged to think that, like India, it needs nuclear weapons for its security?

As Japan and India Forge Economic Ties, a Counterweight to China Is Seen
(New York Times, Aug. 21, 2007) When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan touches down in India this week, it will be the highest-level step yet in what analysts say is a long-term effort to balance, if not contain, China’s growing economic and political might.

Japan PM Seen Avoiding Shrine on WW2 Anniversary
(Reuters, Aug. 15, 2007) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to stay away from a Tokyo war shrine on the anniversary of Japan's World War Two surrender, avoiding friction with Asian neighbors who see it as a symbol of the nation's past militarism.

Japan Loses Chance for Leadership in Asia By Richard Halloran
(Straits Times, Aug. 3, 2007) An opportunity for leadership in Asia has faded. A chance to overcome the 'demons of history' left from World War II has slipped away. The time to revise the pacifist Constitution and to shoulder more of the common defense has been delayed. In Tokyo, Mr Abe has been severely censured by his voters and now confronts a legislature.

Bomb by Bomb, Japan Sheds Military Restraints By Norimitsu Onishi
(New York Times, July 23, 2007) To take part in its annual exercises with the United States Air Force here last month, Japan practiced dropping 500-pound live bombs on Farallon de Medinilla, a tiny island in the western Pacific’s turquoise waters more than 150 miles north of here. In a little over half a decade, Japan’s military has carried out changes considered unthinkable a few years back.

Rise of Liberal Japan By Joseph S. Nye
(Straits Times, June 14, 2007) In May, Asahi Shimbun, a major newspaper known for its left/liberal inclination, proposed an alternative vision for 21st-century Japan in a series of 21 editorials. Asahi rejected the idea of revising Article 9, and proposed instead that the Japanese Diet legalize the role of the Self-Defense Forces.

The US-Japan Cross-Straight Nod By Philip Yang
(Taipei Times, May 10, 2007) One should of course not make the mistake of thinking that the objective of the US-Japan treaty is to contain China or build an alliance with Taiwan. The treaty stipulates that the two countries' military forces -- lately with the addition of Australia -- comprise a military mechanism for the active defense of the status quo in order to stabilize the regional situation and to prevent war from breaking out.

The Silence in the US-Japan 2+2 Statement By Kurt Campbell
(Taipei Times, May 10, 2007) The emerging US-Japan consensus on the maintenance of stability across the Taiwan Strait had already been established and further elaboration was unnecessary and seen to be potentially counterproductive.

Japan Necessary to Deter China, US Official Says
(Taipei Times, May 3, 2007) The former commander of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Dennis Blair, back in the US after observing Taiwan's annual military exercises, on Tuesday called on Japan to continue supporting the US policy of deterrence against Chinese military action against Taiwan.

And Now to Trilateralism By Brad Glosserman and Bonnie Glaser
(PacNet 24, Pacific Forum, CSIS, May 1, 2007) U.S.-China-Japan cooperation can help build the trust that is needed in China-Japan relations. With the various sets of bilateral relationships strong and forward looking, Washington, Tokyo, and Beijing have a unique opportunity to build genuinely trilateral relations and, in particular, transform Chinese perceptions of the U.S.-Japan alliance.

The Burden of Japan By Christian Caryl
(Newsweek International, Apr. 30, 2007) Shinzo Abe faces a tough balancing act: keeping his conservative base happy, charting a new, moral foreign policy—and finally facing up to the past.

Japan and Australia: A Bridge Too Far? By Robyn Lim
(Far Eastern Economic Review, April 2007) Australia signed a security agreement with Japan. With the security agreement, Australia is hoping to moderate Japan’s military influence in the Pacific by embedding it within a wider framework. Whether this strategy will work remains an open question. But the underlying impetus to these changes—on both sides—of course, is China.

China's Soft Power By Philip Bowring
(International Herald Tribune, Apr. 15, 2007) Given the recent history-obsessed relations between China and Japan it was perhaps inevitable that the past should again get more attention than the future. But broadly it looks to have been another success for Chinese diplomacy, and for Wen's projection soft power.

Wen Pushes the Right Buttons
(Straits Times, Apr. 14, 2007) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has won plaudits from experts for his masterly diplomacy in Japan. However, genuine reconciliation between the two countries may be some way away.

China and Japan in Delicate Minuet to Ease Deep Diplomatic Tensions By Norimitsu Onishi (NYT, Apr. 12, 2007) Little progress was made, in recent months or on Wednesday, on the flash points: disputed gas and oil fields in the East China Sea; visits to Yasukuni and other problems related to history; and suspicions each harbors about the other’s military ambitions.

Hopes Rise for China, Japan Thaw By Jing-dong Yuan
(Taipei Times, Apr. 11, 2007) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will pay a visit to Japan this week. Five years after the last Sino-Japanese summit, Wen's visit brings with it high hopes for a thaw in bilateral relations.

Japan's Wartime Deeds not Easily Forgotten in China By Ben Blanchard (Reuters, Apr. 7, 2007) The war may have ended more than 60 years ago, but in this Beijing suburb gaggles of schoolchildren and office workers daily relive battles the Chinese fought with Japanese invaders so long ago.

China Gives Muted Response to Defense Pact
(Straits Times, Mar. 14, 2007) Japan's landmark security pact with Australia could well bolster calls within China to further increase its defense spending and accelerate its military modernization, analysts here said.

Howard's Risky Japan Deal
(The Bulletin, Mar. 13, 2007) As John Howard signs a defence agreement with Japan, many regional experts wait nervously for China's reaction. Some defence analysts believe Canberra may have made a mistake.

In Asia, the Past Divides and Alienates By Howard W. French
(International Herald Tribune, Mar. 8, 2007) Imagine a world where Germany denied the Holocaust, the United States denied the slaughter of Native Americans and Europe denied organizing its immensely profitable and centuries-long trans-Atlantic trade in African slaves.

Japan's 'Spy Net' Puts It Ahead in Space Race
(Associated Press, Feb 27, 2007) After nearly a decade of trying, Japan has succeeded in establishing a network of spy satellites that can peer in on any point on the globe once a day, officials said.

China and Japan Patching Up Diplomacy
(LA Times, Feb. 17, 2007) Anyone seeking signs that China and Japan are working hard to get their fraught relations back on track should consider this: After a four-year ban, the Chinese have agreed to resume eating Japanese rice.

The US-Japan Alliance: Getting Asia Right Through 2020 By Richard L. Armitage & Joseph S. Nye (CSIS, Feb. 16, 2007) With half the world's population, one-third of the global economy, and growing economic, financial, technological, and political weight in the international system, Asia is key to a stable, prosperous world order that best advances American interests. The goal of this report is to outline a vision that offers the best prospect for achieving "a balance of power that favors freedom."

MND Official Says Taiwan Seeking Japan Military Trade
(Taiwan News, Feb. 2, 2007) Taiwan would welcome and looks forward to seeing Japan adjust its national defense policy regarding the export of military techniques and weapons sales to Taiwan, a senior official from the National Defense Ministry said in an interview with a Canadian magazine released.

US-Japan Pact Matters to Taiwan By Randall Schriver
(Taipei Times, Jan. 24, 2007) The US-Japan alliance is evolving. This is partly as a result of internal developments in Japan, and partly in response to dynamic change in Asia. Political leaders in Taiwan should take note of this evolution as the future course of the US-Japan alliance may have a direct impact on Taiwan's security.

China and Japan Eye April Date at Regional Summit
(Reuters, Jan. 15, 2007) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will make an ice-breaking visit to Japan in April, Japanese officials said, while China warned the two countries' wartime past could still derail efforts to heal ties.

Japan's Defense Agency Changes Name and Reality By Richard Halloran (Taipei Times, Jan. 8, 2007) The North Koreans and Chinese have criticized the changes, but what they fail to realize is that their belligerence toward Japan has accelerated a Japanese revision in their thinking regarding military power.

Japan, U.S. to Discuss Asia Emergency Plans: Media
(Reuters, Jan. 4, 2007) Japan and the United States are to discuss joint plans for their troops to deal with a potential stand-off between China and Taiwan, in a move that could irritate Beijing, Kyodo news agency said.