Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
Associate Director for Research at the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University and Co-Director of its Divided Memories and Reconciliation project; former Tokyo correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor (1985-1990)
There's Trouble in the Skies over Asia Vice President Biden has arrived in Japan today in the midst of that country's dispute over China's declaration of an expanded air defense identification zone. China's sudden declaration of an “ADIZ” over uninhabited islands has Japan and the US also flying military aircraft in disputed air space. With pilots potentially facing each other at high speeds, there's risk of a collision or a misunderstanding that could lead to unintended consequences. It's all about history and unfinished business from World War II, brought up to date by nationalism, economic competition and power politics. Is it really just between Japan and China? Has the US lost an opportunity to help forge a compromise by weighing in on the side of Japan?
UN Weighs Sanctions against North Korea In light of Sunday's nuclear test, an unidentified North Korean official announced to the state news agency today, "We hope the situation will be resolved before an unfortunate incident of us firing a nuclear missile." But there's still doubt about the real nature of Sunday's test. However successful North Korea's nuclear test might have been, the fact that it happened at all is a set-back for efforts at non-proliferation. At the United Nations today, even China says there must be "some punitive action" against North Korea for testing a nuclear weapon. America's Ambassador John Bolton called for a "strong resolution and swift response from the Security Council." Who's to blame? We hear from the UN, see how North Korea's test compares to those of other nations and ask about failures of diplomacy.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?