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.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.