The Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo)

Clinton Has Strategic Blind Spot On China

Ron Tang — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:03:00 -0400

A similar version of this article also appears on The New Republic, which features a debate between Steven Clemons and Richard Just, TNR's deputy editor, on the appropriate response to the Beijing Olympics.

China's Olympics are an enticing target for "cause crusaders" who want to taunt the regime with public relations stunts while the global spotlight and attention of billions are watching every countermove China's leaders make. The "norms" of any state are not really evident unless observed after that state responds to shocks. Cause crusaders are doing their best to exploit the moment to throw… more

Time for Bush to Turn Realist

Articles — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

The various denominations that have demarcated the U.S. foreign policy spectrum are in serious disarray and are rapidly evolving into substantially different movements.

During the first term of U.S. President George W. Bush's administration, there were three camps vying for control of the foreign policy helm. First were the neoconservatives under the lead of personalities like Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby, and Defense Undersecretary Douglas Feith. The second was a realist pocket of personalities led by the president's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice. The third was not a school of… more

Exchange Rate Politics in Boca Raton Guarantee Cynical Status Quo Prevails

Articles — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton used to open his speeches--particularly the big ones--with the line, "I was born in a place called Hope." Indeed, Clinton was born in the town of Hope, Ark.--and the concept of "hope," of optimism about the future, has often been a clarion call of the political left. In contrast, conservatives tend to live in a darker world, where realism--and sometimes cynicism--reign. Leaders on the political right such as U.S. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi distrust optimism and instead encourage their citizens to take off their rose-colored glasses and to see the… more

Is Japan's 21st-Century Role to be U.S. Satellite in Asia?

Articles — Sat, 22 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has turned out to be a pretty tame lion. Swept into office in a wave of populist euphoria that he might deliver his people and nation from economic malaise and geopolitical obscurity, Koizumi was the hope for liberal nationalism in Japan. After nearly six decades of U.S. presence in Japan, some hoped that while supporting the basic tenets of the U.S.-Japan security alliance, he might at least shore up Japan's sovereignty and general weight in the equation. Fast forward to the day of U.S. President George W. Bush's 48-hour "Get out or face the heat" warning… more

Security Framework Needs Overhaul

Articles — Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:00:00 -0500

After calling for a national debate on whether Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons-in the racy weekly magazine Shukan Playboy, no less-Shingo Nishimura paid the price for his frankness. In an uncharacteristic display of hyperspeed, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi sacked his defense vice minister on October 20.

Nishimura had been on the job just two weeks before publicly arguing that India and … more