Memory and Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific

记忆 ⚆ 和解 ⚆ 아태

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News & Opinions

Home News & Opinions

2023 Recap 5: Senkaku/Diaoyu Dao Standoff

  • July 16, 2025
  • Asia-Pacific

China is using gray-zone tactics to take control of Senkaku/Diaoyu Dao, sending Coast Guard vessels and staying for 80 hours with more presence planned. Japan argues China’s actions undermine both environmental stewardship and Japan’s commitment in defending its territory. Asian…

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2023 Recap 4: S. Korea Supreme Court Case on Forced Labor

  • July 16, 2025
  • Uncategorized

South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered Japanese corporation to directly compensate Korean forced labor victims, while Japan formally protested. President Yoon stated it will use domestic third-party funds to facilitate reparation as a part of restoring relations with Japan. Hankyoreh Article:…

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2023 Recap 3: Removal of Historical Issue in History Textbook

  • July 16, 2025
  • Asia-Pacific

New school textbook in Japan have replaced terms like “forcibly mobilized” with “participated” and reaffirmed Japanese sovereignty over Dokdo. This changes symbolize right wing political pressure, which downplayed Japanese military’s role in mass suicides and comfort women that betrayed South…

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2023 Recap 2: Camp David U.S.-Japan-S. Korea Trilateral Summit

  • July 16, 2025
  • Asia-Pacific

U.S., Japan, and South Korea had a trilateral summit meeting in Camp David on August 18th, 2023. The meeting was primarily aimed to enhance trilateral military, economic, and regional coordination between three countries to reshape Northeast Asian security cooperation with…

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2023 Recap 1: Yoon-Kishida Summit Meeting

  • July 16, 2025
  • Asia-Pacific

South Korea and Japan restored diplomatic channels between both countries’ leaders since its closure 12 years ago. While the meeting bolstered stronger cooperation, historical issues like comfort women or militaristic issues like 2018 radar lock-on incident still hinder further ties.…

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September 6—South Korean Foreign Minister Meets Forced Labor Victims

  • September 6, 2022
  • Asia-Pacific

The Mainichi: S. Korea foreign minister meets Japan wartime labor plaintiffs The Korea Herald: Foreign Minister to meet with victims of Japan’s forced labor The Korea Times: Foreign minister vows diplomatic solution to forced labor dispute with Japan

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September 3rd—Some perspectives on South Korean President Yoon’s Speech Conducted on August 15th

  • September 3, 2022
  • Asia-Pacific

The Asahi Shimbun: Yoon restates his will to mend ties with Japan on Liberation Day Nikkei Asia: South Korea’s Yoon vows to ‘swiftly’ improve Japan ties The Korea Herald: Yoon says dialogue with NK needed, but should not be political…

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Feb. 28, 2022— Some articles on how the leading candidates of the Korean presidential election aim to steer Japan-Korea relations

  • February 28, 2022
  • Asia-Pacific

Kyodo News: South Korea ruling party presidential candidate ready for talks with Japan The Korea Herald: [Election 2022] How do Lee and Yoon view Japan?

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Jan. 30, 2022 — [UPDATE] Japan to nominate Sado Mine as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  • January 30, 2022
  • Asia-Pacific

Kyodo News: Japan to seek listing of Sado mine site as world heritage The Korea Herald (Derived from Yonhap News): S. Korea voices ‘strong regret’ over Japan’s Sado mine heritage push ABC (Derived from Associated Press): Japan to push controversial…

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Jan. 15, 2022 — Some perspectives on the 2022 South Korean presidential election

  • January 15, 2022
  • Asia-Pacific

Al Jazeera: S Korea presidential poll: Choosing the lesser of two evils (Opinion Piece) Nikkei Asia: South Korean presidential campaign mired in mudslinging The Korea Times: More Korean voters balk at choosing presidential candidates The Korea Herald: [Kim Seong-kon] 10…

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Jan. 11, 2022 — Japan’s possible selection of Sado Mine as a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site

  • January 11, 2022
  • Asia-Pacific

The Asahi Shimbun: Seoul blasts bid for Sado gold mine to go on heritage list The Japan News (By the Yomiuri Shimbun): Controversial Sado mine proposed for UNESCO nod The Korea Times: Brazen-faced move (Opinion Piece) Korea JoongAng Daily: Another…

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Apr. 16, 2021 — Various Pieces on History, Media, and Culture

  • April 16, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

The Mainichi: Editorial: Hit Japanese drama ‘Oshin’ screenwriter Hashida’s work showed true human nature Asahi Shimbun: Mishima’s long-lost short novel headed for print after 72 years Chosun Ilbo: Korea Foundation Sponsors N.Korean Propaganda Art Show The Mainichi: Okinawa’s Himeyuri Peace…

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Apr. 13, 2021 — Japan to Dump Nuclear Wastewater into Ocean, Causes Tension (Various)

  • April 13, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

Global Times: Japan’s plan to dump nuclear wastewater sparks concerns over seafood safety in China BBC: Fukushima: Japan approves releasing wastewater into ocean New York Times: Fukushima Wastewater Will Be Released Into the Ocean, Japan Says Nikkei Asia: Japan decides…

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Apr. 8, 2021 — Editorial: Lee Hak-rae’s Lifelong Trials Shows Lack of Justice in Japan (Asahi Shimbun)

  • April 8, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

“Lee Hak-rae’s decades-long battle for redress and compensation ended in vain. His life story raises serious questions about justice and good sense in this nation”

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Apr. 7, 2021 — North Korea Will Not Attend Olympics (Various)

  • April 7, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

Asahi Shimbun–North Korea says it won’t participate in Tokyo Olympics Chosun Ilbo–N.Korea Says It Won’t Take Part in Tokyo Olympics AP News–EXPLAINER: Why is North Korea skipping the Tokyo Olympics? The Diplomat–North Korea Says It Won’t Participate in Tokyo Olympics…

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March 2021 Popular Culture Update

  • April 1, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

With Blackpink’s ‘protest trucks,’ have K-pop fans gone too far? (SCMP) New Live-Action Film Based on Stan Lee Story Inspired by China’s Monkey King Ignited Discussion in China (Global Times) Hollywood aims to win hearts of Chinese moviegoers by introducing…

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March 2021 Wartime Issues Update

  • April 1, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

17 Japanese firms face South Korean wartime damages suit (Asahi Shimbun) ‘Girl of Peace statue’ to remain intact in central in Berlin (Dong-A Ilbo) Japanese Academia and Civic Groups Issue Statement Criticizing Ramseyer’s Paper (Dong-A Ilbo) 19-Year-Old Detained for Posting…

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March 2021 Disputed Territories Update

  • April 1, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

Spratly Islands, Diaoyu, Bay of Bengal: is a storm brewing in Asia-Pacific Waters? (SCMP) Japan’s Territorial Disputes: China, South Korea, Russia and More (SCMP) School textbook screeners target wording on territory issues (Asahi Shimbun) Japan complains over U.S. military’s use…

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Mar. 30, 2021 — Last Korean war criminal to serve in Japan’s World War II army dies, without securing apology or compensation from Tokyo (SCMP)

  • March 30, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

The last Korean to be convicted of war crimes after serving in the Japanese military during World War II has died without receiving the apology and compensation he insisted Tokyo owed him for his suffering. Lee Hak-rae, 96, died on Sunday.  

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Mar. 1, 2021 — South Korea’s Moon Gives Speech, Reactions

  • March 2, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Moon Calls for Japan Talks, Separation of Historical Disputes from Future Ties (SCMP) Japanese Media: Moon’s Speech Lacks concrete Proposals for Bilateral Cooperation (Dong-A Ilbo) EDITORIAL: Decisive action needed to resolve Tokyo-Seoul history dispute (Asahi Shimbun) Moon: South…

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Mar. 1, 2021 — Updates on Comfort Women, Forced Labor Issues (Various)

  • March 1, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

Forced Labor: The Japan Times: South Korean leader says Seoul ‘always ready to sit down’ with Tokyo Dong-A Ilbo: “Japanese media: Moon’s speech lacks concrete proposals for bilateral cooperation” Asahi Shimbun: “Moon: South Korea, Japan must look to future to…

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Feb. 28, 2021 — South Korean cultural ‘correction team’ triggers controversy among Chinese netizens (The Global Times)

  • February 28, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

“A South Korean cultural “correction team” that works to promote accurate knowledge about the East Asian country has become another focus of discussion on Chinese social media amid the raging cultural feuds between the two neighboring countries. Chinese netizens questioned…

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Feb. 26, 2021 — A Korean Poet Is the Latest Example of China’s ‘Cultural Imperialism’ (The Diplomat)

  • February 26, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

Baidu, the largest internet portal in China, recently caused controversy among the South Korean public for introducing Yun Dong-ju, a Korean poet and independence activist during the Japanese colonial era, as “Chinese.”

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Feb. 22, 2021– Annual Event Pushing Japanese Claim to Disputed Islands Held (Various)

  • February 22, 2021
  • Asia-Pacific

Kyodo News: An annual ceremony was held in western Japan on Monday to push the country’s claim to Takeshima, a group of islets controlled by South Korea, but on a smaller scale due to the coronavirus pandemic. AP: Japan renewed its…

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Recent Posts
  • 2023 Recap 5: Senkaku/Diaoyu Dao Standoff
  • 2023 Recap 4: S. Korea Supreme Court Case on Forced Labor
  • 2023 Recap 3: Removal of Historical Issue in History Textbook
  • 2023 Recap 2: Camp David U.S.-Japan-S. Korea Trilateral Summit
  • 2023 Recap 1: Yoon-Kishida Summit Meeting
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