Feb. 9, 2015 – “Japan to Open Military Aid Channel” (The Diplomat)
“Japan’s new Development Cooperation Charter will allow for non-combat military aid and prioritize Southeast Asia.”
Feb. 8, 2015 – Singaporean Views on Territorial Disputes in Asia (Strait Times)
Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the city-state of Singapore, pragmatically argues that “disputes can be set aside” in the region and that it is possible to “move on and try to keep the relationship on an even, practical and…
Feb. 3, 2015 – “Bread mimicking shape of Dokdo Appears in Korea” (Korea Bizwire)
“’Dokdo Bread’ made by a baker in his 40’s is the talk of town in Pohang, a southeastern port city in South Korea. Kim Ki-seon, the baker, began baking the bread last year to protect Dokdo from Japan, after the news…
Jan. 31, 2015 – “Japan, China agree to launch maritime, aerial crisis management mechanism” (Want China Times)
“The Chinese defense ministry said on Thursday that China and Japan have agreed to launch a maritime and aerial crisis management mechanism at an early date.”
Jan. 30 & Feb. 3, 2015 – U.S.-backed Japanese Operations in South China Sea?
In response to a comment to Reuters made by senior U.S. Navy officer Admiral Robert Thomas, commander of the Seventh Fleet and the top U.S. navy officer in Asia, that “the United States would welcome operations conducted by the Japanese Self-Defense…
Jan. 23, 2015 – “China’s Territorial Disputes in Asia During 2015” (Asia Briefing)
Op-Ed by Chris Devonshire-Ellis: “All in all, last year was a mixed bag when it came to assessing China’s relations with the rest of Asia, including in its own backyard of Hong Kong. What can be expected in 2015?”
Jan. 22, 2015 – Korean Translation of White Paper Issued by Japan Claims Ownership over Disputed Islands (Hankyoreh)
“Japan recently published a Korean language translation of the 2014 defense White Paper referring to Dokdo (Takeshima in Japanese) as belonging to Japan, the South Korean government discovered.”
Nov. 24-25, 2014 – S. Korea & China make moves to push respective claims over Dokto/Takeshima & Diaoyu/Senkaku
On Monday, Nov. 24, South Korea conducted its annual or biannual defensive military drill around the Dokdo/Takeshima islets, triggering diplomatic protests from Japan. Click here for Korea Times article announcing the drill: “Joint Drill Planned Near Dokdo” Click here for…
Nov. 23, 2014 – “U.S. shies away from Takeshima/Dokdo dispute in response to online petitions” (Japan Times)
In response to two petitions, one urging and the other opposing U.S. pronouncement over option of taking island dispute between South Korea and Japan to the ICJ, the White House “reiterated that it does not take a position regarding the dispute” (Kyodo)