Japanese journalist and filmmaker, Ito Shiori, has spent the last decade under the media microscope as a sexual assault survivor. Her advocacy challenging Japan’s society norms toward sexual assault is featured in her documentary “Black Box Diaries.” But the film’s portrayal of sexual violence and use of contested footage haveContinue Reading
Whistleblower leaks from high-ranking sources within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have pulled back the curtain on an expansive and coordinated effort to suppress Falun Gong practitioners beyond China’s borders – including in the United States. The leaked documents expose how the CCP manipulates media narratives, weaponizes legal systems, andContinue Reading
On February 24, China’s President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in which the two men emphasized that no external force can drive a wedge between their two countries. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry readout, Xi told Putin: “History and reality make itContinue Reading
Beijing’s modernization of its amphibious capabilities has taken a significant step forward with the development of new special barges. Built by Guangzhou Shipyard International on Longxue Island, these specialized barges aim to enhance the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s beach-landing and logistics operations. Integrating civilian roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) technology, the special bargesContinue Reading
In recent years, the United States has significantly expanded its use of export controls to contain China’s rise and maintain its own technological dominance. At the center of this tech containment are restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductors, which is explicitly aimed at “maintaining as large of a leadContinue Reading
The Trump administration’s apparent alignment with Moscow in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has fueled speculation that President Donald Trump may be pursuing a “reverse Kissinger” strategy. But the idea of a “reverse Kissinger” – aligning the United States with Russia to counterbalance China – is fundamentally flawed and lacks the geopolitical,Continue Reading
On February 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping met a group of private-sector business leaders in Beijing. While key messages released to the public from the meeting remain similar to past public remarks from the Chinese leader, some of the meeting invitees caught public attention. Jack Ma, the founder of AlibabaContinue Reading
Amid the political flux surrounding the fate of European ties with the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a somber yet fair assessment of the global nuclear order. Questioning the rationale of the nuclear arms race between the United States, Russia, and China, Trump reflected that “there is noContinue Reading
Faced with China’s rapid military rise, security tensions are growing in Japan, especially in the Nansei Islands, the southwestern chain that includes Okinawa. The seriousness of the situation can be understood from the joint statement issued after the Japan-U.S. summit held on February 7 between Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba ShigeruContinue Reading
This year will be an important one for Osaka: Japan’s second city will host the World Expo, which is set to open for six months on April 13. It is no secret that the Expo has faced challenges thus far: delays in construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressuresContinue Reading
