Unryu Suganuma

“Dubai Shock”/ Internationalization of Renminbi-VIII

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:18:58 +0000

When the “Dubai Shock” attacked the financial market globally, the Chinese Finance Minister announced that it will issue 50-year Renminbi bond. China will be the third nation after the UK and France to sell the 50-year bonds. The total Renminbi bonds will be 20,000,000,000 yuan, and its interest rate will be approximately 4.4 percent. Will this be another step to internationalize Renminbi?

The Promotion of the Development and Protection of Nation’s Sea Islets

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:25:49 +0000

China has more than 6,900 islands and more than 10,000 small isles, according to the Chinese governmental media On 26 December 2009, China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee, passed a law protecting the islets. According to the Xinhua News, China will strengthen the protection of its eco-system, the utilization of natural resources, and the development on Chinese sea islands. The law prohibits coastal reclamation of quarry stone or sand in both inhabited and uninhabited sea islands, bans all construction projects, the cutting of trees and tourist activities on uninhabited sea islands. All development projects on inhabited islands will be subject to strict environmental impact assessment. Both Japan and some countries from ASEAN are getting extremely nervous because this law might apply all disputed islets with China including the Diaoyu Islands, Paracels Archipelagos, and Spratlys Archipelagos.

Americans Back to Asia-II

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:16:58 +0000

Interestingly, Time (November 23, 2009) magazine published Bill Powell’s article, titled “5 Things the U.S. Can Learn from China” before Obama landed in the Middle Kingdom. The five things are: be ambitious, education matters, look after the elderly, save more, and look over the horizon. All five items are fundamental bases of the Chinese society and Confucian culture. Will Obama learn these five items before returning to the Asian region?

To Bust “The China Inc.”?

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:24:33 +0000

In 2001, Gordon G. Chang predicts the collapse of China (The Coming Collapse of China by Random House). Nearly ten years has past, where is the collapse of China? Recently, most economists, governments, and experts expect the Chinese economy to continue to grow in 2010. But, James S. Chanos, a wealthy hedge fund investor of Kynikos Associates, predicts the end of China Inc. According to the New York Times (8 January 2010) China looks like Dubai times 1,000 or worse, and Beijing is cooking its books. Chanos has earned his reputation by foreseeing the collapse of Enron, problems of Tyco International, the Boston Market restaurant chain, and home builders as well as some world’s biggest banks. However, the Chinese society is more sophisticated than any Western societies. In term of the population, economic structure, and governmental transparency, China is relatively more complicated than any Western countries including Japan. China does not look like any western nation at all. The bubble of the real estate in China is real, but the collapse of the China Inc., might not be true. To be a true Chinese experts requires an understanding of the history, culture, society, and politics etc., of the Middle Kingdom.

Secret Pact/Third-Class Politicians Only Provide the Third-Rate Policy-X

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:30:42 +0000

For years, the LDP repeatedly denied the existence of the Secret Pact between the U.S. and Japan. On 1 December 2009, a former senior diplomat, Yoshino Bunroku, admitted for the first time in court that Tokyo and Washington had a secret accord on the cost burden relating to the 1972 reversion of Okinawa (former Liuqiu Kingdom) to Japanese control (Japan Times). In the 1970s, when the American government decided to return sovereignty of Okinawa to Japan, them Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, the great-uncle of Abe Shinzo, told the Japanese taxpayers that the returning Okinawa without compensation. The fact of the matter is that Japan secretly shouldered $4 million in costs that the American government was supposed to pay to restore Okinawan farmland which had been used by the American forces. How can the Japanese taxpayers be so stupid, having been fooled since the 1970s? Will LDP take any responsibility?

The Chinese Donation to Yale University

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:22:34 +0000

If an alumni makes a donation to a university in the West, it would rarely make the international news unless it was an exceptionally large donation. When Zhang Lei, the founder and managing partner of Hillhouse Capital Management in Beijing gave $8,888,888 to the management school of Yale University (where he finished a master degree in business administration and a master degree in international relations) on 8 January 2010, he was criticized over the internet. A majority of posts condemned his action for giving his money to a U.S. university rather than keeping it in China. However, a minority spoke out in support of Zhang’s donation writing, “Well donated!! If you donated that money [in China], then more than half would fall into the wallets of corrupt officials (South China Morning Post).” Probably Zhang Lei felt that he had learned more knowledge from Yale University than Renmin University in China where he finished undergraduate studies. This is natural when one is evaluating or reviewing his/her lifetime education after a successful career. No one was surprised that the Chinese education system was worst than education system in the USA.

Japanese Chemical Weapons in China

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:28:04 +0000

On 30 November 2009, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon (OPCW) opened its 14th conference in the Hague of Holland (till December 4th). The head of the Chinese delegation, Zhang Jun, insisted that “I hope that Japan will remove its chemical weapons in China, abandoned by the Japanese imperial army, as soon as possible (Xinhua News).” Both Japan and China agreed that Japan would remove its chemical weapons in China by April 2012. Since China has modernized its nation, construction has blossomed. As a result, some construction sites break these chemical weapons which result in death, injury, and pollution that the people and environment suffer for years. The Japanese government has not made any compensation for these victims. In addition, no victim has won any verdicts in the Japanese court since WWII by suing the Japanese government. Will Hatoyama Administration makes any compensation for the Chinese victims?

Arms Sales to Taiwan in 2010

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:21:22 +0000

On 7 January 2010, the Chinese government denounced the U.S. decision to clear the sale of Patriot missiles by Lockheed Martine to Taiwan, the deal entered into by George W. Bush. Three days later, the Chinese Foreign Ministry again denounced U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, a $1.1 billion order received by Raytheon Con for ground-system hardware to support Taiwan’s Patriot air defense capability. By the end of January, the White House is going to sell Black Hawk helicopters to Taiwan. As George Gilder states in the Wall Street Journal (4 February 2010), “The Chinese are needlessly aggressive in missile deployments against Taiwan, but there is absolutely no prospect of a successful U.S. defense of that country. Sending them $6 billion of new weapons is a needless provocation against China that does nothing valuable for the defense of the U.S. or Taiwan.”

Which Country Will Be The First-V

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:27:02 +0000

Beijing Capital Airport reached 60 million flights on 30 November 2009 when a Air China (flight CA 912) from Stockholm to Beijing took a number of passengers to China. All passengers received a USB memory drive with the design “60 million” on it. This is a milestone for the Beijing Capital Airport, which became number one position in the Asian region passing Haneda Airport and number 4th place in the world. In 2005, The Beijing Capital Airport reached 40 million passengers and 50 million in 2007. By end of 2009, if the Beijing Capital Airport got more than 65 million passengers, the airport will be number position surpassing Chicago O’Hare Airport. Currently, Atlanta International Airport and Long Heathrow International Airport are in the number one and number two positions respectively in the world.

The Rich Grand-mom in China

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:18:21 +0000

On 14 February 2010, it is the Chinese (lunar) New Year. Many countries in the Asian region including South Korea celebrated the lunar new year. In Nanjing, according to the Japanese media, Jiangsu Province, a 70-year-old grand-mom walked into the store to purchase one kilo-gram of the pure gold (24K) coin for her grand-son as a new year gift (Yayaoqian), which is commonly given away during the new year. One kilo-gram is worth more than $40,000. Even in Japan, there is no so many grand-moms can buy one kilo-gram coin for their grand-sons. The Chinese are really getting rich!

Okinotori Island/The Chinese Way of Hegemony-VII

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:25:58 +0000

On 1 December 2009, the Japanese government decided to develop Okinotori Island, which is located in 1,740 km south of Tokyo, building a port and other facilities and finishing within 5 years. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its opposition to the Japanese government’s decision. In September, the Chinese government repeatedly expressed its opposition against Japan’s bid to extend Okinotori Island’s continental shelf in the southern Pacific to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf because Okinotori Island is a rock which can not sustain human habitation or economic life of their own, according to Article 12 of the UNCLOS, having no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. This has primarily been the Chinese objection against the development of the Okinotori Island. The real reason is once Japan begins to station its navy in the Okinotori Island, the Chinese submarines will face to difficulty in passing through the Okinotori Island into the Pacific Ocean.

The Chinese Military Cooperation with EU

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:24:56 +0000

China is considering becoming co-chair of a group with European Union to fight Somalia pirates. Recently, some Chinese vessels have kidnapped by Somalia pirates. However, so far the Chinese navy has operated independently in the Gulf of Aden. If the Chinese navy jointly operates with naval forces of EU, this will be co-lead the international task force fighting piracy off the horn of Africa, according to the Japanese media.

Laodicean Politics in Japan-V

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:22:42 +0000

Hatoyama Yukio repeatedly tied to balance his campaign financial books. It has been revealed that more than 100 million Japanese yen was falsely declared out of revenues from selling tickets for fundraising parties between 2004 and 2008. At least 300 million yen was falsely declared in Hatoyama’s financial statements. Finally, 29 November 2009, the Japanese newspapers reported, according to Hatoyama’s former secretary who is under investigation by the Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office, that his mother donated 900 million Japanese yen to Hatoyama’s account (Daily Yomiuri). Many people wish to have Hatoyama’s mother who can provide 900 million Japanese yen for his/her elections.

The Third United Front CCP-KMT-X

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:23:20 +0000

When Vice President Xi Jinping visited Japan, the head of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), an opposition in Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, was in Tokyo on 15 December 2009. Regarding the unification, she stated that the whole Taiwanese people (23 million people) must decide their future of the unification. At the same time, Ma Ying-jeou, was interviewed by Winston L. Y. Yang from Seton Hall University in Taipei (Wall Street Journal). Ma stated that it would take decades before Taiwan can be unified with the mainland. Interestingly, two different party leaders in the different places made the similar statement regarding the unification of Taiwan. Basically, the Taiwan people will make their future if they decided to unify with China. What do the Chinese leaders in the mainland think about these statements by two different leaders?

Sino-Japanese Joint Navel Drill

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:21:45 +0000

On 27 November 2009, the Chinese Defense Liang Guanglie and the Japanese Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi held a joint press briefing in Tokyo to announce a joint naval drill agreement in next year after the Chinese delegation arrived Japan for visiting. This military exchange will be the first joint naval exercise for search and rescue operations. The Maritime Self-Defense Force has conducted a similar naval drill with South Korea and Russia. This operation between China and Japan will certainly improve Sino-Japanese military relations. On 30 November 2009, the Chinese defense chief visited a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Chokai equipped with the Aegis combat system at the U.S. naval base. But, his visit was limited because much information about the ship is secret, including the air defense system developed by the US. The White House is not certainly very happy about this visit.

Next Generation Fighter Jet-2

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:19:37 +0000

For years, the United States government asks its allies — Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, and Norway – to support the development of new radar-evading F-35 fighter jet. By now, Japan has also expressed interest in buying the F-35 fighter jet. The single-engine F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, is at the early stages of production in Lockheed Martin Corporation. According to the Japanese media, however, the US government is going to withhold F-35 fighter software code, which will not give any nations of American allies. The reason Japan wishes to purchase F-35 fighter jet is that F-35, which is 20-30 years advanced than the Chinese fighter jet, can compete with the Chinese J-10, the 3rd generation fighter jet.

Internationalization of Renminbi-VII

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:18:45 +0000

“Can the renminbi become a major international currency in as little as a decade? Only time will tell. But U.S. history suggests that this schedule, while ambitious, is not impossible,” wrote by Barry Eichengreen, a professor of economics and political science at the University of California, Berkeley, publishing an interesting article in Japan Times (26 November 2009). By using historical evidence, Eichengreen compares with the dollars and sterling in 1914. It only took more than a decade that the American currency overtook the British sterling. Currently, the Chinese government has signed a renminbi swap agreement with Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia. This will allow the use of two countries’ currencies in bilateral trade transactions. Will renminbi be internationalized in a decade?

The Breaking Japanese Imperial Protocol

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:29:48 +0000

When the Vice President of China, Xi Jinping, visited Japan on 14 December 2009, his visit created one of hottest debates in Japan. Since the Japanese emperor has prostate cancer in 1995, the Imperial Household Agency has asked any leaders from any countries must arrange the meeting with the emperor a month in advance as Japanese protocol requires (NHK News). However, Xi broke this protocol with less than a month request. Some right-wing LDP leaders including former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo criticized Hatoyama’s decision by accusing “using political gain.” Some observers claim that Secretary General of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, Ozawa Ichiro, visited Beijing on 10 December with the unheard-of more than 600-strong delegation; he might influence the decision to push the 25-minutes meeting between Xi-emperor. On 15 December, when the Japanese emperor met with the Chinese Vice President, the radical right-wings protested in Tokyo by fighting with police. Is this arrangement between Xi-emperor “to use political gain” by Hatoyama?

“Chimerica” Save North Korea-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:17:29 +0000

During the Korean War (1950-1953), Beijing and Pyongyang joined forces to fight against with the UN forces, led by the USA. On 22 November 2009, the Chinese Defense Liang Guanglie arrived in North Korea. Both Korean and Chinese media pledged to strengthen their military alliance, “sealing it in blood.” Kim Jong Il also met the Chinese defense minister. The last meeting between the leader of North Korea and the Chinese defense minister was more than 9 years ago. “No force on Earth can break the unity of the armies and peoples of the two countries and it will last forever (Japan Times),” Liang stated. What kinds of “games” are the Chinese playing right now?

Open Sky in Japan

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:28:57 +0000

The United States, European countries, and South Korea have already reached open skies agreements, promoting liberalization of their respective civil aviation markets for a while. In the middle of December, Japan finally agreed to liberalize air traffic with the US under open skies accord (Nippon News Network). Japan has one of the worst airports in the world, with only one 4,000-meter runway in Narita Airport which can not accommodate air traffic after 15 o’clock. On the other hand, the Japanese politicians have not allowed Tokyo’s Haneda Airport which will have a fourth runway in next October, to have international flights. Finally, the Hatoyama Administration is trying to make Haneda airport into an international hub airport. Will this open sky make Japan a more internalized nation?

American-Indian Relations/Test Obama-XV

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:16:11 +0000

When President Obama’s Asian trip finished in the last country – South another Asian nation was nervous. That is no other – than India. When the 44th President visited both Japan and China, he did not mention the name of Indiain his speech at all. However, after Obama returned to the White House, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was invited Washington D.C. Singh as the first full-fledged state visit, which would culminate in a black-tie dinner on November 24. According to the White House press secretary Robert Gibbs that Obama considered the India relationship “very important.” Well, when Obama was in Japan, he stated Japanese-American relations are “very important.” Then, while he was in China, Obama repeatedly mention that China is a “very important” nation for the USA. It sounds like every country is “very important” to the U.S. in Obama’s view. Does this mean the beginning of the declining the superpower of the Pax Americana because every country is “very important.”

Kidnapped Children in China-II

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:23:41 +0000

According to Xinhua News Agency two men: Hu Minghua and Su Binde, were executed in the morning of 26 November 2009. Based on the statement from the Supreme People’s Court, Hu Minghua had kidnapped and sold nine children from April 1999 to October 2005, while Su Binde was convicted of abducting six children between September 2005 to July 2006. Well, in the countryside, many babies have been kidnapped and sold for decades; many Chinese have been waiting for resolution for years from their government. In all of China, are there only two baby-kidnapping criminals who deserved to be executed?

Lee Kuwan Yew’s Speech

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:14:50 +0000

On 27 October 2009, former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, received the lifetime achievement award from the US-ASEAN Business Council in Washington D.C., the first award of its kind awarded to a former prime minister. Lee Kuan Yew made his speech at the 25th anniversary gala dinner in the council. However, Lee’s speech was surprising news for Chinese leaders because ethnic-Chinese began to ask about USA involvement in the Asian region. “It would be a serious mistake for the region to define East Asia in closed or, worse, in racial terms. In building any new East Asian architecture, the US must be an important part of it (Lee Kuan Yew from US-ASEAN Business Council).” Some Chinese TV commentators argue that the US government pressured Lee Kuan Yew to give the speech in the US-ASEAN Business Council. Before the APEAC meeting in Singapore, the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, made his official visit to both Malaysia and Singapore. Are these activities coincidental?

Americans Back to Asia-I

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:10:41 +0000

After the US lost the Vietnam War, Americans have been extremely careful in the acting in the Asian region. The 44th President of the United States broke this hesitance. During the Obama’s Asian trip in 2009, he made the first meeting with ASEAN + 1 since the Vietnam War by calling the US “back to Asia.” Why did Obama want to re-enter ASEAN? Will the US balance the power in the Asian region against China?

COP 15 Copenhagen/Chinese Green-II

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:00:59 +0000

The Chinese government pledged that, according to CCTV, China would voluntarily cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020, compared with levels in 2005. Before Copenhagen climate summit, President Obama committed to reduce 17 percent below 2005 level.

Major Carbon Emitters’ Positions

Country	Reductions by 2020 (base year)	Conditions (as of 26 November 2009)	Domestic Support for Reduction Targets/Opposition
Japan	25 percent from 1990	“meaningful” commitment from other major economies	Support: Ruling (DPJ and others) parties, NGOS, some public opinion polls Opposed: Business world including Keidanren, and Federation of Electric Power Companies
EU	20 percent from 1990	Possibly pursue 30 percent if “others” join in	Support: All EU member nations Opposed: Some Eastern European nations
USA	17 percent from 2005	Executive position firm; Still being discussed in Congress	Support: President Barack Obama, majority of ruling Democratic Party Opposed: oil, coal, and gas lobbies, agriculture lobby, Senators from farm and oil states
China	40%-45% cut per unit of GDP 2005	Developed counties must take lead	Support: Chinese government; environmentalists seeking targets Opposed: So far no reaction to proposal
India	20 percent to 25 percent cut from 2005	Developed nations must take lead	Support: Indian government and NGO Opposed: Some businesses

Sources: “COP15 Hinges on Congress, China,” Japan Times, 28 November 2009, p. 1. Also “U.N. Conference Recognizes Climate Deal,” Japan Times, 20 December 2009, p. 1.

As Japan Times states, the result of COP 15 in Copenhagen depends on how “G2” (e.g., China and US) talked to each other. “The leaders of Europe, Japan and other countries at the summit were largely left to rubber-stamp the deal (Japan Times).”

Chinese Proliferation To Pakistan?/Test Obama-XIV/G2-X

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:42:06 +0000

When the 44th president took air force one heading on his first trip to Asia on November 12, 2009, American journalists dropped a bombshell into the global news media. When Obama landed in Japan on the following day, the Washington Post (by R. Jeffrey Smith and Joby Warrick) published an article titled “A nuclear Power’s Act of Proliferation.” After confirming the authenticity of the material by the Post independently, China did provide the crucial help for Pakistan to develop the nuclear weapon. The materials were provided by Simon Henderson who maintained correspondence with Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. These materials indicated that there was a secret nuclear deal approved by Mao Zedong and Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the middle of 1976. In 1982, Deng Xiaoping approved the case by allowing Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and the others to fly aboard a Pakistani C-130 to Urumqi with highly unusual cargo: enough weapons-grade uranium for two atomic bombs. Interestingly, on 17 November 2009 when both the Chinese and American Presidents held their press conference in Beijing after nearly two hours of talks, no single question was allowed to be asked by journalists. Why?

The End of Alliance/Test Obama-XIII/ Japan Passing-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:40:47 +0000

It is unusual for the Prime Minister of Japan to leave a guest of state during their visit. However, when the US President Barack Obama delayed his visit Japan for 24 hours due to domestic affairs, this is exactly what happened. The Japanese prime minister left for the APEC meeting in Singapore. Since WWII, it is unthinkable that a Japanese Prime Minister would leave the US President alone in Tokyo. The delay of Obama’s trip to Asia resulted in reducing his visit to Japan to one day. His trip to China, however, was not reduced reflecting a move in US foreign policy away from Japan and towards China. Does this indicate the beginning of the end of Japanese-U.S Alliance??

India vs. China/The Chinese Way of Hegemony-VI

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:39:33 +0000

In 1959, the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet, entering the Buddhist monastery town of Tawang located in India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. This region, which lays on the Indo-Tibetan border, has long been the issue of territorial disputes between India and China as the result of the border artificially drawn by the British. On 7 November 2009, Dalai Lama made his sixth visit to the Arunachal Pradesh region, which India had not let the Dalai Lama visit for many years. The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the Arunachal region during the parliamentary election; New Delhi, according to Indian Journalist Gautaman Bhaskaran, announced the stationing of a squadron of nuclear-capable Sukhoi 30 MKI fighters within striking distance of Arunachal (Japan Times 17 November 2009). The tension between India and China is getting worse. In China, newspapers, TV commentators, individual bloggers, and scholars began to address the “India Threat” over the internet and evening news. In October, Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily] openly criticized India for seeking “hegemony.” There is also another territorial dispute between China and India involving the Kashmir region (the northwestern region of South Asia), which India, Pakistan, China, and the people of Kashmir continue to dispute. In 1962, the Chinese army defeated the Indian army in the Kashimir region. Will China and India fight another war in Arunachal region?

Test Obama-XII

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:29:37 +0000

The US. President, Barack Obama, made his first trip to Asia to attend the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit meeting in Singapore on 10 November 2009. The 44th president decided to make a 10-day visit to Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea. Interestingly, three days before Obama arrived in Singapore, the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, visited Malaysia and Singapore, major countries in ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) on 10 November 2009. Once again, the Chinese took one step to visit ASEAN before Obama did.

“Forgotten Australians”/Learning History-VIII

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:27:03 +0000

When the British colonized most world affairs during Pax Britanica, hundreds of thousands of disadvantage children were sent from around the world including from the U.K. to Australia. These abused orphans faced sexual abuse, violence, and forced labor over a period of decades. On 16 November 2009, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an emotional apology to more than 500,000 “forgotten Australians.” This is following (in February 2008) an apology made by Kevin Rudd to Australian’s Aboriginal population for their mistreatment since the White settlement in 1788. Can the Japanese politicians learn the lesson from history too?

Japanese Studies in the Chinese Universities

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:26:44 +0000

Recently, Beijing University held a Japanese Studies Contest hosted by the center of Japanese studies. This contest is the only one in China offered at the master degree level. Currently, about 70 universities offer Japanese Studies at the graduate level (including Japanese language and Japanese literature), and students continue to increase dramatically. This year, according to the Chinese media, the Japanese Studies Contest had 41 papers from 33 universities and colleges, and nine people received awards: 3 people in the first place, 6 people in the second place, and 9 people in the third place.

Test Obama-XI

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:44:54 +0000

Before the 60th anniversary of the PRC military parade on 1 October 2009, General Liang Guanglie, Chinese Defense Minister, was interviewed by the Chinese media regarding the Chinese military might. “Today, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has almost all types of weaponry in the arsenal of Western countries (China Daily).” After Liang made the statement, media in the world including from Japan, India, U.K., and USA, reiterated the statement by the Chinese defense minister. What is Beijing’s purpose? Will China and the U.S. have military conflict in the future?

Laodicean Politics in Japan-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:49:19 +0000

In 1886, when the Meiji government took back the power from Tokugawa Shogun, the Japanese bureaucrats began to control Japanese politics. On 14 September 2009, the administrative vice minister regular conference hold the last meeting. This symbolized to end the 123-year-old practice by the Japanese bureaucrats. This regular meeting by top bureaucrats at each ministry and agency usually makes decisions about government policy issues before the LDP cabinet meeting. Therefore, the LDP simply passed these political decisions as Japan’s national policy. Interestingly, National Personnel Authority President Tani Masahito, who opposites to reform national public service system, resigned on 11 September 2009. Since the Democratic Party won the election in August, the nightmare of bureaucrats is just started. Will Japan be changed?

Learning History-VII

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:38:35 +0000

In 1942, the decision by the Tojo Hideki Administration forced about 40,000 Chinese brought to Japan into slavery, working in 135 factories (Asahi Shimbun). For the past 64 years, LDP refused to acknowledge the Japanese government’s mistakes by ignoring the slavery issue. On 23 October 2009, Nishimatsu Construction Corporation agreed with five Chinese to set up a 250 million (Japanese yen) trust fund to compensate the victims. The agreement will reimburse 360 others who had been forced to perform hard labor during WWII, build memories for those who passed away already, and make an apology by Nishimatsu. Resolving the dispute is following the 2007 decision of the Supreme Court in Hiroshima which dismissed the Chinese claims, but called for an effort to compensate the victims (Japan Times). For the first time, the Supreme Court in Japan determined that the right of individual Chinese to seek war reparations from Japan (which was abandoned under the article five of the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communiqué). Since the 1990s, after a flood of lawsuits filed by Japan’s war victims, Kajima Corporation (500 million yen) set up a fund to compensate forced laborers near the site of the Hanaoka copper mine in Akita Prefecture. By now, the Hatoyama administration needs to acknowledge the Japanese government’s mistakes 64 years ago, and begins to compensate those victims. If both the government in Germany and German companies such as BMW and Bents can make an apology and compensate the Holocaust victims, why cannot the Japanese government and the Japanese firms do the same?

BRIC-V vs. VISTA?

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:34:49 +0000

Recently, the Japanese media begin to use the word, VISTA, which is taking capital letters from five nations: Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, and Argentina, to describe the economic growth expansion in 2010 as the Japanese corporations are ready to extend their muscles. BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) has been the famous word since the global financial tsunami hit the world economy. Will VISTA take over BRIC in near future?

Comments from Paul Krugman/Internationalization of Renminbi-VI

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:32:02 +0000

Paul Krugman, the Laurent of the 2008 Nobel Prize in economics, published his article in the New York Times, titled “The Chinese Disconnect.” Basically, Krugman claims that China’s bad currency policy is threatening the growth of the rest of world economy. It is understandable that Krugman wants the Chinese government to get rid of yuan/dollar rate fixed. Just as the Plaza Accord in 1984, the US destroyed the Japanese economy (near 20-years stagnation) by appreciating the Japanese yen, but the Chinese learned from the Japanese. From the American national interest, Krugman’s perspective might be right. However, it is not right to destroy another country’s economy by satisfying its own national greedy. Remember, the current global financial tsunami was not created from Shanghai, China, but on Wall Street in New York.

Which Country Will Be The First-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:28:17 +0000

In the third quarter, the Chinese economy (GDP) expanded 8.9 percent while the economic growth in the U.K. shrunk to -0.4 percent, the longest recession since the government took economy statistics in 1955. Thanks to Cash and Kruncker, the American economy (GDP) in the third quarter managed to rise about 3.5 percent, but still continued to flounder.

East Asian Community-II

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:23:20 +0000

In 1990, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mahamad, proposed an East Asian Economic Caucus, but the idea was dismissed by the United States. In 1997 when the Asian financial crisis hit, Japanese Finance Minister, Miyazawa Kiichi, pushed to create an Asian Monetary Fund, which was quashed by the United States again. In October 2009, when the global financial tsunami instigated by the Wall Street is still bring down the global economy, the Obama Administration has little credibility to persuade anyone not join the East Asian Community when the Japanese Prime Minister, Hatoyama Yukio, made a proposal during the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) meeting in Thailand. The only problem is that Hatoyama’s proposal of the East Asian Community covers Japan, China, South Korea, ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, and India. But, the traditional geographical knowledge of the “East Asian” Community does not cover Australia, New Zealand, and India.

Test Obama-X

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:20:14 +0000

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited China during October 12-14, 2009. Both China and Russia singed 12 agreements. According to the Chinese media, one of these agreements was that two countries would notify the other of ballistic missiles and the launch of carrier rockets. Usually, no country wants to sign a mutual notification of ballistic missiles agreement because it will disclose its national security. When the US and Russian signed the mutual notification of ballistic missiles in 2000 (when Madeleine Albright and Igor Ivanov signed the agreement), the Russians have difficulty detecting the location of American ballistic missiles since the US has more advanced technology than Russians. In fact, the United States has asked Beijing to sign the mutual notification of ballistic missiles agreements for years; however, the Chinese leaders have not said “yes.” By now Sino-Russian mutual notification of ballistic missiles agreement was signed; what will Obama do?

Gifs from the Taxpayers

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:17:27 +0000

“Those earnings are not the achievement of risk takers,” said George Soros. “These are gifts, hidden gifts, from the government, so I don’t think that those monies should be used to pay bonuses (Financial Time 24 October 2009).” He is right. The “fat cats” on the Wall Street basically took advantage of the little people whose taxes support their bonuses. The way doing business on the Wall Street in the capitalist system is the worst than the communist system in China.

Third-Class Politicians Only Provide the Third-Rate Policy-IX

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:13:58 +0000

Jack Gallagher wrote an article in the Japan Times(Ishihara’s Bid for Legacy Was Olympian Waste of Taxpayer Money) on 11 October 2009. His analysis explored how the naïve Japanese politicians like the Governor of Tokyo, who has wasted more than 15 billion (Japanese yen) tax payer’s money, has tried to make his own legacy without concern over the people in Japan. The bid for the 2016 Olympic game is just the tip of the iceberg. In Tokyo, the Governor has wasted hundreds billions Japanese yen by created the soi-disant Shin Ginko Tokyo (some TV commentator in Japan has called it “Ishihara Bank”), which has not made much profit for years. Yet, immature citizens in Tokyo still allow him to sit in the Governor`s chair for nearly ten years. Why?

Laodicean Politics in Japan-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:05:25 +0000

When politics shifted the balance of power in Japan, some new information which had been hidden for more than 50 years, came out. On 11 September 2009 before Hatoyama took the office, Japanese bureaucrats disclosed that they sent a congratulatory telegram to elected LDP politicians after each national election. Of course the tax payers paid for these telegrams. Each bureaucrat sent out telegrams to the 20-30 LDP politicians who might be the boss in his/her ministry. According to NTT the congratulatory telegram cost 80,000 Japanese yen (with 25 the Chinese characters) for 20 people (Daily Mainichi).

Chinese Green-I

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:03:26 +0000

In Rizhao, Shandong Province, there are 2.8 million residents and about 99 percent of the households are using solar water heaters, according to the Japanese media. China began to import the Japanese green technology to prevent pollution which has accumulated for the last three decades. Time on 2 November 2009 issue publishes an article regarding the Chinese environment policy which “China is fast becoming one of the world’s largest alternative-energy markets.” Will the Chinese government allow the foreign firms including from Japan and the USA to participate the Chinese green market?

G2-IX

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:31:40 +0000

In October, finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations held a meeting emphasizing the strong dollar. In the meeting, a G4 (Japan, China, EU, and the US) meeting was proposed by the US, according to the Japanese media. Last year, the White House began to propose the idea of G4, but EU has hesitated to agree the idea. When can EU agree with the G4 idea?

Learning History-VI

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:29:29 +0000

On 10 October 2009, Turkey and Armenia normalized relations and sought reconciliation after nearly a century of bitterness over their bloody history. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton worked so hard behind the scene for this day. Both Turkey and Armenia have been in dispute since the World War I massacres of Armenians under Ottoman rule. As a result, Turkey has not been able to join into EU for years. During this financial tsunami, both countries finally shocked their hands tying their economic relations. Is there anything that the Chinese and Japanese can learn from this lesson?

Secret Meeting/Test Obama-IX

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:24:48 +0000

Starting several years ago, Iran began to settle most of its crude oil exports in non-dollar currencies. In October, the Arab states in the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar, were in secret talks with Russia, China, Japan, and France to replace the U.S. dollar in the trading of oil. According to the British media the U.S. government was aware the meetings took place. Now, the question is whether or not, but when, the U.S. dollar will lose its position as the major currency that is pegged with other currencies in the world. It is only a matter of time until the Renminbi becomes flexible with other currencies.

G20 Replaces G7/G2-VIII

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:20:15 +0000

In the G20 (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, and USA) Summit at Pittsburgh (24-25 September 2009), the 20 largest economies’ leaders finally made one crucial decision – replacing G7, the anachronistic system. More than four months ago, my blog (“G7 Is Died/G2-IV,” posting date: 12 May 2009) stated clearly that the function of G7 is finished. The decision in Pittsburgh made the Japanese government mad because Japan will not be shinning anymore in the Western executive club. In particular, China will play the crucial role in G20 meeting. Besides Japan, Spain and Holland are not happy since both countries will be left out from G20 meeting, too.

Hu Jintao’s Military Control

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:17:57 +0000

Hu Jintao finally began to control the Chinese military. On 20 July, Hu Jintao promoted three “princelings” including the son of Liu Shaoqi, Liu Yuan, to general rank, the highest military rank in PLA. By now, 17 out of 27 military generals were promoted by Hu Jintao, controlling the PLA. Since Hu took the post in the PLA in September 2004, he has rarely promoted people into the general rank. Except in 2006 (10 people), Hu Jintao has only promoted 4 people in 2007 and 3 people in 2008. Also, only 3 people were promoted to general in 2009. By contrary, his predecessor Jiang Zemin promoted many to the rank of general — 6 people in 1993, 19 people in 1994, 10 people in 1998, 16 people in 2000, and 15 people in 2004. According to Hong Kong media (22 September 2009), the grandson of Mao Zedong, Mao Xinyu also was promoted to major general.

BRIC-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:39:06 +0000

When the International Olympic Committee decided to hold the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in the early October, it symbolized that BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) will be major power in the future. China held the 2008 Summer Olympic, Russia will host the 2014 Winter Games, and now Brazil will have the 2016 Summer Olympic. Tokyo spent 15 billion Japanese yen on its campaign to host the game in 2016, but Tokyo lost. More than half of population in the poll did not expect Tokyowould lose the games. But the naïve Japanese politicians spent tax payers money without accountability. Who will re-pay 15 billion Japanese yen of the tax payers’ money?

The Chinese Way of Hegemony-V

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:13:30 +0000

Former diplomat M. K. Bhadrakumar published an article in the Asia Times online (1 August 2009) titled “China dips its toe in the Black Sea.” Beijing and Moldova signed an agreement to loan $1 billion (with 3% interest rate over 15 years and a five-year period on interest payments). Moldova is small country surrounding by Ukraine and Romania, locating near the Black Sea. GDP in Moldova has only $ 8 billion and annual budget about 1.5 billion. Certainly, the Chinese loan will be one of big deal for the Moldova’s government. This symbolizes that Eastern Yellow-Dragon first leap across Central Asian to western edges of Eurasia since Genghis Khan’s era during the Mongolian dynasty (1279-1368). What is the next strategy from Beijing’s Eurasian foreign policy?

Test Obama-VIII

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:18:13 +0000

As New York Times (24 September 2009) describes the United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York, both China and the United States produce 40 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. In the climate summit, the world needs the leadership from China and the US. Hu Jintao, China’s President, offers that China would reduce its carbon intensity – the amount of CO2 it emits for each dollar to economic output. China will plant to increase trees about 1,300,000,000 square meter by 2020, compare with 2005 level. The size of the area where the trees will be planted is several times the size of Taiwan. Hu’s statement is more specific, but President Obama’s speech lacks specific targets. Unfortunately, Obama could not change his speech because he made his presentation before the Chinese President.

Misrepresentation of Sino-Japanese Relations-I

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:12:48 +0000

Brad Glosserman, executive director of the Pacific Forum CSIS, wrote an article in the Japan Times regarding Japan politics after the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won the parliamentary election. “The real obstacles to improved Japan-China relations defy any change in government and many require changes not in Tokyo, but in China. The issues include territorial disputes, PLA modernization, a lack of respect for Japan, history, product safety, and crime. They speak to a profound unease in Japan about China’s rise, a sense that Japan doesn’t get the credit it deserves, and difficulties in Japan and Chinain dealing with other Asian nations as equals (16 September 2009).” Glosserman missed the points of Sino-Japanese relations which are more complicated and difficult than ever before. Glosserman`s explanation of Sino-Japanese relations are naïve.

Chinese Aerospace Industry/Doing Businesses in the Chinese Way-II

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:02:19 +0000

Today, only two aerospace companies: Boeing and Airbus, dominate the aerospace industry world-wide. . Now, the Chinese are trying to get into this monopoly industry. In 2008, the 90-seat passenger plane, ARJ21, made its successful flight. The ARJ21 might be suitable for regional and Chinese domestic flights. Another Chinese airplane is the C919, which can carry up to 190 passengers and is scheduling for entry into service in 2016. According to media in Hong Kong Beijingneeds to have following criterions: quality, reliability, performance, customer service, safety, and comfort to survive in the aerospace industry (South China Morning Post 9 September 2009).

Laodicean Politics in Japan-III

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:07:15 +0000

Hugh Cortazzi, a former ambassador to Japan (1980-1984), published his article (“Shifting Balances of Power”) in the Japan Times (11 September 2009). “The new Japanese government will be able to enhance Japan’s world interests only by ensuring that Japan is represented effectively abroad. This requires the appointment of ambassadors willing and able to join in international debates on equal terms with others. It also means that Japan should try hard to find more articulate and able English-speaking officials to serve in international organizations.” No one in Japan will have a problem with the statement of Ambassador Hugh. However, the Japanese bureaucrats have dominated Japan for more than a half century. Can Hatoyama find “more articulate and able English-speaking officials” in Japan? Hatoyama does not have “time” to educate “more articulate and able English-speaking officials” in Japan because he needs to show result within four years. To have “more articulate and able English-speaking officials” requires “time,” and takes at least one or/and two generations (meaning about a half century).

Australia vs. China-III

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:08:51 +0000

In August, the Australian government issued a visa for Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer, but the Chinese government protested strongly. Kadeer visited in August to participate in the Melbournefile festival for the screening of a documentary (“Ten Conditions of Love”) about the exiled Uighur leader. A Chinese diplomat made a phone call to the festival’s director demanding that the film be dropped. Does the Chinese government do Australian “internal affairs,” as Frank Ching indicated in the Japan Times (18 September 2009).

Containing China?/Cold War Mentality-I

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:18:14 +0000

In the middle of August, Senator Jim Webb visited Burmameeting senior general Than Shwe and Nobel Peace Price Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. After Webb left the country, the Burmese government began to crackdown on the powerful ethnic militias that challenged the regime for more than a half century. As a result, more than 10,000 ethnic Chinese refugees went to neighboring China. Jim Webb is famous for advocating to contain China. Did Webb tell the Burmese government to fight against China, which has supported the Burmese government for years.

Taking Advantage of Victims-V

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:12:58 +0000

One month after Xinjiang unrest on July 5, the Chinese government decided to provide millions in yuan (one yuan = $6.8) renminbi to victims whose stores were ruined. Unfortunately, some local government officials began to pocket some money intended for victims. In some cases, the victim should have received 3,000 yuan for one sq. km. and instead only receive 2,000 yuan for one sq. km. Can bureaucrats do the right thing for victims?

East Asian Community-I/Laodicean Politics in Japan-II

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:06:09 +0000

Before he took the office, Japanese Prime Minister, Hatoyama Yukio, made a proposal to Asian countries- to form an “East Asian Community.” This was not a new idea. The Japanese leaders had the same idea a long time ago, probably during the Meiji Restoration. During WWII, the Japanese imperial army executed the idea by launching the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, resulting in a lot of painful memories for people in the Asian region. However, this time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China issued a positive response to Hatoyama’s doctrine. But, the Korean media was relatively suspicious regarding Hatoyama’s motives (The JoongAng Daily 16 September 2009). In September when Hatoyama met the Chinese President Hu Jintao proposing the idea of the East Asian Community” in New York, Hu did not response directly. The Chinese leaders are perhaps beginning to be suspicious about Hatoyama’s idea. Will the East Asian Community be like the EU in the future?

Doing Businesses in the Chinese Way-I

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:57:51 +0000

“Whatever the cause, though, Beijing’s only smart way forward is to state clearly that a contract is a contract and that Chinese companies must abide by theirs (The Wall Street Journal 9 September 2009).” The controversy between the Chinese companies and the banks of the Wall Street is when fuel prices were high in 2008. China Eastern, Air China, and Shanghai Airlines, as well as China Ocean Shipping makes derivatives contracts with foreign banks to protect the companies from even higher fuel prices. However, after the Lehman Brothers was bankrupted on 15 September 2009, the price of oil has fallen dramatically. The Chinese airlines alone lost about $2 billion. On 7 September 2009, Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, which oversees these companies, posted a statement on its Web side suggesting that the Chinese government might sue to nullify the contracts. The Wall Street Journal criticizes Beijing to violate capitalism rule, while Beijing condemns foreign banks on the Wall Street to cheat rule by selling these contracts to the Chinese companies. Who is right?

Strategic & Economic Dialogue/G2-VII

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:07:50 +0000

On 27 July 2009, President Obama welcomed the Chinese delegation during two-days of high-level talks between China and the U.S. The issues ranged from climate change to human rights. Of course, media in both countries widely reported the meeting. However, another nation is watching the meeting carefully too. That is no other than Japan (the Japanese media reported the “Chemerica” meeting widely), which had its opportunity to have “G2” meeting during the 1980s. After a few years, “Japan as a number one” and “G2” with Japan has basically disappeared from the newspapers including inside Japan. Now, Japan must be jealous.

The 60-Years-Old PRC/The Chinese Way of Hegemony-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:20:27 +0000

Military parades symbolize national unity and national pride; it is just a show. Both France and India have their military parades annually, but the U.S. rarely holds such parades, instead invading another country to demonstrate its military might. The October 1st Chinese military parade is the 15th military display since Mao Zedong declared the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. The 2.5-hours ceremony started with flag bearers marching precisely 169 steps that symbolized 169 years since 1840 when China was humiliated by the Western powers, ceding Hong Kongto the British. Hu Jintao, President of China, Secretary-General of the CCP, and Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese army, reviewed the troops in an open-top Red Flag (Hongqi) limousine made in China. “Today, a socialist China geared to modernization, the world and future has stood rock-firm in the east of the world,” said Hu Jintao, (People’s Daily). In his three-minute speech which was televised live nationwide and throughout the world, he mentioned “peace” 8 times, stressing the peaceful rising China. Most of the weapons including J-10 and J-11 jet fighters, were displayed for the first time for the public. At night, thousands of dancers and singers on Tian’anmen Square enjoyed 100 minutes fireworks display.

Yuanmingyuan-II

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:27:29 +0000

In 1860, the Western powers, such the British and French, invaded Chinaand destroyed Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace. They were looting and smuggling the finest pieces of the Chinese collections out of China. Thanks to voices of the Chinese people in the internet, Beijingfinally decided to send a team of experts to museums around the world to investigate a million cultural relics which were looted from Yuanmingyuan. According to the Chinese media the team will go to museums in the US, Britain, France, and Japan. “But based on our rough calculations, about 1.67 million relics are housed in more than 200 museums in 47 countries (CCTV).” As the Chinese media states, “A country’s history is of interest to its people before those of any other nation. Having artifacts in a single location that is convenient for tourists and historians, but not the people of the country from which they were taken (South China Morning Post).” Will the Western countries hand over these relics to Beijing?

Internationalization of Renminbi-V

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:04:26 +0000

According to CCTV the Chinese government is going to sell Renminbi bonds denominated in Hong Kong on 8 September 2009. This is the first time that Beijing will sell its bonds outside of mainland China. About 6 billion yuan ($876 million) in bonds will be sold on 28 September 2009. The Chinese officials have often expressed concern about the stability of the dominant US dollar. Will the Renminbi be new global reserve currency?

Test Obama-VII

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:56:53 +0000

After the US won its intellectual property case involving music against China in WTO, the American government has agonized whether to impose special 421 safeguards against Chinese tires. In a politically sparked debate, Obama faced a dilemma based upon promises made to unions during his campaign for the presidency. As a result of these promises, despite large scale opposition, on 11 September 2009, the White House imposed special protectionist tariffs on tire imports from China. China has started its campaign of retaliation. An antidumping and countervailing case was brought against American chicken parts. Last week China announced new antidumping/countervailing duties cases against U.S. automobiles. Can Obama solve the “trade war” with China when he is going to be Beijing?

“Chimerica” Save North Korea-III

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:47:25 +0000

According to the Global Times (3 August 2009), in July China once again rejected in Hong Kong the American proposal seeking cooperation to control North Korea if the emergent case (i.e., the collapse of the dictator regime) occurred in North Korea. This is the third time that China has rejected the idea of the “Chimerica” saving North Korea. The first proposal, initiated by South Korea, was offered by the U.S. in 2004. The second proposal was offered by the U.S. in August 2008 (see the post: “Chemerica” Save North Korea-I on 12 January 2009) after Kim Jong Il disappeared from the public for months prompting concern that the regime might be changed.

The First Execution of the Chinese Citizen in Japan

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:44:37 +0000

The first execution of a Chinese citizen living in Japan occurred on 28 July 2009 since WWII. In 1999, Chen Detong killed 3 people in Kawasaki, Japan. Chen was found guilty by the Tokyo Supreme Court in June 2006. Now, four more Chinese are waiting for the execution in Japan.

Which Country Will Be The First-III

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:38:38 +0000

On 16 July 2009, Bloomberg News reported that the Chinese stock market became the second place behind the Wall Street. The current market price of the Chinese stock market is worth about $3.210 trillion which overtook the Tokyo stock market ($3.200 trillion), but remains behind the U.S. stock market which is worth $10.800 trillion. When the global financial crisis is over, China might take over the second place of the economic superpower (GDP rank) too. Probably the earliest date will be 31 December 2009.

The Third United Front CCP-KMT-IX

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:09:42 +0000

On 26 July 2009, Ma Ying-jeou ran uncontested in the election for Kuomingtang (KMT) party chief. The Chinese communist party chief, Hu Jintao, congratulated Ma Ying-jeou. “I hope that our two parties can continue to promote peaceful development of cross-strait relations, deepen mutual trust, boost the well-being of compatriots on both sides and create a glorious resurrection of the Chinese race,” said Hu. Ma reply stated, “We should never stop efforts to consolidate peace in the Taiwan Strait, resume regional stability and sustain prosperity based on the principles of facing reality, building trust, shelving disputes and creating a win-win scenario (New York Times).” It is matter of time when not whether or not Hu Jintao is going to meet Ma Ying-jeou. This will be another step towards having the third united front CCP-KMT, making the Japanese right-wing nervous. On 12 October 2009, Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated as the head of KMT, and the Chinese Communist Party called for the promotion of greater cross-Straits trust and understanding (People’s Daily).

Laodicean Politics in Japan-I

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:39:33 +0000

When former Koizumi Junichiro shouted during the 2005 lower house election, “I will destroy LDP if it does not change.” On 30 August 2009, the Japanese voters finally got rid of the lame-duck head of the LDP, Aso Taro, who has been viewed by many as the most arrogant, idiotic, and rich-boy prime minister in modern Japanese history. Ironically, Aso Taro really destroyed the LDP, a wish of Koizumi. Japan’s newly victorious Democratic Party headed by Hatoyama Yukio, who is the first prime minister who has a Ph.D. (from Stanford) and was educated in the West, will face tremendous tasks inside and outside of Japan . It will be unlikely Hatoyama will be able to solve all problems during his tenure office. As Murakami Ryu indicates his article in New York Time (8 September 2009), the Japanese cannot get all results during the four years of the Democratic Party as in the power. The fact of the matter is that the Japanese citizens are expecting a lot (just as Barack Obama in the USA). Can the Democratic Party delivery all expectations?

Learning History-V

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:28:41 +0000

During the U.S. occupation of WWII in Japan, the United States took large quantities of Japanese military government documents for the purpose of investigating Japan’s war crimes and gathering military intelligence. However, the US government copied about 3 percent of a total of 18 million pages of documents on microfilm and sent them back to Japan starting in 1958. These documents recorded the Japanese Imperial Army criminal atrocities, such as Unit 731 (biological and bacteriological weapons on human), comfort women, labor slavery, and Rape of Nanjing etc. between September 1931 and the end of 1948. According to the bill (106th Congress, 1st session) in association with: “(A) the Japanese Imperial Army; (B) any government in any area occupied by the military forces of the Japanese Imperial Army; (C) any government established with the assistance or cooperation of the Japanese Imperial Army; or (D) any government which was ally of the Imperial Army of Japan (Japanese Imperials Army Disclosure Act, 10 November 1999).”

In March 2009, the Japanese Imperial Army Disclosure Act took effect. This bill, which was included in the FY 2001 Intelligence Authorization Bill, was submitted to the Senate by Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, and singed into law by President Bill Clinton in 2000. The content of the law is similar to that of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act that was passed in 1998. Will the Japanese government and right-wings in Japan cooperate with the US to disclose their criminal acts?

Learning from Sichuan Earthquake?

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:19:20 +0000

A year ago, Sichuan had the 8.0 magnitude earthquake, killing near 70,000 people and destroying a number of schools. People thought the Chinese would learn less from the “Tofu” construction of schools in Sichuan. On 27 June 2009, one year later of tragedy from Sichuan, a building collapsed in Shanghai, where will held the 2010 World Expo. The photo (Xinhua News) of the collapsed buildings has been shown globally in the net. Sadly enough, the Chinese have not learned the lesson from the “Tofu” construction in Sichuan.

Yonakuni Island/Diaoyu-VIII

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:15:03 +0000

On 4 July 2009, the Japanese government decided to send its Self-Defense force to the Yonakuni Island. This led to an alert by the Chinese media including both Taiwan and Hong Kong. The area of the Yonakuni Island is about 28 sq. km. with 1,700 citizen including two policemen, located in south about 500 kilometers from Naha, Okinawa, less than 110 kilometers from Taiwan, about 120 kilometer from the disputed Diaoyu/Senakaku Islands in the East China Sea. What Japan is trying to do in the Yonakuni Island??

The “Multi-Partner World” by Hillary Clinton

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:24:06 +0000

On 15 July 2009, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, delivered an American foreign policy speech at the Council on Foreign Relations. About half-hour speech has been provided major foreign policy of Obama Administration. “America will always be a world leader as long as we remain true to our ideals and embrace strategies that match the times. So we will exercise American leadership to build partnerships and solve problems that no nation can solve on its own, and we will pursue policies to mobilize more partners and deliver results (U.S. Department of State).” Clinton emphasized the multi-partner world, which both Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice tried to execute during Bush Administration, but had never succeeded. Interestingly, Hillary Clinton’s speech mentioned a number of countries including Japan and China, even Liberia or Ghana. However, she had never stated one nation name – U.K. Unlike George W. Bush, Barack Obama does not like U.K. very much. Why? There is no ally forever. Japan should take the notice from Clinton’s speech.

End of G8/G7

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:09:30 +0000

When Hu Jintao, President of China, left Italy on July 7, in order to respond to civil unrest in Xingjiang, negotiators from G8/G7 (the United States, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Russia, Canada, and Italy) realized that hopes had evaporated for any major diplomatic breakthroughs at the summit. In L’Aquila Summit, little agreement has been achieved, except some 25 billion agricultural investment initiative to help small farmers in Africa. The effect of G8/G7 has ended since the financial crisis in November 2008.

Apology from Japan/Learning History-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:19:39 +0000

Ichiro Fujisaki, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., offered a direct apology to a group of the Second World War veterans taken prisoner by Japanese imperial army in the Philippines. “We extend a heartfelt apology for our country having caused tremendous damage and suffering to many people (Japan Times).” A meeting of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor hold at San Antonio, Texas on 30 May 2009. Fujisaki met a survivor of the 1942 Bataan Death March. It is easy for the Japanese to offer apology to the Americans, but not people in the Asian region including the Chinese and Koreans.

North Korean Nuclear War against China?/”Chimerica” Save North Korea-II

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:35:09 +0000

In the beginning of August, former President Bill Clinton visited North Korea asking for the release of two American journalists: Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who were sentenced 15 years in a labor camp. On 11 August 2009, the Chinese newspaper (Hong Kong Economic Journal) published a fantastic article (the author is a research associate from CISAC of Stanford University) regarding Clinton’s visit. During the summit North Korean leader Kim Jong Il enraged China. Recent activities by North Korea including the missiles launch, underground nuclear test, and refusing to participate in the six-party talk, which are aimed the Chinese, but not the Americans. “Our nuclear weapons cannot reach in the U.S., but it can launch into the west” – meaning China. The following day, Hong Kong media picked this story up. Interestingly, on 12 August 2009, Kim Jong Il emphasized the strong “friendship” with the Chinese after visiting the Korean national troupe. Will Kim Jong Il launch a nuclear war against China?

PLA Drills

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:42:00 +0000

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched its largest-ever tactical military exercise which involves four military commands: Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan, and Guangzhou on 11 August 2009. Each military commands has provided one army division that accounted about 50,000 heavy armored troops over thousands of miles has been participated in a series of live fire drills which will be lasting for two months. But, Nanjing military commands did not participate this drill, which the media in Taiwan are wondering. Why?

Internationalization of Renminbi-IV

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:08:22 +0000

On 2 July 2009, China’s central Bank, Bank of China, issued detailed rules for cross-border trade settled in yuan, or Renminbi. The first transactions with Hong Kong and Macao starts in July using yuan. The central government also approved five cities: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Gongguan to settle international trade in Chinese currency (PBOC web). This reminds people of 1984 when the central government began to create four Special Economic Zone (SEZs) in southern China, eventually leading China to today’s economy power house. Will Renminbi be internationalized during the 21st century?

Test Obama-VI

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:17:50 +0000

After the 44^th President was sworn into the White House, some new facts regarding 9.11 were revealed globally. Recently, an extremely interesting academic article was published in journal – The Open Chemical Physics Journal (vol. 2, 2009, pp. 7-31) on the issue. The nine authors from European countries and the United States: Niels H. Harrit, Jeffrey Farrer, Steven E. Jones, Kevin R. Ryan, Frank M. Legge, Daniel Farnsworth, Gregg Roberts, James R. Gourley, and Bradley R. Larsen examined dust from the World Trade Center in the article. (This and their paper can be downloaded at http://www.bentham-open.org/pages/content.php?TOCPJ/2009/00000002/00000001/7TOCPJ.SGM). By analyzing “distinctive red/gray chips” in the dust, the authors found “nano-thermite,” which caused the meltdown of the steel of the building. Did the terrorists possess “nano-thermite”? Where did nano technology in the dust come from? Will Obama re-examine the 9.11 evidence?

Learning History-III

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:15:46 +0000

On 18 June 2009, the United States Senate (111th Congress 1st Session) passed a resolution which formally made an apology to African-Americans for racial segregation. “Apology for the enslavement and segregation of African-Americans- The congress – acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws; apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws; and (C) expresses its recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices, and discrimination from our society (Concurrent Resolution SCN 26 ES).”
This is for the first time in its 230-year history, the US government issued a formal apology for slavery and segregation. The unanimous voice vote came five months after Barack Obama became the first black US president. The US House passed the similar resolution in July 2008. Will the Japanese Diet pass the apology resolution toward the damage of Asian people including Chinese and Koreans?

Trains Collide in China

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:25:09 +0000

On 29 June 2009, a train going from Changsha, Hunan Province (K9017) collided with the Shenzhen-bound train (K9063) at 2:34 in the predawn. The incident killed at least 3 people and injured an additional 60 passengers. The Japanese media (Kyodo News) reported that the train (K9017) had a special train which Jiang Zemin, former president of China and head of the CCP, along with his wife, headed to Guangdong Province. Immediate incident, the police unit 126 was secured the area heavily. The CCTV stated the incident, but never mentioned the special train and Jiang Zemin. Why have the Chinese media been silent about the special train of Jiang Zemin?

Japan Passing-III

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:47:05 +0000

It is well-know that the world’s number one supercomputer, “Roadrummer,” was built by IBM for the U.S. Department of Energy at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Probably, people are assumed that Japan will be the second nation to build the fastest supercomputer after the United States. But, this is not true anymore. On 16 June 2009, Dawning Information Industry Co., in Shanghai created “Dawning 5000A,” which can run 100 trillion times in one second, 200 trillion times in one second at the maximum (Kyodo News and People’s Daily). The Chinese named the “Dawning 5000A” the “Magic Cube.” The “Dawning 5000A” will be the only non-American-made supercomputer to rank into the top ten list. China is also the number one position to build the fastest supercomputer in the Asian region. The “Dawning 5000A” employed AMD Barcelona quad-cores processor.

Diaoyu-VII

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:05:42 +0000

On 8 July 2009, Hamada Yasukazu, former Defense Minister in Japan, indicated that the ground Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops will be deployed to Yonaguni Island, Japan’s westernmost islet. Very few people have the geographical knowledge of Yonaguni Island, which is just 110 kilometers from Taiwan’s eastern coast, and roughly 150 kilometers south of Sino-Japanese disputed islands, Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands (Kyodo News and Phoenix TV). Japan’s move had made the Chinese media widely picked the topic as the top news in the Chinese media. What will the Chinese (from both Taiwan and mainland) do?

Sino-American Trade War/G2-VI

Unryu Suganuma — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:40:02 +0000

On 23 May 2009, the United States was going to file a case to WTO against China. According to Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative, who made the announcement, China has continued to restrict exports of rare metals, including zinc, tin, tungsten, antimony, bauxite, coke, fluorspar, indium, magnesium carbonate, molybdenum, rare earths, silicon, talc, and yellow phosphorous. China is one of countries to produce rare metals, which will be indispensable to for many products, such as cell phone, aircraft, and even space. Will China and the US begin to fight economic war similar to that fought with Japan in the 1980s?

New Chinese Nuclear Submarine

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:46 +0000

According to the Chinese media, the Chinese President Hu Jintao inspected a new Chinese nuclear submarine in 1996. The news reflects the new type of submarine 094 or 095 has become part of the Chinese navy. However, during the 60 anniversary of the Chinese navy parade in Qingdao, China did not display its new 094 or 095 submarine. China only showed the old-type 092 nuclear submarine in the parade. Why?

Internationalization of Renminbi-III

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:32:53 +0000

On 7 June 2009, Guo Shuqing, the chairman of China Construction Bank (CCB), made a new proposal regarding Chinese renminbi. “I think the U.S. government and the World Bank can consider the possibility of issuing renminbi bonds in the Hong Kong market and the Shanghai market (Japan Times 9 June 2009).” Some Chinese leaders have tried to internationalization of the Chinese currency; Chinese media have repeatedly insisted in the dollar value. The US might face a hyperinflation after the financial crisis. Guo is a former head of China’s Foreign Exchange Administration, and China Construction Bank is the world’s second-biggest bank by market value currently.

BRIC-III

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:54:15 +0000

The World Bank announced the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 on 1 July 2009. Among the top ten, the United States ranks number one at about $14.2 trillion and Japan as number two with $4.9 trillion. However, BRIC have increased their GDP ranks from the previous year. The GDP ranks are number 8th of Brazil (10th in 2007) and number 9th of Russian Federation (11th in 2007). India has $1.2 trillion GDP with 12th position, and China ranks the third with $3.86 trillion (World Development Indicators Database, World Bank). Some economists predict that China will overtake Japan by the end of 2009, when Japan has been recession, and China has been ok.

Rio Espionage Case/Australia vs. China-II

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:05:23 +0000

“Chinese authorities have in fact obtained evidence which proves that (Rio employees) – for a foreign country—Chinese state secrets, which hurt China’s economic interests and economic security,” stated by Wing Gang, a spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC). The Chinese government detained four Rio employees, as well as a head of Shougang Group, Tan Yixin. The head of the Shanghai based branch, Stern Hu, who was a naturalized an Australian citizen. Stern Hu, who graduated from Beijing University and worked in the Chinese steel industry for years. He is best friends with Tan Yixin, who graduated from Qinghua University. If anyone spent a lot of time in China and studied Chinese culture, as well as politics for sometimes, one will understand the Chinese way doing business. There is a huge gray-zone between legal and illegal zones. Even though Hu and Tan are the Chinese, they cannot escape the control by the China’s Red-Five-Stars Flag. By the middle of July, Rio Tinto pulled their researchers out of China by moving to Singapore or Australia. The Western media began to speculate whether the Chinese President Hu Jintao supported the Rio espionage case (The Sydney Morning Herald), which the Chinese government has denied.

Kidnapped Children in China-I

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:08:13 +0000

Finally, the Chinese government began to crackdown on child trafficking early this year. The state-controlled CCTV broadcasted the top ten kidnapped criminals in China. Currently, a number of people have created an outcry over the internet reporting that children, in particular boys, ranging in age from 100 days to 8 years, have been kidnapped from poor and interior provinces, such Shanxi and Yunnan Provinces. A child may be sold for anywhere from 7,000 to 40,000 yuan (about $1,000-$5,000), depending on the age and sex. In one case, a son of a working couple was missing for years after he was kidnapped near their house. The parents have looked for their son for years, but without a good result. One day, the father made a business trip to interior China. When the father got off the station, suddenly a beggar kid grappled his right leg to beg . When the father offered money to this dirty boy, the beggar still grappled his leg and was crying saying something which the father did not understand. As the father took a look at the boy again carefully, he realized that the boy resembled his missing son. When the father checked the neck of the beggar, he found the boy had a birthmark in the neck. It is his missing son. “Where were you? What happen to you? Why don’t you say something? Son?,” said the father. When the beggar cried opening his mouth, the father realized that the son’s tongue has been cut off.

American Ambassador in China

Unryu Suganuma — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:28:06 +0000

On 16 May 2009, Barack Obama nominated Jon Huntsman, Governor of Utah, as the next ambassador of China. Jon Huntsman is moderate Republican who speaks fluent Chinese. Obama’s move is extremely smart because he has eliminated a number of his enemies who might run in the presidential race in 2012. Besides Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jon Huntsman lost his chance to run the presidential race against Obama in 2012. Huntsman probably figured out that the current chaotic Republican Party would not have a strong chance to win the 2012 race either. It is better for him to serve one of the most important ambassadors globally – China than to prepare to run the 2012 presidential race.

Japan Passing-II

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:14:27 +0000

On 25 May 2009, North Korea conducted its second nuclear test since October 2006. About one hour before North Korea regime tested the bomb, the government informed the White House, and so did China. However, North Korea has never cared about Japan at all. The government of Japan should consider “Why?”

BRIC-II

Unryu Suganuma — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:42:25 +0000

Since a seminal 2001, Jim O’Neill, chief economist of Goldman Sachs began to use the word, BRIC in the research report; today BRIC has turned into an interesting word in the current financial crisis. BRIC, meaning Brazil, Russia, India, and China, met in Yekaterinburg, Russia for a summit on 16 June 2009. BRIC accounts for 42 percent of the world’s population and shares 15 percent of the $60.7 trillion global GDP (Reuters News). Interestingly, A couple days before this summit, G7 (or G8) had their own finance minister meeting in Italy.

Roh Moo Hyun Case

Unryu Suganuma — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:58:39 +0000

It was a sad day for the South Korean people when former President Roh Moo Hyun committed suicide on 23 May 2009. One of many reasons for Roh’s suicide was that he felt strong responsibility towards the Korean citizens as prosecutors began to make the bribery case. Well, it is time for the Chinese to learn responsibility too. In case of Taiwan, former President Chen Shui-bian is currently facing a bribery case and is in prison where he writes his books. Chen has constantly claimed his innocent even though his son admitted his guilt of money laundering. In the case of mainland China, no top leaders has been prosecuted for bribery case; however, a few people globally believe that the leaders in Beijing are so clean because there is no an independent judiciary system under the Chinese communist party dictatorship. As a result, no top Chinese leaders are getting in trouble like Roh Monn Hyun in South Korea or Chen Shui-bian in Taiwan.

Sun Yat-sen’s Japanese Wife

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:32:53 +0000

Many people know Dr. Sun Yat-sen had three wives: Lu Muzhen, Soong Ching-ling, and Chen Cuifen. However, recently the Japanese media reported that the daughter of fourth wife of Sun is alive. In 1898, Sun met Ootsuki Kaoru in Yokohama, and Sun made his proposal to her in 1901 when Sun was 36 years old, and Ootsuki was 14 years old. In May 1906, Ootsuki and Sun had a girl named Tomiko who was put up for adoption. But Sun returned to China the following year after his daughter was born. In 1970, Ostsuki Kaoru died at year 82. In 1955, Tomiko received an interview and stated “according to my mom Dr. Sun Yat-sen is my father.” Also, Ootsuki Kaoru left tapes which recorded her life. On 4 September 2009, former President Lee Teng-hui visited Japan and met the grandson of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Miyamoto Toichi at the dinner in the following day.

No Thanks/G2-V

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:13:30 +0000

On 20 May 2009, China and EU held the 11th China-EU Summit. At the meeting, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao rejected the idea of G2. “Some say that world affairs will be managed solely by China and the US. I think that view is baseless and wrong…. Multi-polarization and multilateralism represent the larger trend and the will of the people…. China stands ready to develop friendly relations and cooperation with all countries and it will never seek hegemony (22 May 2009 Global Times).” The G2 idea was proposed by prominent politicians including Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezzinski after the international financial meltdown.

The Third United Front CCP-KMT-VIII

Unryu Suganuma — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:45:14 +0000

On 26 May 2009, the Chairman of Kuomingtang (KMT) Wu Poh-hsiung met with General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Jintao in Beijing. During the talks between leaders of the two parties, Hu Jintao made a stunning proposal suggesting that the “end hostility and [that two sides] reach [a] peace agreement,” noting that the “two sides, however, should be prepared and create conditions for solving these problems (military issues).” Wu will talk to Ma Ying-jeou regarding the military trust and peace agreement. This is another victory for the Third United Front CCP-KMT.

The Chinese Spy for Japan

Unryu Suganuma — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:04:17 +0000

According to the Japanese media, the Chinese government sentenced Yu Jiafu, a former reporter of Xinhua News Agency, to 18 years in prison recently. The 62-years-old reporter has admitted that he gave the top-secret information regarding the Chinese foreign policy of North Korea to foreign diplomats including Miyamoto Yuji, the Japanese Ambassador to China in 2006. Yu was under house arrest from 31 July 2007 by the State Security Bureau of Langfang, Hebei Province. On 21 December 2007, the Chinese reporter was arrested officially. He was found guilty of obtaining illegal profit by providing the information.

Great Wall is Great!

Unryu Suganuma — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:08:39 +0000

In 2009, a Chinese government study was released reporting the total length of the Great Wall according to the Chinese media. A joint project between the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping utilized GPS devices to map parts of war built during Ming dynasty – stretching from Mt. Hu in northern Liaoning province to Jiayu Pass in the western Gansu province. The Great Wall is 8851.8 km long, about 2,500 km longer than the original survey in the 1950s. The joint project will continue for another year in order to map sections of the wall built during the Qin and Han Dynasties.