Category: Uncategorized

  • U.S.–China Interparliamentary Exchange: Valuable, and Possibly Easier Under Democrats

    The main organizer of the U.S.-China Interparliamentary Exchange said Sept. 6 he won’t be completely disappointed if his party loses control of the U.S. Congress in November. Even though House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) created and funded the exchange, “it would be even easier with the Democrats in charge, though I pray against that,” said…


  • Abe It Is

    I feel obligated to post that Abe Shinzo did indeed win the LDP election. No surprise, but here’s the New York Times story by Onishi.


  • My Op-Ed Today in the Mercury News

    Bay Area friends will find an op-ed column I wrote in the San Jose Mercury News today (Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006). Here is the text as it appeared, reprinted by permission: “U.S. should press Japan to mend fences with China” By Graham Webster When Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Graceland with President George W.…


  • Japan, U.S. Concerned About Restrictions on Foreign News in China

    There’s been a lot in the mainstream press on China’s decision to restrict access in China to news produced by foreign agencies. Here’s a news hit on the diplomatic consequences. (Kyodo) — Japan is keeping a close watch on China’s newly announced curbs on foreign media news distribution while it examines the new rules, a…


  • Abe, the Politics of Being Korean, and the NYT

    From a conversation I had last week with David Marx and some snooping around on Japan’s popular 2ch message board comes Marxy’s essay on “Abe and the Politics of Being Korean.” The particular 2ch thread, which is now unavailable, got on Marxy’s back for being a vicious foreigner and also included unfriendly comments about New…