From afar, Japan is often perceived as a homogenous nation with little ethnic diversity. This perception is further perpetuated and endorsed by the Japanese government. However, throughout history, Japan has been home to various ethnic groups, including the Ryūkyūan and Ainu. According to the 2020 census conducted by the Statistics Bureau of Japan, the population… Continue reading Zainichi Koreans in Japan: Exploring the Ethnic Minority’s Challenges
Three years after the failed military coup in Myanmar, there is genuine hope within the country for democratic resistance. By the end of 2023 and into the beginning of 2024, Myanmar reached a turning point, with significant successes achieved by the revolutionary movement, particularly on the battlefield. For the first time since the coup, there… Continue reading Myanmar’s Struggle for Freedom Three Years After the Military Coup
Expectations that the Southeast Asian bloc could have been effective were misplaced. Lurking within the cacophony of condemnations of ASEAN’s “handling” of the crisis in Myanmar, of its utter failure to move the military junta an inch towards compromise or retreat, is a lament that here was a chance for the bloc to prove its… Continue reading ASEAN should admit defeat over Myanmar
The deadly attack on Israel on October 7th by the Hamas militant group sent shockwaves through the international community and with the decades-old Israel-Palestine conflict erupting into active warfare, global leaders have been forced to reassess their positions. Among those, China, with its expanding global footprint, finds itself in a challenging position. In recent years,… Continue reading Chinese Media Watch: Israel-Palestine conflict: Let’s make peace in a decades-long conflict – China again in the position of a peace-seeking superpower
Diya Jiang explores Beijing’s interests and trade-offs in managing Sino-Myanmar relations following the Myanmar military’s February 2021 coup d’état. Scholars and experts in academia and policy circles have argued that China has become a dangerous and unpredictable player in recent years. Indeed, trending toward the end of its half century-long economic growth, China is establishing itself… Continue reading Beijing’s Economic Stakes: Lessons from Post-coup Sino-Myanmar Relations
