What I Found In North Korea Foreign Affairs
Very interesting article.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Australian quotes my comments on Japanese-Russo relations
The Australian, Australia's national daily newspaper, quoted my comments on Japanese-Russo relations. Thanks much again, The Australian! Cheers, Kosuke
Russia inflames islands dispute
Rick Wallace, Tokyo correspondent
The Australian November 02, 2010 12:00AM
JAPAN is embroiled in another territorial row after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a provocative visit to a chain of disputed islands north of Hokkaido.
Mr Medvedev became the first leader from Russia or the former Soviet Union to set foot on any of the islands off Hokkaido, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan the Northern Territories.
The Russian leader travelled to Kunashiri Island yesterday ignoring Tokyo's warning that a visit would harm bilateral ties.
Japan, still wrestling with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the South China Sea, was quick to criticise the move.
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said the visit "hurts Japanese public sentiment" and summoned the Russian ambassador to the ministry to protest.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the islands were Japanese territory and the visit was "extremely deplorable".
The Russian Foreign Ministry professed bewilderment. "We don't understand the reaction of the Japanese side. The Russian position on this issue remains in force, and has not undergone any changes," a source said.
Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly, told The Australian that Russia was seizing on the diplomatic weaknesses exposed in Japan by the Senkaku dispute.
"Russian-Sino relations are getting better and I think Russia and China know that Japanese diplomatic power is declining and they are becoming more aggressive on territorial issues," he said. He said Russia had offered to give up two of the four islands in the past, but their offer was snubbed by Tokyo.
The islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The ensuing dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a post-war peace treaty.
The residents of the islands are now all Russians, but many Japanese families who retreated to Hokkaido after the war have their ancestors' tombs on the island and some wish to return.
Russia inflames islands dispute
Rick Wallace, Tokyo correspondent
The Australian November 02, 2010 12:00AM
JAPAN is embroiled in another territorial row after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a provocative visit to a chain of disputed islands north of Hokkaido.
Mr Medvedev became the first leader from Russia or the former Soviet Union to set foot on any of the islands off Hokkaido, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan the Northern Territories.
The Russian leader travelled to Kunashiri Island yesterday ignoring Tokyo's warning that a visit would harm bilateral ties.
Japan, still wrestling with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the South China Sea, was quick to criticise the move.
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said the visit "hurts Japanese public sentiment" and summoned the Russian ambassador to the ministry to protest.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the islands were Japanese territory and the visit was "extremely deplorable".
The Russian Foreign Ministry professed bewilderment. "We don't understand the reaction of the Japanese side. The Russian position on this issue remains in force, and has not undergone any changes," a source said.
Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly, told The Australian that Russia was seizing on the diplomatic weaknesses exposed in Japan by the Senkaku dispute.
"Russian-Sino relations are getting better and I think Russia and China know that Japanese diplomatic power is declining and they are becoming more aggressive on territorial issues," he said. He said Russia had offered to give up two of the four islands in the past, but their offer was snubbed by Tokyo.
The islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The ensuing dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a post-war peace treaty.
The residents of the islands are now all Russians, but many Japanese families who retreated to Hokkaido after the war have their ancestors' tombs on the island and some wish to return.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
(JDW) Japan considers extra submarines in defence review
I wrote a story for Jane's Defence Weekly about Japan's plan to boost the size of its submarine force, which is only available to subscribers. My colleague at JDW also wrote about it. Cheers, Kosuke
(My story)
*Japan to boost submarine fleet in response to China moves
By Kosuke Takahashi
22-Oct-2010
The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) plans to increase the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarine fleet to more than 20 from the current ...
(My colleague's story)
Non-Subscriber Extract
Japan considers extra submarines in defence review
By Jon Grevatt
22 October 2010
China's increasing maritime activities in waters off Japan may prompt Tokyo to procure additional diesel-electric attack submarines or extend the life of existing platforms.
The moves are being considered as part of the Japanese Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) continuing review of its National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), which is scheduled to be completed towards the end of this year.
A spokeswoman from the MoD told Jane's on 21 October: "Whether the number of submarines will be increased or not will be considered as part of the deliberations [over the NDPG]. The revision of the submarine force by life extension could be considered as one of the options."
The MoD spokeswoman did not confirm or deny reports by Japanese news agency Kyodo that the MoD plans to increase the size of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF's) fleet of submarines from 16 to 22. Citing MoD officials, the news agency said that the NDPG review had determined that a bigger submarine fleet was necessary to reinforce vigilance in nearby waters.
167 of 389 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010
End of non-subscriber extract
Here is also a nice blog article on this topic.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3af69cd6f7-b8ac-4630-a720-d5b4a1e35e25&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
(My story)
*Japan to boost submarine fleet in response to China moves
By Kosuke Takahashi
22-Oct-2010
The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) plans to increase the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarine fleet to more than 20 from the current ...
(My colleague's story)
Non-Subscriber Extract
Japan considers extra submarines in defence review
By Jon Grevatt
22 October 2010
China's increasing maritime activities in waters off Japan may prompt Tokyo to procure additional diesel-electric attack submarines or extend the life of existing platforms.
The moves are being considered as part of the Japanese Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) continuing review of its National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), which is scheduled to be completed towards the end of this year.
A spokeswoman from the MoD told Jane's on 21 October: "Whether the number of submarines will be increased or not will be considered as part of the deliberations [over the NDPG]. The revision of the submarine force by life extension could be considered as one of the options."
The MoD spokeswoman did not confirm or deny reports by Japanese news agency Kyodo that the MoD plans to increase the size of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF's) fleet of submarines from 16 to 22. Citing MoD officials, the news agency said that the NDPG review had determined that a bigger submarine fleet was necessary to reinforce vigilance in nearby waters.
167 of 389 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010
End of non-subscriber extract
Here is also a nice blog article on this topic.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3af69cd6f7-b8ac-4630-a720-d5b4a1e35e25&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
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