US president's missing message in Japan

During his three-day visit to Japan from April 23 to 25, US President Barack Obama seems to be focusing on the US-Japan security alliance, the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and the trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea. What has been missing is him raising a voice of concern over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's views on World War II history.

Obama's loss of balance

US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA MAY HAVE CONGRATULATED himself in private for apparently pulling off a difficult balancing act, but if so, he is being a little too hasty.

Prepare for worse in Ukraine

The crisis in Ukraine is still unfolding, and there is the growing possibility of a civil war, as the desire of some eastern provinces for autonomy and independence is impossible to reconcile with Kiev's determination to safeguard national integrity, and Kiev's authority in the eastern region is seriously lacking and it is incapable of controlling the situation.

US key to DPRK nuclear issue

On Wednesday, President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to persuade the Democratic People's Republic of Korea not to conduct a fourth nuclear test when US President Barack Obama visits the ROK.

Views on divorce divorced from reality

The divorce rate in China has soared in recent years, with the Social Service Development Statistical Bulletin of the Ministry of Civil Affairs saying that the growth in divorce rate exceeded the growth in marriage rate for first time last year. Though the rising divorce rate has many social implications, many people believe it is most harmful for divorced parents' children.

Hot words

A Bite of China II 舌尖2 (she jian 2)

From the Chinese press

Curb craze for school districts

Future hangs in the balance

After undergoing nearly seven decades of development since the end of World War II, Asia has already taken on a new look, witnessing not only the rise of a group of industrialized countries and regions during the latter part of the 20th century, but also the emergence of a number of economies that have grown to be the engine of global economic growth in the new century.

Storm over a toddler's inconvenience uncalled for

A mainland couple visiting Hong Kong, finding a long queue at a public toilet, let their toddler relieve himself in public with the mother using a paper nappy to prevent any mess on the street.

Incentive for rural finance

THE CUT IN THE RESERVE REQUIREMENT ratio for rural financial institutions is a small step to facilitate the flow of credit in China's rural areas.

Shrine visits reflect militarism

Despite fresh protests from Beijing and Seoul, a Japanese cabinet minister and nearly 150 lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday. The shrine commemorates Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals from World War II, and such visits are highly provocative to Japan's neighbors that were the victims of Japan's brutal militarism.

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