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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US should learn from allies' actions

That Sino-US ties are the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century is widely accepted by politicians and scholars on both sides. For the US, that means it cannot ignore China in its global strategy especially when it comes to the Asia-Pacific region.

Nothing peaceful about TPP talks

By according the warmest possible welcome to US President Barack Obama on his three-day visit to Japan from Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is aiming to expedite the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in order to end the frictions between Washington and Tokyo. Also, Abe thinks that progress on the trade front can, to some extent, ease tensions between the US and Japan after he ignored Washington's caution to visit Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals, and angered Japan's neighbors, especially China and the Republic of Korea.

TPP an albatross around US neck

The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations have apparently reached the final stage, but it is still not known when an agreement on the TPP can be reached.

Get ready to board China's reform train

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the good news first hand from Premier Li Keqiang at Boao Forum that investors on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong will soon be able to trade shares on each other's stock exchanges. The announcement is beyond adding weight to the importance of the scheme; it underscores Beijing's strong determination for reform.

Crucial stage in anti-graft campaign

Since he became General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in November 2012, Xi Jinping has invested much of his newly acquired political capital in two initiatives.

Cultivate the self through reading

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.

US should not be led astray

HOW HE WILL REASSURE HIS COUNTRY'S allies without leaving the impression the United States and its allies are ganging up on China will be a test of US President Barack Obama's political acumen as he starts a four-nation visit to the Asia-Pacific in Japan on Wednesday.

Let's cut the spam

Government agencies and telecommunication corporations have long promised to curb the proliferation of spam messages, but their efforts have so far proved fruitless.