https://consortiumnews.com/2025/08/09/atomic-bombings-at-80-the-very-un-christian-nagasaki-bomb/
Growing up I always heard apologias for the use of atomic weapons but few discussed specifically what happened on August 9, 1945 and the place of Nagasaki within the framework of Japanese culture.
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Do-the-Chinese-really-want-Siberia-62318.html
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3654427-does-china-have-designs-on-siberia/
There is nothing particularly profound or revelatory in this article but it's worth considering and filing away. The issue of resources and the Russian Far East have come up before in history. There were those in Imperial Japan who coveted these lands and had an opportunity to invade from their colony of Manchukuo (the conquered realms of Manchuria) in the 1930's. In fact after the German invasion of the USSR in June of 1941, Stalin hesitated to bring the desperately needed troops from Siberia to the West, as he believed the Japanese would invade - something Berlin was very keen for them to do.
This story is fascinating on several levels and yet there's something rotten about it. Even after reading the 43 page indictment, it doesn't add up.
https://reihotakeuchi.substack.com/p/the-new-japanese-prime-ministers
Ishiba who assumed the office of prime minister in October is important because he represents new thinking in terms of Japan's role in the Asia-Pacific and its relationship with the United States. A member of the Far-Right Nippon Kaigi faction (which has a significant presence in the ruling LDP), he seems to represent two tendencies - one, to strengthen Japan's relationship with Washington and build a NATO-type alliance in the Pacific, and two, resentment of US domination and a wish for Japan to re-establish its autonomy and take its place among the great powers.
https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/17/canada-aukus-alliance-china/
Even as Justin Trudeau's government is on the ropes, the Canadian Establishment is moving to bring Ottawa into the growing Pacific alliance. The UK's membership is rooted in historical interests and the fact that it is America's essential ally. Or perhaps it should be worded the other way around? Australia has gone through a stream of scandals and failed governments to finally come to the right conclusion that Washington wanted all along - membership in a military alliance against China. Japan has now made moves to join and South Korea and New Zealand have expressed interest.
https://www.npr.org/2023/06/20/1183140547/road-to-surrender-revisits-the-final-weeks-of-world-war-ii
Once again a mainstream reporter appeals to narratives that
are hardly Left-wing or 'woke' but instead belong on FOX or Newsmax. The divide
appealed to by so many on the Right is blurry at best and artificial at worst.
And keep in mind this is Evan Thomas who spent decades working at supposedly
Left-wing magazines like Time and Newsweek. Apparently it's Left-wing these
days to produce an apologia for Truman's use of atomic bombs, for that in the
end is the real purpose of his work. He defends their use, tries to argue that
their use was moral, and that those who made the choice to use them are in fact
heroes.
Led by the United States, NATO is attempting to expand into
the Asian theatre in preparation for war with China. NATO is opening an office
in Japan, and the US in addition to strengthening ties with Australia, the
Philippines and other nations, is preparing to negotiate for new bases in Papua
New Guinea.
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2023/01/17/douglas-macarthur-christianity-and-japan/
All I can
say is 'wow'.
The way that
Bill Muehlenberg manages to distort both history and Scripture is nothing short
of remarkable.
If you read the article carefully, the argument can be made
that the headline is guilty of sensationalism. America is clearly in the
position of supremacy but that margin of domination is not what it was thirty
years ago. This I think is probably self-evident and hardly surprising to
anyone.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/04/10/indonesia-us-war-games/
Even as the War in Ukraine rages on and the eye of the world
is focused on the NATO frontier, there are storm clouds forming over Asia and
signs that US militarism is preparing to assert itself on the Chinese frontier
as well. Far from being passive, the Biden administration has been at the
forefront of the re-assertion of the US Empire.
This experiment is noteworthy because if successful it could
be transformative and mark the beginning of a new energy economy. Utilising
coal, Australia has produced hydrogen which is then liquefied. It is now being
brought to Japan by tanker where it can be used in a variety of industries and
applications.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Comprehensive_Economic_Partnership
With the turn of the calendar the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) went into effect on 1 January 2022. Initially meant
to counter the US attempt to re-shape Asian diplomacy and trade by means of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the RCEP represents a geopolitical and
diplomatic victory for Beijing – another sore blow to US hegemony in the
Asia-Pacific.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/20/japan-must-speed-up-defense-says-minister/
Though it is often presented as a preventative measure, a
type of peace through strength, the truth is militarism always results in conflict.
And Japan has been rattling the sabre for some time. The Japanese Right is
eager to re-arm and re-assert its traditional role in the Asian theatre. They
view Japan as a great power on par with Western nations and now 75 years after
its defeat in WWII – it's time for Japan to re-assume its place.
Taiwan watchers are nervous as there are some indications that China may act in light of an outbreak of election-related chaos in the United States. The argument is that if the transition of US power is in question and there is civil and economic upheaval, Beijing may decide to make its move against Taiwan.
