The Diplomat | Author
Jon Letman
Jon Letman is an independent freelance journalist in Hawaii.
Jon writes about politics, the environment, and the impact of militarism and arms in the Asia-Pacific region. His reporting examines how human rights and the environment are affected by military bases, testing, training, and U.S. foreign policy with a focus on Pacific islands and East Asia. He has written for The Diplomat, The Guardian, Al Jazeera English, The Daily Beast, National Geographic, and others.
Follow him on Twitter at @jonletman.
August 03, 2020
Hiroshima at 75: A Painful Legacy Tempered by Hope and a Treaty
By Jon Letman
75 years later, Japan’s atomic bomb survivors – the hibakusha – still remember the day in devastating detail.
July 16, 2020
75 Years After Trinity: The Human Cost of Nuclear Tests
By Jon Letman
Talk of new U.S. testing deeply concerns those who have first-hand knowledge of nuclear devastation.
April 09, 2020
Guam’s Growing Coronavirus Challenge
By Jon Letman
On Guam, an already complex relationship to the U.S. mainland (and military) is complicated by a pandemic.
March 17, 2020
As the Coronavirus Spreads, RIMPAC Planners Face Grim Facts
By Jon Letman
The world’s largest international maritime exercise is scheduled to take place this summer. For now, it’s still on.
January 23, 2020
Countdown to Doomsday: The Asia Factor
By Jon Letman
We’re now 100 seconds to midnight. How can the Asia-Pacific contribute to (or counter) doomsday?
July 30, 2019
Military Build-up in the Asia-Pacific: An Interview With Hawaii’s Sen. Brian Schatz
By Jon Letman
Hawaii’s senior senator discusses missile defense, prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula, and more.
July 25, 2018
RIMPAC Makes Its Mark in Hawaii
By Jon Letman
For some the international military exercises are a highlight; for others they’re a stain on the islands.
June 26, 2018
Nepal Recovers Slowly, But US Says It’s Time to Leave
By Jon Letman
The Himalayan nation joins a growing list of countries losing Temporary Protective Status.
April 11, 2018
Hawaii: Facing North Korea With the Aloha Spirit
By Jon Letman
In the face of nuclear war, people in Hawaii embrace the potential for peace.
November 06, 2017
USAG Humphreys: The Story Behind America’s Biggest Overseas Base
By Jon Letman
As Trump visits, the new U.S. mega-base south of Seoul is almost complete.
June 29, 2017
Postcard From Seongju’s Anti-THAAD Protest
By Jon Letman
A year after being chosen to host THAAD, protests in Seongju show little sign of ending.
May 04, 2017
Kauai’s Quietly Expanding Military Role
By Jon Letman
A testing site for weapons systems, missiles, and rockets in the middle of the Pacific.
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