East Asia

North Korea’s vow to launch a satellite next month has flummoxed some observers. But unless China steps in forcefully, everything will go according to Pyongyang’s plan.

As Taiwan’s baseball season gets into full swing, the taint of match-fixing, beatings and disappearing players hangs over the league.

An increasingly cash-strapped America is promising significant cuts to its military. Coupled with a rising China, would the U.S. have to give up on its allies?

North Korea’s promise to launch a satellite has prompted international condemnation. But the U.S. and others have options available to stop it.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper can’t seem to keep away from Asia these days. He has a decade of relative neglect to make up for.

U.S. politicians have a long tradition of attacking China ahead of elections. It isn’t pretty, but it shouldn’t do much long term harm.

Critics say the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea infringes U.S. sovereignty. Actually, it would save the U.S. money, help counter China and make the Pacific safer.

A dispute with South Korea over a remote reef has prompted a tense exchange of words between the two countries. There could be more to come.

The U.S. is increasingly dependent on the Internet for its well-being. It makes its lack of preparedness for cyberattacks from China, Russia and others all the more worrying.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces performed admirably after last year’s tsunami. Expect a more confident force to play a growing role in disaster response.

The open ambitions of rising political star Bo Xilai were partly responsible for his fall. But the frustrations that fueled his popularity could come back to haunt the Party.

Asia’s democracies have remained embarrassingly quiet over the atrocities being committed in Syria. If Asia wants to be taken seriously, it needs to step up.