East Asia

Yoshihiko Noda takes office at the most crucial time for Japan in half a century, says Michael Auslin. But with lacklustre public support, he has his work cut out.

Yoshihiko Noda faces plenty of challenges as Japan’s new prime minister. The most immediate is choosing his new government.

North Korea is showing signs of wanting to get back to talks. But without any changes to its behaviour, it might be better to focus on the next generation.

Japan’s ruling Democratic Party of Japan selects a new leader today. Michael Cucek takes a look at what the candidates stand for.

A raid by Japan’s spy agency this month on sites tied to Aum Shinrikyo is a reminder of the troubling legacy the cult has left.

The Pentagon’s new report on China’s military underscores the rapid progress it is making. But what exactly is this build-up for?

A programme broadcast on the military channel of China’s state TV raises new questions about Beijing’s support for cyber attacks.

Last month’s high-speed rail crash was a wake-up call for officials. An emphasis on prevention will be far more effective – and much cheaper.

The Jeju Island base isn’t about containing China. It’s about protecting South Korea and others from an increasingly erratic North Korea.

The Chinese public’s tolerance for the government’s high-speed, low-quality growth strategy is wearing thin. Can China’s leaders avert a political crash?

Fears the US economy is becoming the new Japan are misplaced, argues James Pach. US policymakers have far more options at their disposal than their Japanese counterparts.

The US Congress needs to pass the Korea free trade agreement just to give American firms a level playing field. If it can’t, US rivals will shape the region.