Eastern Asia
Japan’s new government: Promise and reality
By John Chan, September 2, 2009
The gulf between the limited election pledges of the Democrats and the social realities facing broad layers of working people will quickly become evident.
Japanese voters sweep Liberal Democrats from office
By Peter Symonds, August 31, 2009
The opposition Democratic Party of Japan routed the Liberal Democratic Party in lower house elections yesterday, ending more than 50 years of almost continuous rule.
Japanese government faces landslide electoral defeat
By Peter Symonds, August 29, 2009
Japan is poised on the eve of a political sea change. All the opinion polling points to a landslide defeat in tomorrow’s election for the Liberal Democratic Party, which has held power almost contin...
Japan’s fragile economy overshadows general election
By John Chan, August 25, 2009
The Japanese economy officially grew by 0.9 percent in the second quarter. The news, however, is unlikely to affect the outcome of Sunday’s general elections.
South Korean government witch-hunts Ssangyong workers
By Terry Cook, August 24, 2009
Following the end of the 77-day occupation of Ssangyong Motor’s plant in Pyeongtaek, the government of President Lee Myung-bak is carrying out a police vendetta against the workers involved.
China: Protesting steel workers halt plant privatisation
By John Chan, August 22, 2009
Thousands of steelworkers protested last week, forcing Chinese authorities to suspend the privatisation of the state-owned Linzhou Steel Corporation.
South Korea: The political lessons of the Ssangyong occupation
By James Cogan, August 18, 2009
The state crackdown on the Ssangyong occupation demonstrates that the defence of the basic right to a job is a revolutionary question.
Typhoon Morakot devastates Taiwan
By John Chan, August 17, 2009
Anger is mounting in Taiwan over the Kuomintang government’s inadequate emergency response and its failure to quickly rescue victims of Typhoon Morakot.
China carries out mass arrests in Xinjiang
By John Chan, August 11, 2009
The Chinese government tightened its grip in the northwestern Uighur region of Xinjiang with the additional arrest of 319 people.
China’s dubious statistics cover up economic crisis
By John Chan, August 10, 2009
Doubts have emerged over the Chinese economic statistics showing rising growth rates.
Bill Clinton’s visit to North Korea: a tactical shift in US foreign policy
By John Chan, August 6, 2009
Former US President Bill Clinton arrived in North Korea Tuesday to broker the release of two detained American journalists. Described by the Obama administration as a private mission, the visit signal...
South Korea: Violent police operation mounted against Ssangyong auto occupation
By Patrick O’Connor, August 6, 2009
More than 4,000 South Korean riot police, backed by private security and nonunion company goons, have launched a violent assault on more than 500 auto workers at the Ssangyong factory in Pyeongtaek.
