Eastern Asia
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.
South Korean “non-regular” workers face mass job losses
By Ben McGrath, July 29, 2009
A parliamentary standoff over new laws making it easier to sack workers has highlighted the political instability produced in South Korea by the global economic crisis, with more than 300 “non-regul...
Protesting Chinese steel workers kill manager
By John Chan, July 28, 2009
In another sign of the explosive social tensions in China, thousands of workers at a state-owned steel plant beat the newly-appointed manager to death in an angry protest against a government-backed t...
China’s police-state crackdown in Xinjiang creates international tensions
By John Chan, July 17, 2009
The Chinese regime’s ongoing police-military suppression of unrest in the north-western province of Xinjiang has created international tensions.
Ssangyong occupation supporters speak to the WSWS
“If these workers fail, restructuring will become normal”
By a correspondent, July 16, 2009
A WSWS correspondent spoke to supporters outside South Korea’s Ssangyong Motor assembly plant, which workers have occupied for eight weeks.
South Korean government prepares to break Ssangyong occupation
By Terry Cook, July 16, 2009
Police moved in with forklifts to remove barriers outside Ssangyong Motor’s Pyeongtaek plant in preparation for a police assault to break the occupation.
Japanese PM calls crisis election
By Mike Head, July 16, 2009
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has called an early election for August 30, even though his LDP-led coalition seems almost certain to lose.
Xinjiang unrest reveals fragility of Chinese state
By John Chan, July 13, 2009
The unrest of Xinjiang’s Uighur workers and students, and the brutal military response of the Chinese government, reveal that the very foundations of a unified China of 1.3 billion people, 56 ethnic...
Chinese leadership demands “severe punishment” of Xinjiang protestors
By John Chan, July 10, 2009
At a crisis meeting on Wednesday night, China’s Stalinist leadership ordered severe police repression against the unrest in the north-western province of Xinjiang.
The death of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun
By Adam Haig, July 6, 2009
The outpouring of public sympathy for Roh following his death is misplaced in view of his record in office. Nevertheless, the widespread mourning points to bitterness over the deepening social divide ...
China’s exports plunge further
By John Chan, June 25, 2009
The world’s second largest exporter, China, registered a record fall in exports of 26.4 percent in May from a year earlier.
