ISDP Voices

    THAAD and Thawing Sino-DPRK Relations

    Niklas Swanström comments on whether Washington and Seoul’s decision to deploy the THAAD missile defense system is determining China’s “reengagement” with North Korea after a period of frosty relations. After a period of relatively frosty ties following China’s condemnation of North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests, Beijing appears to want to patch up relations. The month […]

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    Japan’s Imperial Quandary

    Lars Vargö puts into context Japan’s succession issue after Emperor Akihito’s “abdication speech” last week. On August 9, in only his second ever televised address, the Japanese Emperor Akihito expressed his wish to abdicate. He did so in a very Japanese way: while not explicitly stating such, his mentioning of old age – he is […]

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