Jimmy Lai’s house in Kyoto once gave him refuge. The trial of the 77-year-old Hong Kong-based publisher now stands as a test of whether Japan will defend democratic values in its own region. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/21/world/press-freedom-china-jimmy-lai/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews#jimmylai #hongkong #china #britain #chinesecommunistparty #democracy#tadashiyanai

The dual posture of ideological firmness and diplomatic flexibility has remained a consistent feature of China’s foreign policy for decades. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/08/world/xi-turns-to-maos-foreign-policy-playbook/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #us #chinausrelations #mao #chinesecommunistparty #donaldtrump

Speculation about Xi Jinping losing his grip on power overlooks how China’s evolving digital authoritarianism absorbs dissent through algorithmic control and selective visibility to reinforce CCP rule. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/10/world/china-online-dissent/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #ccp #chinesecommunistparty #freespeech #xijinping