KoreaTimes - Columnists

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Opinion

Columnists

Donald Kirk

Ukraine-style wars

Russia's invasion of Ukraine evokes unpleasant comparisons for Northeast Asia. It's easy to envisage China invading Taiwan or enabling a North Korean invasion of South Korea.

2022-08-25 17:10

At odds on Taiwan

China's claims to Taiwan bear a disturbing resemblance to Russia's war with Ukraine. You just cannot ignore the similarities and parallels despite the geographic differences.

2022-08-11 16:45

Edging toward war

Chinese rhetoric over Taiwan is getting more strident all the time. It's hard to believe the Chinese will go beyond the kind of big talk we've been hearing since Chiang Kai-shek fled there with his defeated forces before the victory of Mao's Red Army on the mainland in 1949, but the shrill nature of Chinese intimidation there and elsewhere is cause for mounting concern.

2022-07-28 17:00

New US ambassador takes aim

The United States has a new ambassador to South Korea at a pivotal moment in U.S.-Korean relations and the confrontation between North and South Korea. Philip Goldberg has arrived in Seoul just as the U.S. and the ROK are beginning to see eye to eye and South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol promises to repair the damage done during the presidency of his predecessor, Moon Jae-in.

2022-07-14 16:55

Carrying on Marcos' legacy

The inauguration of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as president of the Philippines opens a highly controversial period in the convoluted history of a country mired in rampant corruption, lawlessness and an anti-drug campaign that's taken at least 30,000 lives.

2022-06-30 16:32

Overcoming the colonial past

Can we really be sure Korea's relations with Japan are improving under the newly installed conservative government? The answer is we can't be sure of anything. We can only hope they can work together in the context of trilateral cooperation

2022-06-16 16:31

US vs. China in South Pacific

The South Pacific is again a battleground. China is not nearly at the stage of taking over any of the 15 islands stretching across the region of Oceania, but it's definitely disturbing the foes of Chinese expansionism.

2022-06-02 17:00

Biden's promises to Northeast Asian allies

U.S. President Joe Biden projected a superficial image of firmness in defense of America's Northeast Asian allies during his five-day mission to Korea and Japan while trying not to inflame regional tensions.

2022-05-26 16:59

Democracy in action, Korea and the Philippines

Comparisons between South Korea and the Philippines can be tempting. I can't help but succumb to the temptation after covering last week's election of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos as president of the Philippines and then observing, via the internet, the inauguration in Seoul the next day of Yoon Suk-yeol as president of the Republic of Korea.

2022-05-19 16:25

Waging 'war by proxy'

WASHINGTON - The phrase “war by proxy” is in vogue. It's not a new term, but you see and hear it all the time now. That's what the U.S. and its NATO allies are doing in Ukraine, getting Ukrainian forces to fight the Russians on their behalf.

2022-05-05 16:30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Top 10 Stories

1	30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

2	National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

3	Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion

4	Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea

5	S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China

6	KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe

7	Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany

8	COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022

9	Shilla hotel in Da Nang recognized at World Travel Awards

10	Civil servant mentor reappointed as labor ministry spokesman

DARKROOM