Topic: China

Japan's neighbors welcome new leadership

Chinese state media and South Korea’s president expressed hope at closer regional ties under Yukio Hatoyama’s DPJ party, which won elections by a landslide Sunday.

'Cash for clunkers' helped foreign automakers more

Dalai Lama's visit brings political tempest to Taiwan

The Tibetan leader said his visit to comfort typhoon survivors was purely humanitarian. But will his visit harm China-Taiwan ties?

Ethnic malls are buzzing

They skipped the slump. Do these niche stores offer lessons for mainstream retailers?

China issues rare rebuke after Burma border clashes

As more than 30,000 refugees return to Burma (Myanmar), key ally China urges Burma to "properly handle domestic problems and maintain stability."

Nuclear report on Iran finds cooperation. Problem for Obama?

He's set a September deadline after which sanctions might be toughened. But China and Russia might not join in if Tehran is showing progress.

Why Taiwan invited the Dalai Lama to visit

Beijing, which vilifies the Tibetan spiritual leader, criticized the move. But the invitation may temper the wrath of southern Taiwanese, who lambasted Ma's handling of the typhoon.

Thailand: Canine ambassador makes case for street dogs

The Monitor's View: Is this Japan's turn for revolution?

Sunday's election may directly turn out the ruling party for the first time and bring in a party less servile to the US. Both events should be welcomed.

Talk to the Editor with John Yemma for August 27: Politics

Earth Talk: Sizing up oil shale as a possible resource

Energy source or more trouble for the environment?

Are higher taxes inevitable?

Obama is in a bind, given his no-tax campaign pledge. But the recession, stimulus spending, and higher interest on national debt are ballooning federal deficits, perhaps to risky levels.

Opinion: Turkey can avert a tragedy on the Tigris

It can develop energy and progress into the future without washing away the town of Hasankeyf, its jewel of the past.

The Snakehead

Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe follows the story of the boss of a human smuggling ring.

Report: North Korea invites US for nuclear talks

US special envoy Stephen Bosworth is said to have accepted the offer, one of several recent overtures from Pyongyang.

Opinion: What are big companies not telling you now?

Risks to human rights, health, and the environment – from Sudan to suntan lotion – should be part of required disclosure.

New York's Coney Island in fight over renewal

South Korea launches first rocket, satellite misses orbit

The launch could boost South Korea’s space ambitions, but the North warned it would keep a close eye on the international response.

When the Internet breaks, who ya gonna call?

The last time the Internet had a major upgrade was in 1986.

Bucking trend, China releases activists

A public interest lawyer and a Uighur academic were freed from detention Sunday, with no explanation.

Palm oil paradox

Meeting the demand for the ecofriendly fuel means burning rain forests. A new network offers a better way.

Photojournalism enters a golden age

As the importance of real-time news and images rise, photojournalism is gaining greater cultural currency.

Lead poisoning scandals highlight China's lack of oversight

Parents protest as tests show more than 2,000 children affected. Two new cases show that pollution regulations are often not enforced.

Iraqis disagree about how to respond to bombings

The government had plans to dismantle Baghdad's concrete blast walls in the next 40 days, but some residents now want them to stay.

The winners in the latest garden photo contest