Epstein Secrets

vanced army, would prove to be a significant opponent for China in the event of an outright military conflict. What's more, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed a desire to water down his country's strictly pacifist constitution. US 'Pivots' to Asia In 2011, Obama announced a "pivot" to the A

ict. What's more, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed a desire to water down his country'

into a larger regional conflict. If it were only a matter of distance, the solution to a dispute over a small group of hotly contested islands in the East China Sea would be simple. Taiwan, which is just 200 kilometers (125 miles) away from the islands, would take the prize. The Chinese mainland is farther off,

h America and both wary of China, could have much to share. And that is also true of Japan, where relations are especially warm, the more so since Shinzo Abe returned to power. Japan has promised $4.5 billion for a freight and industrial corridor between Mumbai and Delhi. Last month it extended a currenc

it extended a currency-swap deal, from $15 billion to $50 billion, to support India's rupee. Next month Emperor Akihito makes a rare visit, and Mr Abe is expected in January. Japan is also hoping to sell coastguard seaplanes, perhaps a hint of future co-operation on defence. Behind all this is a s

ch in Delhi, notes that ties with Japan, for instance, have become much closer in the past two years because of tensions between Japan and China in the East China Sea. The dragon in the room India's direct concern with China is its disputed 3,380km-long Himalayan border. This week brought apparent progress in ma

o the spiral of action and reaction continues, with no opportunity in sight for both sides to hit the reset button. Fast-forward to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's December visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which in part honors Class A Japanese war criminals. Fresh fuel was thrown onto a fire that needed little

et button. Fast-forward to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's December visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which i

e world focuses on Ukraine, ships and planes from Japan and China challenge each other almost every day near a few square miles of barren islets in the East China Sea that Japan calls the Senkaku and China calls the Diaoyu islands. This dangerous rivalry dates to the late 19th century, but the flare-up that led t