Japan Moves to Strengthen Military Amid Rivalry With China

Taking his nation another step further from its postwar pacifism, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a new defense plan on Tuesday that calls for acquiring airborne drones and amphibious assault vehicles to strengthen Japan’s military as it faces the prospect of a prolonged rivalry with China over islands in the East China Sea.

While Mr. Abe described the plan “proactive pacifism,” it reverses a decade of military spending cuts to offset a rapid military buildup by China and the relative decline of American influence.

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Martin Fackler, The New York TImes via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/uJCTWeswlKQ/

North Korea Execution Confounds China

China’s strategy of encouraging closer economic integration with North Korea has been thrown into confusion by the execution of the uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to diplomats and Chinese experts.

Jang Song Thaek, whose execution was announced by North Korea on Friday, was seen by Beijing as the most pro-China and pro-business figure in the North Korean leadership, the diplomats and experts say.

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Jeremy Page, The Wall Street Journal via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/mBY5XjfK52Q/

Kerry plays down tension with China in maritime disputes

Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday played down tension with China over the East China Sea, saying U.S. efforts to strengthen maritime security in South East Asia were part of a normal process to help allies defend themselves better.

Kerry said maritime disputes between countries should be resolved peacefully through arbitration and the United States would speak out when a country, such as China, took unilateral action that raised the potential for conflict.

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Leslie Wroughton and Manuel Mogato, Reuters via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/QWOiJNmScP0/

China Bans Payment Companies From Clearing Bitcoin, News Says

Chinese central bank officials told third-party payment service providers to stop offering clearing services to online Bitcoin exchanges, according to China Business News, which is affiliated with the Shanghai government.

Companies currently offering services must end services by the Chinese New Year, a weeklong holiday that begins on Jan. 31, the newspaper cited Zhou Jinhuang, deputy director of payment clearance at the People’s Bank of China, as saying at a meeting with more than 10 third-party payment service providers.

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Bloomberg News via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/XOIuKUzVqc4/

Unplugged: China Mobile-Apple may be finally upon us

After years of anticipation and speculation, China Mobile is expected to announce a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone to its hundreds of millions of customers.

The announcement could come as early as Wednesday when China Mobile is expected to roll out its Fourth Generation (4G) wireless network, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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Mark Veverka, USA Today via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/uggDu3AGXz8/

China paper says US ship harassed China fleet

An official Chinese newspaper on Monday accused the U.S. Navy of harassing a Chinese squadron earlier this month, shortly before a near collision that marked the two nations’ most serious sea confrontation in years.

There has been no direct comment from China’s Foreign Ministry or defense officials on the Dec. 5 incident in the South China Sea, where the USS Cowpens was operating in international waters. The U.S. ship, a 10,000-ton Ticonderoga-class cruiser, maneuvered to avoid the collision, the U.S. Pacific Fleet has said.

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The Associated Press via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/2gvCoJZTAOE/

China plans to launch new lunar probe in 2017

China said Monday its plan to launch its fifth lunar probe in 2017 with the aim of bringing lunar soil and rock samples to Earth was on track after a successful moon landing of another space probe over the weekend.

The Chang’e 5 mission would mark the third and final phase of China’s robotic lunar exploration program and pave the way for possibly landing an astronaut on the moon after 2020.

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The Associated Press via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/uM6RKjcpa0E/