Politics
China's Threat to Manila, a Defense-Budget Squeeze, and a North Korean Sub
On October 16 three East Asia security stories landed together. China's ambassador to the Philippines said Manila would 'easily lose' a war and should feel 'lucky' to have China as a neighbor. Japan's defense build-up left it caught between Chinese opposition and reported US pressure. And North Korea said it had test-fired two strategic cruise missiles underwater from a submarine, the 'Kim Gun-ok Hero.' Japanese reactions mixed scorn, cool military analysis, and heavy mockery of the sub's name.