Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW)

Japanese & Australian politics & foreign policy.

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

https://t.co/KG2pSgonkG

[Banx @Banxcartoons]

From today's @ftopinion @FT #TomLehrer

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

On the radio in Singapore today: The Big Story: Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba denies resignation rumours. Can a trade deal with the US be potential lifeline? - Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian (4pm - 7pm) - https://t.co/skeDy5PKrI

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

My latest article in The Conversation, on the Japanese Upper House election :https://t.co/MNzzvorUu9

[The Conversation - Australia + New Zealand @ConversationEDU]

Despite refusing to stand down, Shigeru Ishiba's heavy defeat in Japanese elections has left his position very vulnerable. @CraigMark13 https://t.co/2ykyDZCzvu

[roweafr @roweafr]

soo close..@FinancialReview

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

Another article published on The Conversation!: Japanese prime minister’s abrupt no-show at NATO summit reveals a strained alliance with the US

[The Conversation - Australia + New Zealand @ConversationEDU]

Japan has been under pressure from the US on tariffs and defence spending. And the new prime minister is under pressure domestically to hold firm with Trump. @CraigMark13 https://t.co/v9OUq3MqJe

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

Quoted in Al Jazeera: As Trump vows ‘no exceptions’ on tariffs, US allies hope to change his mind https://t.co/AETJ7ZWP9d via @AJEnglish

[Tom the Dancing Bug, by Ruben Bolling @RubenBolling]

Making an exception to my boycott of Xitter to post this new comic now up on Boing Boing
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DON'T CALL THEM N@ZIS!
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https://t.co/1QwKXWC31d

[120 Revisted @120Revisited]

The Breeders
“Saints”
Last Splash
4AD Records (1993)
Director: Frank Sacramento

#BestOf12024

[Japanese Politics 🇯🇵🗾⛩️ @Nihonpolitics]

🚨Hirosawa Ichiro, from the Japan Conservative Party, has been elected the new Mayor of Nagoya, Japan 4th city, to succeed his ally Kawamura Takashi, recently elected to the Lower House.

Damn, Nagoya is such a right-wing place in local politics these days

[Antony Loewenstein @antloewenstein]

The ICC arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister #Netanyahu and ex-Defence Minister #Gallant are a political and moral earthquake.

For decades, since 1948, successive Israeli leaders have never faced real accountability for their war crimes, endless occupation and mass violence against Palestinians. None of this started on 7 October, 2023.

The ICC case is a unique opportunity to fairly adjudicate one of the worst crimes imaginable; deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza and war crimes.

Ignore the predictable faux outrage from the US, Israel lobby, complicit Western states etc. They believe that Israel should NEVER face justice for its crimes.

For Washington (the UK, Australia et al), this isn't just about Israel. They've long feared that their own war crimes, from Iraq to Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay, will face the same ICC court.

Now is the time for the majority of the world, who support the ICC when it comes for Putin and African leaders, to apply the ICC arrest warrants against Israel (and Hamas).

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

Quoted on North Korea's troop intervention in the Russia-Ukraine War, Nikkei Asia (paywall): North Korean defector frets over fate of soldiers thrown into Ukraine war - Nikkei Asia #North Korea #Ukraine War

[Dr Craig Mark, PhD (UNSW) @CraigMark13]

Quoted on Japanese and Australian defence cooperation in Berlin's Tagesspiel newspaper (paywalled, in German): Die Tech-Kooperationspläne von Japan und Australien - Tagesspiegel Background

[Declassified Australia @DeclassifiedAus]

Remarkable and disturbing story that barely made the mainstream media:

[Labor Against War @LabAgainstWar]

While this needs an update post US election, still worth a read. Do yourself a favour, etc.

[Bob Carr @bobjcarr]

Keating’s unarguable proposition: it’s not in Australia’s interest to go to war w/ China and the Aus people know it. Yet we’ve turned northern Aus into a US base and AUKUS will shrink into a decision to host US nuclear subs in our ports. Both guarantee we will be a nuclear target

[TheYoungOnes @youngonesfan]

42 years ago today, #TheYoungOnes aired for the first time 🎂

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

150 billionaire families spent $1.9B on the 2024 election through October.

It's a huge amount of money — but it represents just 0.07% of their overall wealth.

It essentially costs them nothing to drown our democracy in cash.

We must get big money out of our politics.