Today is the 68th year anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On that day in 1945 few observers realized how that event would transform world politics–indeed, there are some today who do not fully appreciate now nuclear weapons have changed the calculations of states. The Japanese, however, developed a strong peace movement as a consequence of the bombing. The Prefectural Industry Promotion Building, now known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, partially survived the blast and is a profound symbol of the tragic event. Planet Pic has a number of photographs of how the Japanese honor the dead of that day.
68 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan launched its largest naval vessel since the end of World War II. It is a flat-top destroyer, named the Izumo, that bears a striking resemblance to an aircraft carrier. Japan is constitutionally barred from developing an offensive military capability, and Japan is careful to identify the new ship as “defensive.” It is highly doubtful that Japan’s neighbors, particularly China, will take that identification seriously. The naval expansion comes at the same time that China said that it was in “no rush” to sign any code of naval conduct in the South China Sea. The launching will undoubtedly escalate the tensions in East Asia.
Pakistan was rocked by separate acts of violence in Balochistan, in Kashmir, and by Taliban separatists. The political situation in Pakistan is fragile, although the recent elections gave some promise of stability. The clashes in Kashmir will definitely unsettle Pakistan’s relations with India.
World Politics News 
Leave a comment