Politics - Asia latest news

In the 150 years since China faced the "foreign devils from the ocean" during the Opium Wars, its complex cultural values have been under constant attack, never more so than in the past three decades. And it is yielding. Millions of little "emperors" have changed the fabric of society, and Communist Party leaders, embracing the notions of change and development, accept the role that sport and, crucially, religion can play in molding a new nation. - Francesco Sisci (Jul 2, '08) This is the first article in a two-part article.

A wave of arrests of prominent persons, including two retired generals, allegedly linked to a nationalist conspiracy to unseat the government has jolted Turkey, just as a constitutional court is to decide on the political fate of the ruling party. - David Barchard (Jul 2, '08)

Labor leaders and protest organizers have vowed to continue their months-long fight over the import of US beef into South Korea, even as President Lee Myung-bak pleads with the nation to work together to overcome the crisis. - Donald Kirk (Jul 2, '08)

Iranian foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is in New York to bolster Iran's embattled diplomacy. Mottaki has sounded off on issues ranging from the "Iran Six" and Israel to Tehran's involvement in Iraq. Ultimately, he hinted at his own flexibility by stating "the first word a diplomat learns is compromise". - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Jul 2, '08)

Under a new law, Japan can now manufacture and operate its own satellites to support its terrestrial military operations, including ballistic missile defense. While a giant step forward for Japan, the development does not guarantee closer cooperation between Tokyo and Washington in their civil and defense space activities. (Jul 2, '08)

North Korean-made chocolate, potato chips and noodles are appearing on the shelves of the country's top hotel, marking the government's determination to build an independent economy. Requests that partners sign blank-sheet contracts indicate there is a way to go before the goal is achieved. - Ting-I Tsai (Jul 2, '08)

Get past the X-ray machines, the quizzical customs officials and the rules about what to never say about the "Dear Leader", and you'll soon have crossed the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea. Seoul-native Sunny Lee made the trek, took a peek, and learned a little something about the hopes and humor of his North Korean neighbors. (Jul 2, '08)