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China has come down swiftly and harshly against the Japanese PM offering a potted tree at the Yasukuni war shrine.  This action comes two days before Aso is scheduled to visit Beijing.  Relations between the two East Asian powers are crucial for stability in the region.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held military drills in Tajikistan recently.  Russia, China, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan participated in the event.  Some exercises focused on thwarting potential terrorist attacks that stem from Afghanistan, a southern neighbor to SCO members.  The remaining member of the SCO, Uzbekistan, declined to participate.