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Old claims roil Philippine peace deal
A rag-tag amphibious assault by the defunct Sultanate of Sulu on the lush Malaysian state of Sabah has riled Kuala Lumpur, but the armed standoff that's ensued could have more serious consequences for the Philippines. The Sultan of Sulu's insistence his attack was a response to Manila neglecting its historic claims to Sabah in a deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last year threatens to reawaken violent rebellion.
- Noel Tarrazona
(Feb 28, '13)
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RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC FRONTS
Moscow casts wide net in Mediterranean
One interpretation of the deal this week for Gazprom to take gas from Israel's Tamar gas field in the Mediterranean is that Russian and the US are laying their former energy rivalries to rest. Its real significance lies in the redrawing of the geopolitics of the eastern Mediterranean, as Moscow eyes keenly its relationship with Israel and closer ties with gas-rich Cyprus.
- M K Bhadrakumar
(Feb 28, '13)
North Korea test shows Kremlin sidelined
Russian condemnation of North Korea's February 12 nuclear test was predictable enough and underlined that it would accept only a collective, UN response and opposed US or South Korean action. Advocating calm is nice but unproductive, and shows that Moscow has surrendered to China its influence over Pyongyang on defense issues.
- Stephen Blank
(Feb 28, '13)
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Egypt turns quietly to Asia
 Committed to reinventing Egyptian foreign policy on multiple fronts, the ruling Freedom and Justice Party led by President Mohammed Morsi has turned to Asia to address the deteriorating economic situation that's kept the fires of revolution smoldering. In return for trade deals, Asian heavyweights like China and India gain credibility among the embryonic Islamist-oriented governments in the region. - Chris Zambelis
(Feb 28, '13)
Foreign, domestic policy blur for Beijing
New foreign policy strategists in the hot seat as Xi Jinping takes the Chinese presidency must navigate relations at a time when international issues are having a greater impact than ever on domestic security and the public mood. From the South China Sea to Afghanistan, past approaches stressing indifference and neutrality simply won't suffice.
- Nadine Godehardt
(Feb 28, '13)
SPEAKING FREELY
Iran and the implosion of Syria
Interference in the Syrian crisis underlines Iran's belief that only through opposing the creation of independent and sovereign states can it assert regional influence. As long as Tehran is allowed to aid non-state terrorist networks and militias, the disintegration of already failing Middle Eastern states will continue and terrorist threats against Israeli and Western interests will grow.
- Riccardo Dugulin
(Feb 27, '13)
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Shinzo Abe raises ghost of glories past
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Washington proclamation that Japan is "back" may have been unwelcome in a White House preferring a more stabilizing tone in the eastern Pacific. Abe's currency policy, praised by some, is also a cause for worry, its lack of neighborly concern raising the prospect of the yen as official currency of the Japan Sole Prosperity Sphere. What could possibly go wrong? - Peter Lee
(Feb 27, '13)
THE ROVING EYE
News from Kyrzakhstan
US Secretary of State John Kerry's inadvertent outing of the country of Kyrzakhstan, took geographers and political analysts by surprise, while opening up new possibilities for the Global War on Terror, and adding a new dimension to the Great Game and the US pivot to Asia. - Pepe Escobar
(Feb 27, '13)
Hagel's win a defeat for interventionism
Chuck Hagel has overcome a neo-con campaign to block his candidacy as US secretary of defense. The hawks were so distracted by complaining about his skepticism of the effectiveness of military action, "nation-building" and counter-insurgency strategies, that they failed to oppose deep budget cuts at Hagel's new home, the Pentagon. - Jim Lobe
(Feb 27, '13)
Baptism of fire for Park
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has taken power under the shadow of North Korea's third nuclear test and amid domestic economic and political turmoil. She now faces a stern test of her election pledges to build foundations for reunification, stand up to conglomerates and tackle inequality. Dialogue with the North would be an early success, but history suggests her "middle-of-the-road" approach is doomed.
- Nile Bowie
(Feb 27, '13)
Turkey cornered into Israeli embrace
Reports that Turkey plans to revive its strategic alliance with Israel seemingly confirm a Turkish retreat into the Western camp after the Arab Spring and Syrian crisis damaged Ankara's neo-Ottoman and "zero-problems" strategies. Given the Justice and Development Party's regional popularity has rested on its public support of Palestine, edging towards Israel could prove a risky gambit.
- Ramzy Baroud
(Feb 27, '13)
COMMENT
China should take lead on North Korea
China, as the only country North Korea may listen to, should step in at a potentially explosive time on the peninsula. Much in the spirit of necessary intervention that cooled tensions in 2005, Beijing's leadership of talks that could also involve South Korea and the United States will determine quickly if a negotiated settlement to the nuclear issue is achievable and the wider six-party process still viable. - Joseph R DeTrani
(Feb 26, '13)
INTERVIEW
Pyongyang tests Xi's populist credentials
North Korea's third nuclear test produced rare protests in China, with pockets of the public infuriated at the impact of such provocation on China's national interests. Security expert Sun Zhe says growing support for a harsher stance on Pyongyang comes as incoming Chinese president Xi Jinping is projecting himself as more in tune with the mood on the street than his predecessors. - Sunny Lee
(Feb 26, '13)
 Waterboarding USA
redefines torture
From being punishable with stiff jail sentences during US colonial rule of the Philippines in the 1900s, waterboarding has undergone a Washington-led makeover - accelerated during the Vietnam War - to help it become the "enhanced interrogation technique" of today. As morality in the treatment of captives goes into reverse, it seems the only thing separating America from "evil" foes is terminology. - Nick Turse
(Feb 26, '13)
 'Clean' Grillo stirs
Italy's political mess
The strong support for comedian-turned-politician Beppe Grillo in Italy's general election is not a joke. He has secured real political space, and the cloak of his "clean" image will be sought by rivals such as poll leader Pierluigi Bersani as they seek to secure power and navigate the country in the coming, very difficult months - when Italy could become a larger, failed Greece or worse, with the future of Europe also at stake. - Francesco Sisci
(Feb 26, '13)
 SPENGLER
Vatican and the fight
for China's soul
Scandal surrounding the Roman Catholic Church in the run-up to the election next week of a new pope is a distraction from a real scandal - the belief that God holds one people above others - that still finds support in Latin America and Africa. That is one reason why the election of a pope from a self-confident Asia would be better for the Church. The other concerns the greatest battle of the 21st century: the fight for the soul of China.
(Feb 25, '13)
THE ROVING EYE
And the Oscar
goes to... the CIA
As poetic justice, the Ben Affleck-directed (and George Clooney co-produced) Argo snagging the Best Picture Oscar makes sense. A patriotic Hollywood saving the CIA and a certified Hollywood ending proved irresistible. But Argo is really for pussies. Django Unchained best captures the United States as still the Wild West. Next up for Quentin Tarantino's dark arts? Obomber Unchained...
- Pepe Escobar
(Feb 25, '13) |
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India survey lacks
a policy compass
Despite some brilliant analysis in India's annual survey of the economy, we are none the wiser for policy fixes to the current malaise beyond that the focus should be on improving savings and reviving investment. By toeing Delhi's line, the tone of the report appears overly optimistic.
- Kunal Kumar Kundu
China key to BRICS bank
China is lobbying hard for the planned BRICS Development Bank to be headquartered in Shanghai and to operate in the yuan. Success would amplify the challenge a new funding institution would pose to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. - John Fraser
CREDIT
BUBBLE BULLETIN
The Fed and Chinese risk
Beijing is moving to tighten housing finance, yet global markets appear oblivious that a new Chinese tightening cycle would come with major unappreciated risks, while those bullish on US equities too easily ignore the contentious debate within the Federal Reserve on its quantitative easing.
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
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US, Russia seek
breakthrough in Syria
If Tuesday possibly began with an overcast sky over Syria, it certainly would have ended with a ray of sunshine piercing the clouds.
- M K Bhadrakumar
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