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Speaking Freely
Speaking Freely is a Front Page feature for guest writers to have a say
on issues relevant to Asia.
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India's strategic culture is plain to see
Hardcore realism of projecting power beyond India's borders and the Nehruvian ethos of dialogue and international cooperation underline New Delhi's strategic power. Those exalting India to take Great Power status are frustrated by the duality, and in for a disappointment as the country takes the road to greatness by focusing on the war on poverty. - Namrata Goswami
(Apr 5, '13)
China finds soft power in sport
Chinese sporting stars such as tennis player Li Na, hurdler Liu Xiang and basketball player Yao Ming are proving vital tools of soft power as Beijing tries to beat rival superpower the United States at its own game. Just as American athletes like Michael Jordan and Mohammed Ali changed how the world viewed the country, China hopes sporting achievement will develop into greater global influence. - Jieh-Yung Lo
(Apr 3, '13)
How Christians lost their anarchist spirit
That the Gospels are filled with tales of Jesus and his disciples committing acts of civil disobedience or launching revolutionary non-violent campaigns seems hard to fathom given that today's Church hardly expounds the philosophy that governments are responsible for society's ills. A deeper exploration of early Christianity's anarchist leanings suggests the movement lit the Great Fire of Rome. - Dallas Darling
(Apr 2, '13)
South Korea, Japan: a reignited rivalry
The ascendency of K-pop as Western interest fades in facets of Japanese pop culture that so intrigued in the 1990s reflects a shift in East Asia's power dynamic as Japan's post-World War II "economic miracle" drifts into memory. With territorial disputes replacing post-colonial tensions, it seems that despite Seoul and Tokyo's overlapping economic and security interests, another delicate stage in relations looms. - Jieh-Yung Lo
(Mar 28, '13)
Anti-Hindu attacks rock Bangladesh
A wave of anti-Hindu attacks in Bangladesh launched by hardline Islamist group the Jammate-E-Islami Bangladesh has seen hundreds of temples, statues and shops demolished, with purportedly secular ruling party the Awami League failing to protect the minority by punishing the vandals. Unless the government takes aim at the extremist politics taking root, they will threaten the nation's stability. - Swadesh Roy
(Mar 28, '13)
Passing the buck on North Korea
East Asian and Western calls for China to crackdown on North Korea, which surface each time the former's "little brother" launches another nuclear provocation, ignore the regional instability that would be unleashed if Beijing really cut off Pyongyang. The same critics seem blind to the real goal of the North's brinkmanship: security assurances, diplomatic recognition and trade concessions from the US. - Nadine Godehardt and David Shim
(Mar 27, '13)
The politics of expediency in India
The Indian government is paying more attention these days to policies on crucial matters of national interest, largely with an eye fixed on gaining votes in next year's general election. More than that expediency is required in the world's largest democracy if genuine efforts at social emancipation and welfare are to bear fruit. - Sunil Kumar
(Mar 26, '13)
North Korea stirs Cuban crisis memory
The cycle of provocation created by North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship and the US refusal to compromise threatens to lead President Barack Obama and Kim Jong-eun into "eyeball to eyeball" confrontation in a repeat of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Kim is, however, a more volatile prospect than Nikita Khruschev ever was. - Hui Zhang
(Mar 25, '13)
China seeks military
friends
Beijing has sent diplomats and top military brass to press official flesh in Central Europe, most likely in an attempt to gain more torque to lift the European Union embargo on the sale of arms to China. Poland is a particular target, with a strong track record supplying other Asian countries with simple technological solutions that the People's Liberation Army also wants. - Paul Behrendt
(Mar 21, '13)
China seeks military
friends
Beijing has sent diplomats and top military brass to press official flesh in Central Europe, most likely in an attempt to gain more torque to lift the European Union embargo on the sale of arms to China. Poland is a particular target, with a strong track record supplying other Asian countries with simple technological solutions that the People's Liberation Army also wants. - Paul Behrendt
(Mar 21, '13)
India blots out Israeli issues
Israel has used wide-ranging outreach in India to overcome public opposition to burgeoning bilateral ties in defense, trade and people-to-people contacts. That some surveys now rank India as the world's most "pro-Israel country" suggest the latter's image molding has persuaded many Indians to forget points of difference like Iran and the Palestinian issues.
- S Samuel C Rajiv
(Mar 18, '13)
Now is the time for a solution in Kashmir
Increased repression in Indian-administered Kashmir and growing tensions with Pakistan along the Line of Control highlight that the the status quo there cannot last. There has never been a better time for a comprehensive solution to the conflict - most of what that will take is clear. What is eminently lacking is the will to take action now. - Shubh Mathur
(Mar 15, '13)
China and North Korea's pit bull alliance
China not only benefits from North Korea stealing its limelight as one of Asia's biggest human-rights violators, Pyongyang also serves a key political weapon against the strangulation strategy being visited on Beijing by the US and its allies. Diplomatic efforts to paint China as "renegotiating" terms of bilateral cooperation with the North are a "dog-and-pony" show. - Brett Daniel Shehadey
(Mar 15, '13)
Japan and Philippines align strategic interests
The convergence of Japan's and the Philippines' threat perceptions of China will ultimately determine the depth of the two sides' strategic cooperation. Domestic concerns have also influenced Manila's receptiveness to Tokyo's soft power diplomacy and strategic overtures, as bilateral ties with Tokyo moved from platitudes to genuinely empowering military assets and economic assistance. - Julius Cesar I Trajano
(Mar 14, '13)
Securing the Indian state from the people
Renewed demands to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir by activists who say it protects human-rights violators underlines the draconian nature of numerous statues in Indian enforced for "national security". Often security and "anti-terror" laws not only contradict the tenets of democracy, they continue colonial-era legislation enacted to control a rebellious population fighting the British Empire. - Ninan Koshy
(Mar 14, '13)
Erdogan's rhetoric is Kerry's headache
Rising tensions between Turkey and the United States are a headache for Secretary of State John Kerry. Yet the strain lies not in any actions, but rather in rhetoric as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shows he is willing to put old alliances at risk for the sake of scoring points with a domestic audience. - Egemen B Bezci and Geoffrey Levin
(Mar 13, '13)
Quagmire politics in Sabah
As tensions run high in Malaysia's eastern state of Sabah following a stand-off between insurgents from the southern Philippines and Malaysian security forces, militant action is lending credence to claims that the conflict has been manufactured to stir trouble at a politically sensitive time. The risks are rising of a wider crisis that could delay Malaysia's general election. - Nile Bowie
(Mar 12, '13)
US stuck in deaf dialogue in Korea
Provocations and diplomatic miscommunication of the kind now engaging North Korea and the United States echo throughout America's presence in the Korean peninsular. The Korean conflict is one of war fought with a "dialogue of the deaf" that has no ending. It's time for Washington to change its approach. - Dallas Darling
(Mar 11, '13)
Bank critics miss relative value
The financial crash is widely attributed to failures of international investment banks (with various other "culprits" also held up for castigation). Yet the problem might lie deeper, in the roots of outdated but still over-popular economic theory espoused by Adam Smith (and even Karl Marx). The way out of the mess is even deeper - and it is all relative. - Friedrich Hansen
(Mar 8, '13)
The alchemy of transition in South Asia
The failure of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal must not diminish attempts to create a robust transitional justice mechanism in Nepal. Blood on the streets in Dhaka may be used to undermine reparative measures in Nepal's transition to justice, but it is imperative that political classes are prevented from turning Bangladeshi "lead" into the pernicious "gold" of a general amnesty. -
Michael Van Es
(Mar 8, '13)
The strategy in Syria has failed
Saudi Arabia and Qatar must be urged to end their destabilization of Syria and find a non-violent political solution that ensures Sunni Islamic fundamentalists do not come to power. Syria is undeniably authoritarian, but its many sects are protected much better under the Arab nationalist al-Assad government than the Western-supported Free Syrian Army. - Sean Fenley
(Mar 8, '13)
Time for India's right to look within
India needs a strong right-wing to counter the dominance of the Congress party. As the right's representative at 2014 general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party under likely prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi must get its act together and emerge from a cacophony of indistinct policies. A first step would be the BJP declaring a sincere belief that India is not just for Hindus. - Tridivesh Singh Maini and Arko Dasgupta
(Mar 7, '13)
China robots signal US challenge
The robotic invasion on factory floors in China points the way to the power of automation to "reshore" American industry. Along the way, the battle to maintain low-skilled jobs needs to end, and a swathe cut through regulations that prevent companies from attracting innovators. - Joshua Jacobs and Eftychis Mourginakis
(Mar 5, '13)
US pivot puts Pakistan in a bind
The US's "pivot to Asia" will again force Pakistan to choose between two powerful and competing benefactors, this time with more significant regional implications than during the Cold War. While diplomatic and financial support has flowed freely from Beijing in recent years, rapprochement with Washington suggests Islamabad will make a familiar choice. - Hamza Mannan
(Mar 4, '13)
Strikes on tribals a mistaken panacea
Deaf ears have met the demands of tribal people displaced by the battle between Pakistan's military and militants in the country's north-west. The army's Operation Rah-e-Nijat is having its own devastating consequences on the lives of ordinary people, and the constant barrage of US drone attacks has left them in a permanent state of shock. - Khan Zeb Burki
(Mar 1, '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)
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)
Southeast Asia's nuclear path post-Fukushima
Two years on from the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, Southeast Asian states are undeterred from taking a nuclear path. Energy supply concerns, efforts to diversify and volatile fossil-fuel prices outweigh the risks and make the case for atomic fuel sources compelling. Vietnam, which plans to build 15 reactors by 2030, and Indonesia are at the forefront of the switch. - Sahara Piang Brahim
(Feb 26, '13)
Casteism and corruption in modern India
Indian literary academic Ashis Nandy has said remarks in which he appeared to describe disadvantaged castes as the country's most corrupt were actually intended to to illustrate that these groups do not access to graft as an "equalizing force". The freedom of speech debate that's been sparked by Nandy's comments ignores their more importance significance for power equations developing in modern India.
- Niladri Ranjan Ray
(Feb 25, '13)
ASEAN's great power dilemma
China and Japan are overhauling their strategy in Southeast Asia from vying for the balance of influence to competing for the balance of power. That shift, amid more frequent territorial disputes, makes the time ripe for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to shape a key monitoring role for maintaining maritime stability, while trying to protect a post-Cold War fundamental principle to stay above the melee. - Kei Koga (Feb 22, '13)
Change in the Middle Kingdom
Examine the composition of China's Politburo Standing Committee under Xi Jinping and it becomes clear that democracy reform is off the table, while economic reforms and political consolidation are the name of the game. That's bad news for those expecting the domestic security stance to relax, while the good news is that in the name of cooperation and stability, the territorial dispute with Japan will be shelved. - Stefan Soesanto
(Feb 21, '13)
China edges closer to rule of law
Optimizing China's progress and development while maintaining a strong economy will require a more accountable and respected legal system, but Beijing need not abandon its Confucian and legalist traditions and blindly adopt Western ideals. Through a modern outlook, and transforming traditional wisdom into practical policy, China can develop a unique legal system that obtains the best of two worlds. - Thomas Velk and Shannon Gong
(Feb 21, '13)
Ankara on line three, Mr Secretary
One of incoming US Secretary of State John Kerry's highest Middle Eastern priorities will be stabilizing relations with Turkey following the US embassy bombing and outspoken US criticism about Turkey's legal system. Kerry must answer Ankara's concerns knowing that public opinion blames the US not only for the Syrian crisis, but for most factors limiting Turkey's regional influence. - Egemen B Bezci and Geoffrey Levin
(Feb 20, '13)
Rethinking the US-China-Taiwan triangle
The asymmetric security triangle that has defined US-China-Taiwan relations since the Cold War is becoming obsolete as the mainland becomes vital to Taipei's economic prospects and as Beijing develops the army, naval and air forces needed to counter American military support. A new inclusive triangle is the answer, with Taiwan serving as multi-dimensional entrepot for the two larger powers' business and political connections. - Brantly Womack (Feb 14, '13)
Israel fuels Syrian fire, risks contagion
Israel's
air raid on Syria used the cover of chemical weapons concerns to disguise an
attempt at military escalation aimed at either embroiling an unwilling United
States in the Syrian conflict or gaining a larger say in negotiations to shape a
future regime in Syria. Military intervention only promises more destruction for
Syria, while Israel's buffer zone may create space for al-Qaeda-linked rebels to
thrive. - Nicola Nasser (Feb 7, '13)
US goads Japan into China
confrontation
A US delegation sent to Japan in late 2012 purportedly to diffuse island
tensions with China was headed by two senior officials who in the past have
stated that the US-Japan alliance can only survive if Tokyo renounces its
pacifist constitution and develops a "capable military force" to face the
"re-rise" of China. By becoming the US's "bait", Japan puts itself in the
firing line. - John V Walsh (Feb 5, '13)
Protest never ends at Indian
nuclear plant
A government crackdown on protests at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the
southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has done nothing to deter the hundreds of
men, women and children from nearby villages who are leading a campaign to
stall operations. While the agitators are winning wide support from
environmentalists, commissioning of the plant has been delayed. - K S
Harikrishnan (Feb 4, '13)
India-Israel anti-terror axis
evolves
Secretive counter-terrorism and defense ties between India and Israel have
burgeoned since the United States-led "war on terror" helped create an
"informal" axis in 2003. By conflating its Kashmir and Pakistan struggles with
what the Indian foreign ministry calls Israel's "cross-border terrorism
problem" - the Palestinian resistance - New Delhi gains access to high-tech
weaponry, surveillance equipment and sophisticated training. - Ninan Koshy
(Feb 1, '13)
India at 64: A struggling
democracy
Despite the economic progress on show as India last week marked its 64th
Republic Day, corruption in public office and delays to development of
education and infrastructure - as well as continuing caste and communal hatred
- underline how far the country has strayed from the inclusive, prosperous
vision of its original constitution. - Sunil Kumar
(Jan 30, '13)
Identity crisis in ethnic India
Competing agendas between three major ethnic groups - the Kuki, Naga, and
Meitei - underpin continued instability in Manipur, India's historically
restive northeastern state. While there is no quick fix to long-simmering
problems over identity and land ownership, New Delhi can no longer ignore
tensions that are holding back development. - Nehginpao Kipgen
(Jan 25, '13)
Time to bridge Sino-Indian border
differences
Unless India and China can put themselves in each other's shoes, the Arunachal
Pradesh border will remain the subject of one of the world's most intractable
disputes. Delhi must appreciate that compromises suggesting Tibetan
independence are a no-go area, while Beijing must understand why India can't
back down. The longer both sides escalate the crisis, the bigger the cost to
Asia. - Namrata Goswami and Jenee Sharon
(Jan 24, '13)
Thein Sein a man of war, not
peace
The International Crisis Group is to honor Myanmar President Thein Sein with
its "In Pursuit of Peace, Prosperity and the Presidency Award" at a gala dinner
in New York City. In doing so, like other international groups, the ICG
confounds the country's continuing brutal realities by supporting the very men
who have committed crimes against humanity and continue to do so under
different guises and through different means. - Nancy Hudson-Rodd
(Jan 17, '13)
India should beware influx of
megastores
India's decision to open its retail sector to international competition bodes
ill for small stores and the local range of outlets. It also opens the way to
corrupt practices, with events already following a path seen in America and the
UK. Gainers will be highly paid lawyers and tax-avoidance experts. - Brian
Cloughley (Jan 15, '13)
Blaze-hit Kabul stores race deep
freeze
Kabul merchants are facing a race against the onset of deep winter to rebuild
and recover from a devastating market blaze that wiped out their stock and
destroyed their cash holdings. Adding to their injuries, the government is
failing to help them recover while demanding that store-owners now buy
insurance policies. - Ali M Latifi (Jan 14,
'13)
Why freedom is a war-cry in
Kashmir
Indian outrage over a now infamous gang-rape in New Delhi is in contrast to the
wide indifference to the plight of Kashmiris who have suffered similar
atrocities on a vast scale, as well as massacres and disappearances, at the
hands of Indian security forces. As Kashmiris seek escape from repressive laws,
humiliation and occupation, they are offered pronouncements and measures that
only increase the demand of azadi - "complete freedom". - Syed Zafar
Mehdi (Jan 9, '13)
Asia should go within, not ape the
West
Economic dynamism and a position as a crucible for tensions between global
players give Asia a crucial place in the multipolar world emerging as centuries
of American and European domination stutters to an end. Across the region, new
centers of political power should adapt ancient civilizations and culture to
conditions today rather than import failed Western economic and social models.
- Francesco Brunello Zanitti (Jan 7, '13)
A Confucian Christmas in China
As long as Western scholarship on China floats on a platform of misleading
cultural imperialism, such as historic European notions painting Confucius as a
Christian saint rather than a sage, the West isn't learning anything new from
Asia. It has more to offer than British, French, and German philosophers could
ever satisfactorily translate. - Thorsten Pattberg
(Dec 21, '12)
Chen marks new tone for Chinese
dissidence
Blind Chinese human-rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng's escape from house arrest
this year was significant for more than the feat itself, as Chen's background
transformation from grassroots activist to renowned rights advocate also
reflects accelerating growth and evolution of the Chinese dissident movement.
From liberals within the party to democracy activists and Christian liberals,
groups are increasingly overlapping as bottom-up momentum grows. - Man Yee Karen
Lee (Dec 20, '12)
Turkey's Syria policy fits a
classic role
Support for Western-led intervention in Syria from Turkey's ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) contradicts its Islamic orientation, while opposition
from the military and secularists goes against their historic roles as US
allies. The reversal mirrors the 2003 lead-up to the Iraq war, when the newly
elected AKP backed US war efforts to build support and weaken its opponents. - Emad
Abdullah Ayasrah (Dec 18, '12)
Can private universities lift India?
The performance of India's higher education institutions is a cause for alarm,
particularly since the "English advantage" is being squandered as China pulls
ahead in research and world rankings. While private universities and colleges
are growing, they remain focused on profit over results and offer no solution
to stagnation and mediocrity. - Pushkar (Dec
18, '12)
Democracy takes root in Bhutan
As Bhutan prepares for its second parliamentary elections, the past five years
shows a strengthening of the "effective components" of democracy. Institutions
have matured, new political parties and lobby groups have emerged, and freedom
of expression has blossomed. However, the state's reticence on issues such as
Nepalese refugees and human rights suggest the process is far from complete. - Medha
Bisht (Dec 12, '12)
Rohingyas test Suu Kyi's
credentials
Popular momentum in Myanmar behind proposals to expel its Rohingya people is
based on outdated perceptions of the minority being given preferential
treatment by colonial Britain, yet even "pro-democracy" leader like Aung San
Suu Kyi appears loathe to condemn the religious violence in Rakhine State. Her
silence suggests that 2015 general elections are simply too tempting a prize. - Ridwan
Sheikh (Dec 10, '12)
Israel provokes a Doomsday test
Furious international reaction to Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to build a
"Doomsday" settlement will undermine the two-state solution to his country's
conflict with Palestine. The Israeli prime minister's defiance needs now to be
met with action - and that will put the credibility of the powers on the UN
Security Council to an historic test. - Nicola Nasser
(Dec 6, '12)
Afghanistan takes stock of
rebuilding
Reconstruction teams in Afghanistan have done a great job in overcoming many
challenges to deliver international development projects that have boosted
provincial livelihoods over the past decade. As a grateful nation taking over
complete ownership of the infrastructure, the first step in the transition is
to obtain a complete inventory of the assets put in place. - Ajmal Shams
(Dec 4, '12)
Indian Internet freedoms in a
maelstrom
Draconian reactions to Internet activity, such arrests over "likes" on social
media pages and charges of sedition for cartoons, raise serious questions over
the government's ability to cope with technological trends that are
increasingly encroaching on the political world. While it's necessary to
monitor cyberspace to prevent crime, the methods used undermine India's
democracy. - Sunil Kumar (Dec 3, '12)
Myanmar reconciliation a
distant dream
A year after the breakdown of a 17-year ceasefire in Myanmar's northern Kachin
State, government troops continue to abuse and drive out villagers even as
President Thein Sein claims he is seeking to resolve the conflict through
political means. If the government was sincere about restoring peace, it would
make efforts to win the hearts and minds of the local people rather than
brutalizing them. - Nhkum Gam (Nov 29, '12)
Can India stay the course in
Afghanistan?
The discourse on Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the United States in 2014
is increasingly shifting to the role of India. New Delhi's recent attempts to
protect the gains of broad-based engagement are seen by Pakistan as flexing
muscle, but will prove measures of its committment to stay the course for a
stable Afghanistan. - Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
(Nov 29, '12)
India fails test of 'knowledge
economy'
Expectations that a surge in science and engineering graduates would see India
become an economic success powered by knowledge have ignored a higher education
system characterized by some as a "complete mess". - Pushkar
(Nov 29, '12)
Smoke and mirrors fail the CCP
The Chinese Communist Party will find it impossible to maintain its grip power
by suppressing its membership, using foreign scapegoats, and ignoring deeply
needed political reforms forever. There is an alternative, but the absence of
any real attempt to redefine itself means the party faces impending extinction
from within. - Brett Daniel Shehadey (Nov 28,
'12)
Respect for elders trumps reform
As China's leadership change takes full shape, it's becoming clear that
less-popular officials who demonstrated hard-earned, on-the-job experience have
triumphed over the younger, more reformist and enterprising. As long as those
who escape the complex institutional process unscathed are chosen over those
who display educated ambition, there is less scope for trumpeted change. - Zhengxu
Wang (Nov 27, '12)
Syrian coalition faces testing time
The Free Syrian Army failed to demonstrate it represented most of the Syrian
people, and now international backers are asking the Syrian National Coalition
to pass the test. With division splitting the ranks of its regional and
international backers, recognition of the coalition will not be enough to end
the war. - Ahmed E Souaiaia (Nov 26, '12)
Korea shows America its lost intimacy
Gaping contrasts between the experience of teaching the study machines that are
South Korean students and labored efforts to enlighten eye-rolling, text
messaging audiences in American classes reflects how both societies are headed.
The intimacy and respect Koreans show teachers and elders suggests theirs is
the better path. - John M Rodgers (Nov 21,
'12)
Obama touches Myanmar
maelstrom
As President Barack Obama demonstrated in his election victory, a culture of
inclusion is a winning ticket for the future. His historic visit to Myanmar
should be seen as opportunity to call out the leadership over institutionalized
racial discrimination that denies foreigners a legal identity, and contributes
to the frenzy of hatred seen in situations like an ongoing pogrom in Arakan. - May
Ng (Nov 19, '12)
Indian liberalism has a rough week
A literary controversy rooted in sensibilities over how the majority treat
Muslims in India has underlined an paradox for local liberals: while they tend
to prove their liberalism by upholding their secular credentials, those
championing the rights of minorities have a keen sense of a discomfort over the
latter's intractable zeal for religion. - Mosarrap Hossain Khan
(Nov 16, '12)
Manufacturing a future for
Myanmar's people
Despite the passage of a Foreign Investment Law, reformists in Myanmar will
struggle to wrestle the commanding heights of the economy from the business
elites. Rather than prioritizing extractive resource sectors, manufacturing
offers a compelling long-term opportunity to tackle Myanmar's economic malaise.
- George Gorman (Nov 16, '12)
Pakistani rhetoric blind to reality
Words such as blasphemy, enforced disappearances, ethnic violence and grinding
poverty were conspicuously absent when Pakistan presented its human-rights
record to the United Nations. Normal Pakistanis may have wondered what country
the delegation was describing. No matter the token legislative changes made by
Islamabad, life is increasingly hard for the majority. - Dawood I Ahmed
(Nov 9, '12)
Political Islam adrift in
Indonesia
Growing friction and polarization within and among Indonesia's Islamic parties
are symptomatic of their leaders' reluctance to hand over the reins and a
failure to develop a media image that resonates with voters. This and the
fallout from assorted scandals has cost the parties almost all their social and
intellectual capital. - Donny Syofyan (Nov 8,
'12)
Eid al-Adha, a Russian holiday?
An increasing number of Russian citizens and guest workers perform Muslim rites
at significant personal cost and sacrifice. Moscow would do well to celebrate
these days as public holidays, rather than to mark events such as "National
Unity Day", created as a pastiche of Stalinist myth-making and designed to
undermine religion. - Chris Monday (Nov 7,
'12)
Spoilers to Philippine peace
deal
President Benign Aquino has been lauded at home and internationally for forging
agreement with the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on a framework to
end the conflict in the southern Philippines. Yet shortcomings of the deal and
a host of disparate actors waiting in the wings threaten to make peace elusive.
- George D Gorman (Nov 5, '12)
Beware of the Islamist trap
The West lumps Sunni Muslim groups in the Middle East together as "Islamists",
assuming that this supposedly cohesive force seeks control of the Middle East
and is inherently hostile to the interests of the United States and its allies.
This misperception ignores sweeping differences and incompatibility between
models such as Turkey's Islam lite and Salafism, and draws a needless and
dangerous battle line . - Monte Palmer (Nov
5, '12)
India waits for democracy with
benefits
More than 60 years of nearly uninterrupted democratic rule in India has failed
to deliver good health and even moderate levels of human development for a
majority of people. That record hardly makes the country a glowing endorsement
for the benefits of democracy. - Pushkar (Nov
2, '12)
North Korea takes risky path of
reform
North Korean farm reforms this summer had the declared purpose of easing the
current economic crisis and improving people's standard of living. Given the
earlier disastrous consequences of currency revaluation, the government needs
to carefully weigh the impact of this and other reforms before implementing
them. - Sangsoo Lee and Stefano Facchinetti
(Nov 1, '12)
The death of human rights in Nepal
The Nepali government's promotion of a colonel accused of crimes during the
country's 10-year civil conflict underlines an apparent lack of political will
to achieve transitional justice. Unless clear evidence of unlawful killings and
torture during the war is examined by a truth commission or investigation, the
country is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. - Gyan Basnet
(Nov 1, '12)
Japan: Tax matters
As Japan's parliament enters an extraordinary session to debate a financing
bill essential for the continued running of government, Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda has a chance to become a new Junichiro Koizumi - or at least
appear to be that rare thing, a decisive Japanese premier. Bert Edstrom
(Oct 30, '12)
Personality politics stifle Korean
democracy
Personality politics in South Korea rooted in the country's Confucian
traditions perpetuate a weak party structure, leaving leaders unable to tackle
people’s grievances. In an ideal world for democratic growth, political enigmas
like Ahn Chul-soo would drop out of electoral races so the system can be
institutionalized and parties develop realistic policy agendas. - Steven Denney
(Oct 29, '12)
All Central Asian roads lead to
Muscovy
Constant jostling between great powers for Central Asian influence and
resources underlines the region's growing strategic importance. As Russia,
China and the US make varying alliances, the smaller countries in Central Asia
must hedge their bets, strike a balance between the rising influences and avoid
transnational oligarchy. - Himar Arjun Singh (Oct
26, '12)
The real problem with Iran is
history
The narrative surrounding Iran and its nuclear program today is crucially
missing a discussion on history and identity that might help to clarify why the
US-Iranian relationship is so dangerous. Without recognition of Iran's desire
to stand tall again on the world stage, America will be blind to reality. - Aaron
Hesse (Oct 25, '12)
New thrust to India-Australia
relations
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's recent visit to India provided a new
thrust to bilateral relations that have been in the doldrums for years. By
overturning the ban on uranium sales to India and paying attention to emerging
areas of cooperation, Gillard has create a landmark opportunity for progress on
many fronts. - Sudhanshu Tripathi (Oct 22,
'12)
A farmer needs a wife in China and India
China and India both face a sex-ratio crisis that leaves men getting a bad
press as the consequences of "missing women" work their way though the
demographic pyramid. Solutions are needed, and some balance can be found in
encouraging urban woman to marry rural sweethearts. - Lauren Johnston
(Oct 19, '12)
NATO's dilemma: Turkey and Article
5
While the shelling of a Turkish town by Syrian artillery fits criteria of
NATO's Article 5, which states an armed attack on one member is an attack on
all, there was never a question of it being invoked. NATO should use the Syrian
crisis as an opportunity to abandon such Cold War baggage, but it will likely
revert to conventional deterrence and squander the chance for reform. - Riccardo
Dugulin (Oct 19, '12)
West blinks at Wahhabism's dark
side
Wahhabi forces foresee the fall of Iran and ultimately Russia and China to the
combined forces of NATO and rebels backed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia after they
grasp power in Syria. While the West has supported Wahhabism as a tool to
prevent the spread of Iranian influence, it seems blind to the violence and
intolerance the faith can unleash. - Zubair Khan
(Oct 11, '12)
Ashes of Sino-Indian war stay warm
Half a century after the China and India war in the eastern Himalayas,
aggressive posturing by both sides has seen increased militarization of the
region - Beijing plans to deploy new fighters to support its 300,000 troops
there, and Delhi has stationed Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles in Arunachal
Pradesh. The region continues as a Sino-Indian flashpoint. Frameworks are
required that can deal with misperceptions on both sides. - Namrata Goswami
(Oct 10, '12)
Transatlantic dream or joke in Asia
The United States has urged the European Union to join in strengthening its
Asian pivot, even as it tries to sabotage EU foreign affairs head Catherine
Ashton's dreams of developing strategic ties with China. Try as it might,
Brussels' desire for a more prominent role in Asia keeps on being thwarted, and
a common transatlantic stance on the Pacific Rim is a risible proposition. - Emanuele
Scimia (Oct 5, '12)
India renews Taiwan embrace
India is promoting itself as an alternative market for Taiwan to mainland China
as a thaw in cross-strait relations eases Beijing's sensitivities over such
flaunting of the "one-China" policy Delhi adheres to. The newfound push for
improved trade ties with Taipei also reflects a new Indian assertiveness as its
counters a Chinese encirclement strategy of building ties with countries like
Pakistan and Myanmar. - Anindya Batabyal (Oct
4, '12)
Obama loses sight of Syrian reality
President Barack Obama's policy stance on the Syrian conflict stresses the US's
unwillingness to commit to military intervention while using simplified
premises such as "the future must not belong to a dictator who massacres his
people". While such a focus reassures the war-wary US public, it overlooks
major risks such as a widening regional conflict and the strengthening of
jihadist elements. - Riccardo Dugulin (Oct 3,
'12)
China's pedagogic pitfalls
Although the English language will the medium for future Sino-US exchanges on
economics, politics, and diplomacy, English-language training in China suffers
from a misguided pedagogical mindset that views classrooms through a factorial
lens and flaunts enrollment numbers as if these alone underscore linguistic
success. The answer is to have Western instructors in the classrooms, new
facilities and performance incentives, but Beijing doesn't seem interested - James
Fishback (Oct 2, '12)
The end of translation
As a result of Western media and academia mistranslating ancient Chinese
concepts into convenient biblical or philosophical terminology, few in Europe
or America have any real grasp of Chinese culture. The same is true of the tens
of thousands of unique non-European concepts in the Sanskrit-Hindu tradition.
It's if billions of Chinese and Indians in 3,000 years invented nothing. - Thorsten
Pattberg (Sep 28, '12)
The weaknesses of 'national
security'
The United States and other countries have sought under the pretext of
"national security" to achieve global superiority through interventionism and
the development of massive weapons systems. Far from creating stability, the
bullying and genocidal instincts inspired by such a security doctrine cause
global volatility that inevitably spreads back to the source. - Dallas Darling
(Sep 27, '12)
A notice warranting reform in India
India's police have a new method of making cash - the non-bailable warrant -
related to minor offences that require suspects stay overnight in
mosquito-infested cells, unless an "arrangement" is made. It is a symptom of a
legal system so corrupt and backlog?ged that most authorities - from cops to
lawyers to petty court officials - have a little work on the side. - Siddharth
Srivastava (Sep 26, '12)
Seeking truth and reparation in
Nepal
A proposal to grant amnesty to serious violators of human rights in Nepal's
decade-long civil conflict as a founding provision for a truth and
reconciliation commission seeks to deny justice to victims of the insurgency.
If the transitional justice process contradicts the rule of law, there is
little hope of Nepal becoming a a viable democracy. - Gyan Basnet
(Sep 25, '12)
Canada's hostility to Iran is
overblown
The Canadian government's severing of diplomatic relations with Iran this month
was a pathetic act. As one of the main beneficiaries of the unipolar world, in
cutting its relationship with Iran, Canada aimed to back an isolation of Iran,
but events way from this Western viewpoint show the Islamic Republic is far
from isolated. - Ardeshir Ommani (Sep 24,
'12)
Existential threats and wars of
choice
The forces assembling to assault Iran are not doing so because of some
existential threat posed by that country, but are engaged in an exercise in
great power aggression. Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia believe that
overthrowing the ayatollahs, will benefit their individually different
interests. If the past is a guide they may be successful, at least in the short
run. - Alan G Jamieson (Sep 21, '12)
Kim Jong-eun prepares balancing act
Korean leader Kim Jong-eun was bequeathed a poor hand of cards - including
rotten hard and soft infrastructure, corrupt government, and a bloated military
- against which reforms to be announced next month will struggle to make
progress. Yet Kim recognizes the need for change and that if you can't be a
Deng Xiaoping, it's better to be a Gorbachev than a Gaddafi. - Chris Green
and Sokeel Park (Sep 21, '12)
Islam in the 21st century
If the Muslim world is to achieve success it does not depend solely upon the
attitude of the West, as some intellectuals believe. It equally depends upon
the attitude of the Muslim world towards itself, and reconciliation with its
own internal problems. Otherwise it will collapse upon its own fervor and
anger. - Nicholas A Biniaris (Sep 18, '12)
Japan and China on a conflicting
course
The latest handling of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands row showcases obvious
misperceptions between China and Japan. In so far as China's repeated claim on
the disputed islands is not recognized by Tokyo, Japan's purchase plan is seen
in Beijing as a serious encroachment. - Karl Lee
(Sep 14, '12)
Point of no return in the South China Sea
As tensions over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea rise to
worrying levels, serious actions are required to turn back from a point of no
return. In this effort, much will be expected from the United States and China
to lead the way toward stability. - Nazery Khalid
(Sep 13, '12)
Europe offers path for a nuclear Asia
The relatively incident-free transition to Kim Jong-eun's leadership in North
Korea still leaves the country's nuclear program a point of deep international
contention. Those seeking a breakthrough on the issue could find inspiration in
the experience of the European Community's post-war efforts to regionalize the
management of civil nuclear power. - Sangsoo Lee
(Sep 13, '12)
Food justice for women in India
About three-fourth of India’s population living in the rural sector is reeling
under abject poverty, illiteracy, ill-health, unemployment, and other factors
that lead to a low quality of life. A gendered analysis of poverty reveals not
simply its unequal incidence but also that both cause and effect are deeply
gendered - women face a greater risk of poverty than men. - Kiran Sharma
(Sep 12, '12)
Time for a new ASEAN way
The crisis of consensus in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should be
looked upon as an important opportunity for change. As the future of the
organization depends on how much its members are willing to give in order to
take, they should first consider making resolutions binding. - Khanh Vu Duc
(Sep 10, '12)
Popular protests rile India's
leaders
Warnings from India's Congress Party leadership that endemic protests "flirt
with chaos" seem an attempt to glaze over the genuine grievances drawing people
onto the streets. A more likely source of chaos is the failure of politicians
on all sides to devise coherent policies that address economic and political
issues. - Pushkar (Sep 7, '12)
Security vs liberty: completing
or conflicting?
The raft of anti-terror measures Europe has taken to stay in step with
post-9/11 US efforts highlight the inherent tensions between security concerns
and civil rights. Once a champion of human rights and data protection, the
scant resistance Brussels has shown to US demands suggests it has abandoned
founding EU principles. - Hossein Aghaie (Sep
6, '12)
China, Europe export
gangsters to Africa
Recent police shootings of striking miners in South Africa who had been seeking
better pay have underscored the role of European firms in the exploitation of
workers. At the same time, there is little to differentiate Chinese and
European organized crime in Africa. - Emanuele Scimia
(Sep 6, '12)
Myanmar reform on a familiar
track
As Western countries cheer reform efforts in Myanmar, internal critics see the
process as a cynical culmination of the "seven-step roadmap" drawn up by the
military regime before President Thein Sein took power through election. The
plan, which envisions the emergence of a "genuine and disciplined democratic
system", guarantees the safety of ex-junta generals involved in widespread
human rights abuses while opening the country to foreign investment. - Saw Yan
Naing (Sep 5, '12)
Arab Nationalism's last
heartbeat
More than turning points such as the 1967 Arab defeat or the 1981 Camp David
agreement, the "Arab awakening" in 2010-2011 sounds the death knell for Arab
nationalism. Protestors from Tunis to Dara'a sought to overthrow the crony
capitalism of singled-out regimes - not to create Arab unity or launch a
struggle against Israel. - Riccardo Dugulin (Sep
4, '12)
Much ado about nothing in
Tehran
Tehran's efforts to paint its hosting of this week's Non-Aligned Movement
summit as proof that Iran is not internationally isolated will garner limited
political and economic gains. Despite NAM's supposed focus on redressing
inequalities in the international political order, its prominent members share
no long-term and reliable solidarity with Iran on its security and strategic
concerns. - H Aghaie (Aug 31, '12)
Old allies, new dynamics in
US pivot
United States efforts to reinvigorate Southeast Asian security alliances as
part of its "pivot" to Asia are being impacted by tubulent domestic politics in
the Phillipines and Thailand. While Manila is open to military cooperation that
strengthens its public face against China's maritime assertiveness, Bangkok has
resisted Washington's overtures in order to preserve blossoming ties with
Beijing. - Julius Cesar I Trajano (Aug 30,
'12)
Tehran jumps to Assad's rescue
This week's Non-Aligned Movement summit provides Iran with an opportunity to
give its ally in Damascus diplomatic breathing space as the Syrian regime loses
support in Arab countries and suffers high-profile defections. While Tehran
will pursue all politico-diplomatic means to support the key member of its
"axis of resistance", military involvement is a step too far. - Richard Javad
Heydarian (Aug 30, '12)
The Taliban's al-Qaeda problem
An internal struggle between lower tiers of the Afghan Taliban favoring
negotiations with the United States and top leaders refusing to sever links
with the al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network will intensify as Washington steps up
its overtures. The Haqqani's Wahhabi form of religion doesn't mix well with the
Sufi-soaked Islam found in most of Afghanistan, but the upper tier's ties with
al-Qaeda run too deep. - Aasim Zafar Khan (Aug
29, '12)
Can civilians win the war in
Pakistan?
A proxy conflict between the hawks and doves within the security establishment
in Pakistan has once again pushed the country to the verge of a virtual coup
d'etat. The followers of conspiracy theories see the army as a faultline at the
epicenter of judicial activism. In fact, the standoff between the two pillars
of the republic is a sign of transformation within the state. - Zulfiqar Shah
(Aug 29, '12)
Revolution in democratizing
research
While a democratic wave was sweeping the Arab world, a similar wave was
silently sweeping the cerebral world of academic research. Interestingly, the
demands in both cases weren’t very different. Publishers have weathered storms
in the past - they were remarkably nimble in embracing the digital
transformation. This is an opportunity for them to demonstrate their dexterity
yet again.- Muralidhar S (Aug 28, '12)
India strengthens eastern naval
flank
India's need to project power in the face of Chinese maritime assertiveness in
the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean region will play a big role in the
US$600 billion Indian Navy plan to upgrade over the next decade. While the
vision for the future aims to be "flexible" enough not to be labelled a
"containment strategy", it must also include technological self-sufficiency and
the ability to show leadership. - Abhijit Singh
(Aug 28, '12)
APEC's role in 'new
regionalism'
Expectations that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation would defy a lack of an
enduring history of unity in West and East Asia and promote open regionalism
have been partially realized, with APEC bringing countries together and
establishing networks that were previously non-existent. However, as the body
loses sight of economic goals and struggles to compete with regional
sub-groupings, it faces the prospect of terminal irrelevance. - Ramzi Bendebka
(Aug 27, '12)
The silent Ban diplomacy
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Asian-style diplomacy aims at building
networks over time, so he talks less than he mingles behind the scenes and
administrates. A drawback of this unconfrontational style is his unwillingness
to target directly the people of troubled member states, and while he is often
the voice of reason, his soft approach means his voice is drowned out by
stronger leaders. - Brett Daniel Shehadey (Aug
24, '12)
Yen window open - for now
Japan's position as a currency "safe-haven" has helped the yen, despite a poor
domestic economy, maintain its strong position against the US dollar. That
creates a useful currency trading window linked to US economic data, although
in the longer term a debt crisis in the Asian giant will slam it shut. - Omkar Y
Godbole (Aug 23, '12)
The real Syrian problem
Rather than the embattled Syrian regime unleashing chemical weapons on its own
population, a greater threat lies in the aftermath of its collapse should
extremist elements gain the upper-hand. There are no guarantees rebels will not
turn the considerable weapons stockpiles on minority groups that stood by the
regime - or on enemy states like Israel. - Richard Javad Heydarian
(Aug 23, '12)
Self-censorship stifles China's student
elite
Modern China's bizarre mix of Leninist party politics and the unforgiving
competition of capitalism has bred a need for conformity into students entering
top universities. The rigors of the fierce race for a coveted spot teaches them
that socially, emotionally and academically, it is safer to follow the party
line. - Sam Sussman (Aug 22, '12)
Is Egypt's Morsi eyeing an AKP
revolution?
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's clinical removal of the military's top
brass despite the army's omnipresent role in Egyptian society has telling
parallels with how Turkey's Islamist politicians wrested control from the "deep
state". However, it took Turkey's Justice and Development Party years to unwind
an ultra-secular order - Morsi has put his Muslim Brotherhood in a powerful
position in just two months. - Richard Javad Heydarian
(Aug 21, '12)
Indonesia and Chinese
'congagement'
Indonesia has relied on diplomacy in its efforts to curb Chinese maritime
incursions into Southeast Asian waters, instead of leveraging the countries'
bilateral economic, cultural and military ties as part of a "congagement"
strategy. As Chinese expansionism might one day extend to Indonesian resources
and sea-lanes, this congagement plan requires that Jakarta develop an "area
denial" doctrine that mirrors Beijing's defense strategy. - Jennifer McArdle
(Aug 20, '12)
Europe's Chinese riddle
The European Union is China's largest trading partner - and a rich partner is
needed more than ever to help the EU's failed economies. But for what does
China need Europe? Governments and business acting in tandem for one; certainly
not hot air on human-rights issues. - Richard Zalski
(Aug 20, '12)
Human development and the Arab
Spring
Arab Spring countries prepared to decentralize power to catalyze interaction
among people and social movements are well positioned for a development surge
that harnesses their region's abundant socio-economic potential. Nations that
repeat the pattern of concentrating power in political-corporate ruling cliques
are doomed to repeat the failures of the past. - Yossef Ben-Meir
(Aug 17, '12)
Theater of the absurd in
Myanmar
The Disciplined Democracy Play, directed by President Thein Sein,
formerly General Thein Sein, is a new production in Myanmar's theater of the
absurd, with theatrical troupes, formerly troops, stationed all over Myanmar to
ensure everyone learns their new lines. Unfortunately, not everyone yet
recognizes that this is supposed to be different from the hackneyed and brutal
decades-long performances of the past. - Nancy Hudson-Rodd
(Aug 17, '12)
Asian economies at risk from
US funding moves
The six-month continuing resolution recently agreed by US Congressional leaders
ensures that government funding keeps going if a budget can't be agreed upon by
October 1. That is little consolation for defense interests in Asia and
elsewhere, whose ventures with the United States can still be derailed. - Christopher
Whyte (Aug 16, '12)
The pan-Afghan imperative
As Afghanistan's diverse tribes find common cause in fighting Pakistani
manipulation, the time is becoming ripe for ethnic unity, balanced security
forces and a "Pashtun awakening" that restores Afghanistan's sacred tribal
structure and reverses the intra-Afghan animus stoked by Pakistan and the
United States in pursuit of broader geostrategic aims. - Khalil Nouri and
Michael Hughes(Aug 16, '12)
A disconcerting silence in
Cambodia
Cambodia's underdeveloped publishing sector is kept that way by the country's
poor educational standards, non-existent copyright rules and restrictions on
the freedom of expression. However, as young people grow more confident about
expressing themselves and explore new online technologies, hopes are rising for
a new generation of Cambodian thought. - Ryan Paine
(Aug 15, '12)
'Arab Summer' turns messy
The new order envisioned by Arab uprisings - liberal democratic institutions
running a quasi-socialist state, with industry and agriculture revived as
Arab-centric foreign policy come to the fore - is yet to emerge. Instead,
economic and political chaos have stifled hope, with Islamist governments -
wary of Western concerns and "bribed" by Gulf monarchies - fearful of altering
relations with either Iran or Israel. - Richard Javad Heydarian
(Aug 14, '12)
No end in sight to north
Myanmar insurgency
Fighting between insurgents and government troops in Myanmar's Kachin state
will continue to intensify unless Napiydaw addresses demands for autonomy and
fundamental rights, say the rebel's political wing. With past ceasefire
promises of political participation and economic incentives broken, the Kachin
won't sign a new truce simply because the government takes a few democratic
steps. - Saw Yan Naing (Aug 13, '12)
Istanbul Forum goals look good on
paper
Turkey is seeking through the Istanbul Forum to boost cooperation with
Aghanistan and Pakistan to promote economic development and resolve political,
social and security problems. The goals are laudable, the prospects of success
poor.
Egemen Bezci and James Warhola (Aug 9,
'12)
Turning back to Napoleon
Osaka mayor Toru Hashimo is championing the cause of decentralization of power
in Japan. In Europe, the burden of local debt is reversing a two-decade trend
in that direction. Napoleon Bonaparte's model of a centralist state may
underpin the outcome in both cases. - Emanuele Scimia
(Aug 8, '12)
Baloch insurgency faces uncertain
future
A shift from systematic militancy to indiscriminate violence by insurgents from
Pakistan's Balochistan reflects the separatist movement's desperation as the
West prepares to leave Afghanistan. Should Afghan security crumble after the
2014 withdrawal, Indian spymasters operating along the AfPak border will find
it increasingly hard to supply weapons, finances and training to the militants,
boosting Islamabad's counter-insurgency efforts. - Khuram Iqbal
(Aug 8, '12)
Israel a role model for Japan
Japan's failure to rescue itself from years of stagnation is in marked contrast
to the economic success of Israel since its own desolate period in the 1980s.
The answer may be for Japan's would-be innovators to get out, get rich, and
feed back. - Takahiro Miyao (Aug 7, '12)
The end of ASEAN centrality?
Cambodia's decision to relent to Chinese pressure and challenge Southeast Asian
unity over maritime issues is ironic given the role diplomacy played in
securing Cambodia's release from Vietnamese occupation. China also needs to
remember that its soft power and influence in the region depends on it
supporting, not undermining, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. - Amitav
Acharya (Aug 7, '12)
Baptism of fire for India's home
minister
Within days of getting his feet under his new desk, Indian Home Minister Sushil
Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde is being lambasted for his response to low intensity
explosions last week in the western city of Pune. Critics, pointing to low
points of his previous roles - as Maharashtra chief minister and minister of
power - say he's too inexperienced for his new, high-profile role. - Bibhu
Prasad Routray (Aug 6, '12)
Saudi uprising trumps sectarian
card
The Saudi Arabian counter-revolution against the Arab Spring relied on a
time-honored strategy of exploiting sectarian divisions, with successes from
Bahrain and Yemen to Egypt bolstering Riyadh's confidence that Wahhabi ideology
- not democracy - would be the biggest winner. Fresh anti-regime protests
spreading across the kingdom suggest the regime has overplayed this card. - Zayd
Alisa (Aug 3, '12)
Iran's fate after Assad
The Arab Spring fed into Iran's growing confidence that it could lead a
region-wide revisionist axis, Syria serving as a central ally. With the Bashar
al-Assad regime faltering and post-revolutionary Arab republics turning to a
cocktail of Sunni-based political Islam and pro-Western foreign policy, Tehran
is slowly awakening to a much-changed Middle East. - Richard Javad Heydarian
(Aug 2, '12)
Syria and the end of populism
Before his country's uprising, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad predicted that
his country would be immune to the Arab Spring because his regime's policies
were so popular among the Arab masses. Assad clearly failed to understand that
the movement has been motivated by a desire to end perpetual rule, not to
reward populism or benevolent leadership. - Ahmed E Souaiaia
(Aug 1, '12)
China: Lost in translation II
In the Age of Knowledge, where the average American or European will draw a
blank if asked to name a single Chinese concept, late-20th and early-21st
century Western "China Studies" are the greatest intellectual property theft of
all time, and another impostor besides the evils of 17th-19th century missions
to Christianize China. - Thorsten Pattberg (Jul
31, '12)
This concludes a two-part report. Part 1:
China: Lost in translation
Sinking feeling in the South
China Sea
Feeling cornered by increasing United States diplomatic and military backing
for rival Southeast Asian claimants to territories in the South China Sea,
China used compliant ally Cambodia as a wrecking ball for Association of South
East Asian Nations unity. Half-hearted US assertions that its "pivot to Asia"
has nothing to do with China's rise have contributed significantly to the
convoluted situation in the sea today. - Nazery Khalid
(Jul 26, '12)
India's Muslims and Hinduism's moksha
Anti-Muslim sentiment in India, marked by fears over terrorism, has corrupted
crucial steps towards Hinduism's moksha, the end of the death and
rebirth cycle and the religion's ultimate goal. Suspicion has eroded Hindus'
ability to perceive the world correctly and to regard all others as fully
equal; this is now bleeding into official state policy. - Dallas Darling
(Jul 24, '12)
Sweet waters of Persian Gulf
turn bloody
The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz today resemble more a war-zone
bristling with US destroyers and warplanes than passages to the land of "milk
and honey" known to Sumerians. While the Pentagon has likened this week's
attack on an Indian fishing boat to the al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole,
the shooting down of an Iranian passenger jet by the USS Vincennes is a
more apt comparison. - Dallas Darling (Jul
20, '12)
Nepal: Put the politics first
Excessive factionalism and feuds in Nepal's party politics, such as a recent
split within the Maoist coalition, threaten the country's democratic future.
Divisions, all too often motivated by personal conflicts and greed for power
and resources, undermine the role politicians should be playing in
post-conflict recovery. - Gyan Basnet (Jul
19, '12)
Sanctions derail diplomacy on
Iran
Prospects of a negotiated solution to the Iran nuclear crisis have dimmed as
the West touts the deep impact of sanctions on Iran's economy as proof of their
success, and Tehran revels in its resilience. The history of the Islamic
Republic is replete with collective displays of sacrifice, and punitive
measures simply hand hardliners an opportunity to outmaneuver pragmatists and
moderates. - Richard Javad Heydarian (Jul 18,
'12)
China pivots to Latin
America
As the United States makes clear its determination to become more involved in
the Asia Pacific, Beijing is also looking east - to the US backyard of Latin
America. Yet the increased trade China brings to the region is not receiving an
unalloyed welcome. - Emanuele Scimia (Jul 17,
'12)
Manila seeks revival of
military self-reliance
The Philipine armed forces' aging fleets of aircraft and warships and issues
with corruption and mismanagement mask that the country was not always so
militarily enfeebled. Facing an array of 21st-century challenges and with some
critics saying modernization will benefit national economic and social
development, Manila needs to make sure the army gets this latest shot at
self-sufficiency right. - Ava Patricia C Avila
(Jul 17, '12)
Trust deficit in Myanmar's
'transition'
Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi fears faith could be lost in a
"democratic transition" seen in the Thein Sein administration's recent
progressive steps. Such trust depends on Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy being able to alter the 2008 constitution to one that lays the
foundations for democracy and the rule of law. However, the current statute
prevents this. - Aung Htoo (Jul 16, '12)
Bhutan as a model
Bhutan, though not a wealthy nation, offers a compelling case study in how a
young democracy, landlocked and with few natural resources, can better serve
its citizens. Global respect for progressive governance initiatives such as
car-free days, bans on junk food and the famous Gross National Happiness index,
have shown that Bhutan can make an impact despite its small population and
remote location. - David Matthew (Jul 13,
'12)
Xi Jinping - the world's most
powerful man?
If he can effectively manage foreign policy, tackle corruption and address
rural poverty, incoming Chinese leader Xi Jinping has it in him to be the new
posterboy of "the Middle Kingdom". Boasting strong leadership credentials, a
popular wife and an enviable track record of presiding over economic growth, he
has what it takes to lead one-fifth of the world's population. - Lewis McCarthy
(Jul 12, '12)
India plans strategic
encirclement of China
Constant rhetoric from India proclaiming that it has no desire to encircle or
contain China is contradicted by New Delhi's commitment to military expansion
and modernization on land, air and sea, and its increased cooperation with
strategic states and historically contentious neighbors of the Chinese.
However, Beijing has also undertaken actions easily interpreted as efforts to
contain India's rise. - Daniel Thorp (Jul 11,
'12)
Is al-Qaeda losing its Arab
identity?
Through the creation of offshoots in the "Islamic Maghreb" and "Arabian
Peninsula" - and jihadi escalation in the Sinai and Syria - al-Qaeda hopes to
overcome the setbacks of recent years. As it does so, the Arab core of the
worldwide terrorist franchise is being diluted, though new funding sources and
alliances are developing in areas beyond its traditional sphere of influence.
- Riccardo Dugulin (Jul 9, '12)
Blemished gem of Pakistan's
tribal regions
The historic city of Kaniguram, a picturesque seat of learning in Pakistan's
tribal areas since the reign of Mehmood Ghaznavi, has become a ghost town since
Operation Path to Salvation was launched by the army in 2009. With over 100,000
former Kaniguram residents displaced across the country or living in poorly
equipped camps, the language and culture of the Burki tribe is under severe
threat. - Khan Zeb Burki (Jul 6,
'12)
Regime change in Syria: A true
story
A bizarre coalition of the United States, al-Qaeda and the Gulf Cooperation
Council are supporting with arms and fighters a rebel force in Syria that
doesn't represent the people. The unlikely allies - aided by a biased Western
media - are pushing forward with regime change despite the regional chaos that
will descend once Bashar al-Assad is finally overthrown. - Francois-Alexandre
Roy (Jul 5, '12)
Duplicity drives West's Syria
policy
The West claims its interest in Syria's uprising is purely humanitarian, yet
the United States and its allies, happy to generate controversy over Russian
arms shipments to Damascus, are covertly pouring political and logistical fuel
onto the flames of a civil war that threatens the stability of the entire
region. - Bob Rigg (Jul 3, '12)
Remembering the other D-Day
America got its first taste of empire and the corporate, military and political
elites' control over US foreign policy 114 years ago this week when the US Army
landed on Daiquiri Beach in Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. Even the
horrors of World War II weren't enough to derail the militarization these
elites have pursued since that first D-Day. - Dallas Darling
(Jul 2, '12)
Nepal: Breaking the political
deadlock
Nepal's Constituent Assembly ended with little progress towards its task of
drafting a constitution has led Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's unalateral
decision to re-establish the costly, ineffective body is folly. A better option
to end the political crisis would be full parliamentary elections with a
separate referendum on contentious issues such as federalism. - Gyan Basnet
(Jun 29, '12)
To err is human, to smear
divine
Attack adds clogging America's airwaves as the presidential race for November
2012 begins often focus on gaffes that make a candidate appear unfit for
political office. By engaging in such hyper-cynicism rather than seeking
much-needed solutions, the Republicans and Democrats place themselves above the
sovereignty and welfare of the people. - Beverly Darling
(Jun 28, '12)
Global power shift gives
Pakistan options
The elimination of Osama Bin Laden in May 2011 heralded the end of a chapter of
unprecedented instability and social disorder in Pakistani society. Memories
from the subjugation the country suffered at the hands of internal and external
adversaries during the decade-long "war on terror" will have a profound impact
on Pakistan's future strategic outlook.
- Khuram Iqbal (Jun 27, '12)
Yemen's problems run deeper
than security
Although the world focuses on Yemen's raging insurgency and al-Qaeda cells,
more threatening to the country's long-term future is it widespread poverty,
lack of food and depleting oil and water reserves. If Yemen cannot tackle
economic under-development through diversification and socio-economic reform,
then the post-Arab Spring era will repeat past mistakes. - George Kosmidis
(Jun 26, '12)
The eagle and the dragon
The bald eagle that defines a bold America and the eastern dragon that
characterizes a subtle China are both emblems of historic nationhood and
general representations of what these powers want to become. While a dragon is
fascinated at the marvel and the manipulation of humanity, the eagle sits
prideful on its perch, focused on the next meal. - Brett Daniel Shehadey
(Jun 22, '12)
North-south divide fuels
Kyrgyz mistrust
A north-south divide in Kyrgyzstan created by the country's mountainous
landscape and nomadic culture has worsened since violence erupted in the south
between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in 2010. While Bishkek in the north pushes
forward with a parliamentary democracy, southern towns like Osh and Jala-Abad
increasingly ignore its rule. - Ryskeldi Satke
(Jun 21, '12)
Will the BRICS rescue Iran?
Last year's failed attempt by emerging powers to seize the agenda on Iran's
nuclear ambitions has underlined to Tehran that the BRICS simply aren't strong
enough to meet its growing economic and security needs. As the West tightens a
noose around the Islamic regime, Iran's would-be saviors are too busy with
domestic political needs and mercantilist objectives. - Javad Heydarian
(Jun 20, '12)
The Pacific 'pivot' gamble
Disputed maritime territories involving China and its neighbors, instead of
being source of tension, could become a great bargaining chip. The United
States could encourage its allies to sell or lease the territories to China at
a fair price. In return, Beijing would need to enact major political reform. - Brett
Daniel Shehadey (Jun 18, '12)
North Korea's crimes go unpunished
The continuing atrocities in North Korean concentration camps easily meet the
United Nations definition of "genocide", which demands international
intervention though diplomacy or possibly by force. However, for successive US
administrations, defending the interests of these victims comes second to
halting North Korea's build-up of a nuclear and weapons arsenal. - Robert Park
(Jun 14, '12)
The real tragedy of Memogate
Pakistan's opposition has seized on the Memogate controversy surrounding
President Asif Ali Zardari, saying the document which allegedly lists Zardari's
concerns over a military coup proves he is an American stooge. Instead of
viewing the imbalance in civil-military relations as something to be exploited
for tactical gain, the country's political classes should be working to end it
for the nation's good. - David J Karl (Jun
14, '12)
The long oil road to Tianjin
Sluggish economies in Europe and the United States (and increased US domestic
fuel production) means Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer, must find other
buyers of its crude. China is a natural buyer, although the distance to Tianjin
refineries is expensive. Instability in Nigeria's oilfields and further north
could be a more pressing problem. - Emanuele Scimia
(Jun 14, '12)
Dangers of stalled nuclear
talks in Moscow
The stakes are high for everyone as Iranian and international nuclear
negotiators prepare for talks next week in Moscow. Failure would pile more
sanctions on curbs that are already hurting Iran's moribund economy. But
Western powers are mistaken if they think the Islamic Republic will surrender:
all indications point toward Tehran resisting pressure at any cost. - Hooshang
Amirahmadi and Shahir Shahidsaless (Jun
12, '12)
Intersections of peace and war
Afghanistan became yet one more of many junctures on the road to the
globalization of American "might makes right", as Muslims were mobilized
against the Reagan-labeled evil empire of godless communism. That Osama bin
Laden was one of the first prize recruits shows how intersections of violence
and war often backfire. It is a lesson we are still learning in the gunning
down of Arsala Rahmani last month. - Dallas Darling
(Jun 11, '12)
Iran's Islamic pipeline a mad
man's dream
Iran, blessed with vast resources of oil and gas, has for decades struggled to
get these to ready markets due to the ever-tighter grip of Western and United
Nations sanctions. Its latest plan to secure exports by transiting Arab states
has no more likelihood of success than earlier efforts. At best, it is a mad
man's dream.
- Mansour Kashfi (Jun 6, '12)
Lessons from Tiananmen to
Wall Street
Occupy movements agitating for the rights of the 99% will have to unite
globally and be well informed to be effective. They should support and mobilize
for government officials who support workers and students. These are among the
lessons and legacy of the bloody events in Beijing 23 years ago. - Dallas
Darling (Jun 5, '12)
The socialist family business
Political families, like those headed by former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and
disgraced Chongqing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai, perform a vital role in
post-socialist societies by integrating politics, economics, foreign relations
and ideology in perhaps the only way possible. But both became a threat to the
hierarchy of the elite and were therefore cut down. - Chris Monday
(Jun 1, '12)
False flags on China's rocky road
Increasing activity of Chinese 'netizens' in a buzzing blogosphere, recent
sagas involving Bo Xilai and Chen Guangcheng - all point to relative progress
toward a more open polity, suggesting that China can be on its way to
democratic development. But the real political transition hasn't even begun. - Hilary
Wong (May 31, '12)
Iran's pipe dream in space
Iran holds dear to its wish to send an astronaut into space by the end of the
decade. At best, however, its capability is on par with North Korea and with
sanctions in place over its controversial nuclear program, Tehran is unable to
gain the technology needed to set its sights so high. Western analysts also see
Iranian satellite launch missions as but a cover to boost its long-range
missile capability. - Radhakrishna Rao (May
30, '12)
What made Iran's revolution any
different?
America hasn't always backed popular uprisings around the world, preferring to
sabotage revolution wherever it suited its own, rather than democratic
interests. That forms the basis for its support of recent Arab revolts. By
supporting the anti-democratic, dictatorial shah in Iran, it acted entirely in
character. - Dallas Darling (May 29, '12)
The mediation mirage in
Palestine
Almost two decades after it began, the United States-led "process" to win peace
for Palestine and Israel is still a non-starter, with failure to deliver being
proof enough that there has never been any attempt at serious mediation to
solve the conflict, and it is time to cut the "make-believe" and make room for
more viable options.
- Nicola Nasser (May 25, '12)
Okinawa remains an intractable thorn
The latest plan to quell opposition to America's military presence on Okinawa
is unlikely to reduce an enduring source of tension in US-Japanese relations.
It fails to address serious problems rooted in the complex economic and
security relationship. As long as there is a US military presence on Okinawa
and Tokyo buys local acquiescence, the objections will continue. - Stacie L
Pettyjohn and Alan J Vick (May 24,
'12)
Lingualism: Changing the
names of the game
It's hard to imagine the President of the United State saying: "Allah Bless
America!" or the Pope calling Jesus Christ and St Nikolas "a Buddha" and "a
Shengren". Yet we demand at all times that Muslims have a God and that
Confucius is a saint. The destruction of non-Western ideas with Western
concepts of philosophy, religion, and science was hardly ever challenged, yet
this could now change. - Thorsten Pattberg (May
23, '12)
Missing links in the
Arab Spring
Such is the nature of revolutions: They are initiated by dreamers, carried out
by brave people, and taken over by opportunists. Several missing links in the
Arab revolution suggest the process of rebuilding may take a long time,
requiring much patience and sensitivity among global powers wanting to see a
stable and democratic Middle East. - Monte Palmer
(May 22, '12)
Europe's lost model identity
The European Union, its voters in anti-austerity overdrive, is giving up the
one geopolitical "weapon" in play since the end of the Cold War: the sense of
the political and economic experiment as a venture worth emulating. As a model
for developing Southeast Asia, the EU is in reverse - replicating low wages,
tough working conditions and social security in decline. - Emanuele Scimia
(May 21, '12)
Nepal's constitution: Respect
the dissenters
The transition to a new constitution and the rule of law cannot be achieved
overnight (South Africa's model constitution was seven years in the making).
Yet the rush to get Nepal's new code into shape has been seemly, with the
result that it will not have legitimacy, simply because politicians have failed
to hear the dissenting voices of the people. - Gyan Basnet
(May 18, '12)
ASEAN shows "The Way" as
Myanmar opens
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was vilified in 1997 with its
decision to bring Myanmar, then a pariah state, into the fold, and again when
it showed the way in November by handing it chairmanship of the group for 2014,
based on "encouraging signs" of reform. Reasons for the sudden change in
Myanmar are still open to debate, but the expectations of stakeholders have
risen exponentially. - Balbir B Bhasin (May
17, '12)
US punishes Iran for
Palestinian resistance
1983 in Beirut: Islamic Jihad claims responsibility as 241 American servicemen
are killed by a suicide bomber. 2007 in a United States federal court: a judge
rules that Iran should pay $2.65 billion to families of the victims. With the
Islamic Jihad lacking substantial amounts of money in US and European banks,
nobody alive to sit in the dock, and 24 years after the event, Iran proved an
easy target to exact retribution for Palestinian resistance. - Ardeshir Ommani
(May 16, '12)
Understanding terrorism in
Pakistan
Empirical research debunks the "madman's deed" explanation of terrorism in
Pakistan, showing that economic growth is positively correlated to acts of
terror. While that may sound theoretically absurd, it points to a widening
income gap as the problem, and inclusive growth and more political opportunity
as large parts of the solution. - Luqman Saeed
(May 11, '12)
Between the lines of Bali
bomber's remorse
Bali bomber Umar Patek's remorse in the dock stretches credulity, yet he
clearly wants to avoid the firing squad faced by other members of the Jemaah
Islamiah terror network who carried out the 2002 attack. While those executions
took place without much public angst, death to Patek may act as a force
multiplier for other terror groups - something that the Indonesian authorities
will be keen to avoid. - Bibhu Prasad Routray
(May 10, '12)
US: China's aggression written in the
stars
Concerns are growing in the United States that China's military has accelerated
its pursuit of space-related weaponry that could win future conflicts, with
anti-satellite missiles, laser and directed energy devices set to strengthen
Beijing's "anti-access" strategy. Meanwhile, China's satellite industry is
challenging US dominance over the global commercial space enterprise and
boosting Beijing's diplomatic clout. - Radhakrishna Rao
(May 9, '12)
It's not just Manmohan's fault
It's not just India's economic travails and ructions within his own government
that have put a huge dent in Manmohan Singh's once-stellar reputation as the
first prime minister in decades to win re-election. He labors under
institutional constraints, and has the hapless distinction of being in command
of neither his cabinet nor his own party. - David J Karl
(May 9, '12)
On war crimes, the buck
stops here
A lack of judgment and professionalism started long before US troops posed with
Nazi SS flags in Afghanistan while committing hundreds of crimes against peace
and humanity. War-like pathologies begin with bureaucrats in power and those
who espouse doctrines of superiority.
- Dallas Darling (May 8, '12)
Dirty games cross the Afghan
divide
Mutual hostility to occupation has always brought Afghanistan's ethnic groups
together, reflected in never having succumbed to foreign invaders. But the
diversity of society has produced a long history of confrontation between
people of different clans that regional actors must stop exploiting. - Luqman
Saeed (May 7, '12)
North Korea puts China in harm's way
North Korea's repeated choice of provocation instead of engagement flies in the
face of the wishes of its sole ally, China, with Pyongyang's alleged decision
for a third nuclear weapons test a signal for Beijing to weigh the pros and
cons of its support very carefully. Reckless North Korea is turning out to be a
strategic burden for China. - Thapa Pradip (May
4, '12)
China searches for maritime stability
As the United States and other nations, including the Philippines and Japan,
appear overly fearful of China's naval activities, they may instead want to
learn several valuable lessons from China's sparkling maritime history. Perhaps
it is time to allow China to equalize the balance of power in the Pacific
region, helping to bring stability and innovation. - Dallas Darling
(May 1, '12)
The great US heist on Iranian
assets
The United States government in the past quarter of a century has been in the
illegitimate business of taking over, seizing, freezing and expropriating
Iranian banks, financial assets and accounts opened in American and European
banks. False claims and the targeting of Iranians in America are all part of
the sting. - Ardeshir Ommani (Apr 30, '12)
Turkey's EU membership hits a
wall
Greece is determined to rapidly finish the construction of a barrier designated
to prevent migrants from crossing illegally its border with Turkey. The wall -
which is going to run for 12.5 kilometers - epitomizes the apparently
overwhelming gap separating Europe from Ankara and casts a further shadow over
the latter's accession to the European Union. - Emanuele Scimia
(Apr 26, '12)
China's dilemma: Power vs freedom
China's dilemma is that it must allow greater freedom of choice if it wants to
improve quality of life, but that will threaten the Communist Party's monopoly
on power. What China needs most is not democracy but limited government and the
rule of law, reforming a politicized and corrupt economy where the road to
riches is through the pursuit of power rather than freedom. - James A Dorn
(Apr 24, '12)
India's Angi V sends strong
nuclear signal
The Agni V inter-continental ballistic missile should be interpreted only as a
"signal" of deterrence to China's claim to Arunachal Pradesh since Indian
values, national interests and military forces are not geared towards the
offensive. Though nuclear "signaling" is not without its downsides, the two of
the rising powers need deft diplomacy to resolve their border dispute. - Namrata
Goswami (Apr 23, '12)
After the storm in the South China
Sea
The stand-off in the South China Sea between vessels from the Philippines and
China represents a high-water mark in simmering tensions over disputed
territories. Looking beyond frenzied diplomatic efforts that should restore
calm, the incident may help spur efforts to establish long-lasting peace. - Nazery
Khalid (Apr 20, '12)
Beijing takes steps to
free-float currency
China's decision to widen the trading limit of its currency amid a slowing
economy are evidence it is not worried about a hard landing or rapid yuan
appreciation, yet external politics, including the US presidential election and
this week's IMF/World Bank meeting, are no doubt central factors in the timing
of the announcements.
- Richard Colapinto (Apr 19, '12)
India and China can do the
unthinkable
India could forge new partnerships with China by offering Chinese goods an
alternative to fragile sea routes, While that would require New Delhi to do the
unthinkable and set aside differences over disputed borders, the benefits for
both countries would be significant. - Ritvvij Parrikh
(Apr 19, '12)
How the Arab Spring was sapped
dry
The magnificent Arab Spring that started in Egypt and Tunisia in early 2011 has
been brutally derailed, distorted and contained by an all-out counter-offensive
orchestrated by Western powers and their allies. Post-modern and age-old
tactics played their part. - Ismael Hossein-zadeh
(Apr 18, '12)
Democracy still in the
generals' grasp
Resounding victory for Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for
Democracy is prompting Western governments to review their relationship with
Naypyidaw, just as the government intended. But the pace of democratization is
in the military's hands, and depends largely on it being convinced that a
civilian government will not avenge past abuses, and on its ability to make
peace with ethnic minorities. - Nehginpao Kipgen
(Apr 12, '12)
Corruption a thorn in India's
side
The Commonwealth Games fiasco, housing scams and investigations into the award
of contracts for a mobile phone network form part of the swirling mass of
corruption allegations that have fomented mass protest in India. Graft, bribery
and cronyism have been important factors in India's growth story, and remain a
difficult thorn to extract. - Saloni Kapur (Apr
10, '12)
Saudi Arabia's Syrian jihad
While the United States and its allies are wary of seeing Syria become a
sectarian battleground, Saudi Arabia is enthusiastically hurtling towards it.
Power brokers in Riyadh have clearly calculated that the potential fruits of
toppling President Bashar al-Assad, and enthroning a Sunni-aligned regime, are
well worth the political risk. - Joshua Jacobs
(Apr 5, '12)
Lies, damned lies, and Chinese
propaganda
Don't hold your breath for a miracle: China's state media are unlikely to be
offering an apology for defaming the Dalia Lama. If it wants his support in
containing the deepening crisis in Tibet, however, then Beijing should tone
down its vitriol and engage in constructive dialogue. - Dhundup Gyalpo
(Apr 4, '12)
Europe enters the new
scramble for Africa
The beat of war drums along the disputed inter-Sudanese border is failing to
repel a European Union push to cover a huge swathe of Central and East Africa.
Like the United States, Europe is back to the old role of geopolitics where
economic leverage trumps all else, and challenging China's developing interests
in the chaotic but oil-drenched region. - Emanuele Scimia
(Apr 3, '12)
Old rogues take different
trajectories
North Korea's plans to move ahead with its satellite launch add to evidence
that it is not about to follow in Myanmar's footsteps. Both were seen as
international pariahs - except as viewed from Beijing, but now Pyongyang is
making a conscious choice to continue its brinksmanship, while Naypyidaw looks
to be choosing democracy. In the long run, all depends on who really holds the
reins in both capitals.
- Ben Kolisnyk (Apr 2, '12)
Pakistan's empty nuclear claim
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani says that access to civilian
nuclear technology for his country would maintain a balance of power in South
Asia. It may help move the balance from a present chronic shortage of
electricity, but in strategic terms the argument is fallacious. - Saloni Kapur
(Mar 30, '12)
US sanctions in Iran, victims
at home
President Barack Obama's Persian New Year declaration that he will use American
resources to provide Iranians with access to the Internet while the US
government is prosecuting Iranian-Americans for providing food, clothes,
medicine, clothing and educational materials to needy children flies in the
face of logic and common sense. - Ahmed E Souaiaia
(Mar 29, '12)
China's better route for North Korean
refugees
Officials in Beijing should recognize that rounding up and forcibly
repatriating refugees to North Korea, in clear contravention of international
refugee law, is counterproductive to any goal of improving China's
international image. Ceasing crackdowns on North Korean refugees is not just
the right thing to do, it is also in China's national interest. - Sokeel J Park
(Mar 28, '12)
Is it China's turn to change economic
gear?
China's economy has reached a fork in the road where it could enter a moribund
phase similar to Japan's over the past few decades, or continue with fairly
high growth. Optimists point to China's important advantages, while pessimists
emphasize problems that pose serious threats. Getting social and economic
policies right is critical. - Takahiro Miyao and William S Comanor
(Mar 26, '12)
Pyongyang's freeze dried nukes
North Korea's naysayers probably didn't expect to be able to say they told us
so so quickly after Pyongyang announced its plan to launch a missile in
contravention of the spirit of a recent food aid deal with the United States.
Even the usual apologists admit that maybe they were a little too optimistic. - Ben
Kolisnyk (Mar 23, '12)
Why Khamenei made his move
Iran's elections underlined President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's fraught relations
with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who sought to quash a "deviant current"
and consolidate his rule. For over two decades, he transcended the fray, but
got into the thick of it amid a crisis of spiritual and temporal authority. - Kevjn
Lim (Mar 20, '12)
Rare earths - the next oil
The decision of the United States, the European Union and Japan to file a joint
case at the World Trade Organization against China over its handling of trade
in rare earths - the first such cooperation by the three powers - highlights
the strategic importance of what are, in fact, non-rare elements. China will
not easily let go of its advantages in controlling supply. - Elliot Brennan
(Mar 15, '12)
Broken dreams and Green Berets
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the massacre of 16 civilians in
Kandahar, purportedly by a rogue US soldier, won't "change our steadfast
dedication to protecting the Afghan people and building a strong, stable
Afghanistan". This "dedication" has resulted in night raids, atrocities and
some 40,000 Afghans killed since 2001, while spiraling levels of unemployment,
corruption and poverty suggest no progress towards stability. - Muhammad Bilal
Qureshi (Mar 14, '12)
China, EU share same ills
The economies of China and the European Union economies are, in theory and
historically, quite different, yet, within both, reforms being urged from
within bear a disconcerting similarity - and have a similar small likelihood of
being adopted.
- Emanuele Scimia (Mar 13, '12)
How to not lose Russia
Some American praise for Russia's efforts to ensure the presidential election
proceeded freely and fairly could put relations on a positive trajectory.
Moscow's rising regional clout presents the opportunity for an equal
partnership, but Washington must first set aside its propensity for moralism
and respect the choice of the Russian people. - Nicolai N Petro
(Mar 9, '12)
Myanmar democracy still in
chains
The January release of political prisoners in Myanmar demonstrated the generals
have the courage to reconcile. But no one should turn their back on the task at
hand and few should be surprised that the military is not unleashing democracy.
To change Myanmar, as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said, that the
people themselves will have to take the initiative. - May Ng
(Mar 7, '12)
Who really holds the gun?
It is time for the middle classes to unite against the burden of debt on
society by taking direct action, such as refusing to service mortgages. They
must un-learn what has been indoctrinated into them and recognize they are
subsidizing a parasitical financial class. - Darius Guppy
(Mar 7, '12)
Audacity of hope in North Korea talks
The recent nuclear agreements between the United States and North Korea allow
new leader Kim Jong-eun to present vital food supplies to his people in this
landmark "year of prosperity" while US President Barack Obama can hold up the
foreign policy success in the lead-up to US elections. After those parties are
over, however, the dynamic could shift dramatically. - Sangsoo Lee
(Mar 6, '12)
Iran muscles in on Azerbaijan
Iran, a country with its own large Azeri minority, has for years been seeking
to destabilize the secular government of Shi'ite Azerbaijan, a neighbor with
vastly increasing wealth and one moving ever closer to the West in terms of
security and energy. - Robert M Cutler (Mar
6, '12)
Wukan: Democracy or crisis
management?
The first ever "free, transparent and democratic election" in the People's
Republic of China's short history went smoothly on Saturday. But polls in Wukan
are better as viewed as Beijing's first major success in diverting global
attention from the real issues behind land-grabs and related protests. - Gene Q
(Mar 5, '12)
Rising tide of conflict
Competing interests in the South China Sea are of importance far beyond East
Asia itself, especially as the US has ramped up its presence in the area. A
crucial center of maritime trade and potential source of fuel and minerals, it
is poised to become increasingly - and dangerously - militarized. - Elliot
Brennan (Mar 2, '12)
China's chance to to stem Syrian
blood
China is using the Syrian crucible to test new foreign policies in the Middle
East. Without the same historical baggage in the Middle East as Syria's
neighbors, that brings a chance for some creative solutions to foster a new
balance of power in the region. But first Beijing should seek to stem the flow
of blood. - Francesco Sisci (Feb 29, '12)
Young America and China's
dream
The deep distrust America has of China's economic expansion calls to mind
Europe's 19th-century fears over "commercial invasion" by a rapidly emerging
nation. Striking parallels between modern China's rise and the heady days of
the United States' "Gilded Age" are best glimpsed not through thick history
books, but in the personal accounts of young Yankees that witnessed the US's
birth as a global industrial power. - Barbara Rendall
(Feb 28, '12)
The genius of propaganda
North Korea's propaganda machine machine cranks out images of the country's
poster child, new leader Kim Jong-eun, carefully targeted for the elite and the
masses. While there is genius in the unrelenting massaging of the media,
propaganda is not enough on its own to make North Koreans forget their hunger.
- Ben Kolisnyk (Feb 27, '12)
US must drop the donkey
policy
National pride is a driving force of Iran's nuclear program, yet the United
States' "carrot and stick" approach to the issue is based on a profound
misunderstanding of that fact. More suitable for a donkey than a proud people,
American policy has carelessly scattered more seeds of mistrust. Showing
respect rather than the stick may reap better results. - Hooshang Amirahmadi
and Shahir Shahidsaless (Feb 24, '12)
Saudis embrace China in new
polygamy
Saudi Arabia has been tethered to the United States since its foundation as a
modern state in the 1930s. The "Catholic marriage", as the relationship was
described in its heyday, has broken, replaced in the view of the exasperated
Saudis as an "Islamic marriage" that increasing elevates China and will likely
define the power dynamic in the Middle East over the next decade. - Joshua
Jacobs (Feb 24, '12)
Terror and nuclear confrontation
Recent bomb incidents laid at the door of Iran easily qualify as works of
terror, while the bombings of Iranian facilities and targeted assassinations
including collateral civilian damage as a response to Iran's defiance over its
nuclear program may not transcend that semantic either. - A Vinod Kumar
(Feb 23, '12)
Do the Iran shuffle
It is little surprise that as tensions between the West and Iran reach crisis
level, scarcely a story in the corporate media on the Iranian nuclear program
appears without referencing the "existential threat" to Israel. Iran poses no
such threat, and the card is merely played to shroud the joint US-Israeli
imperial project. - Ben Schreiner (Feb 22,
'12)
The sinicization of
EU-Indian ties
In cash-strapped Europe, human rights seems to come one step behind economy and
trade, never more so as the European Union prepares to seal the biggest trade
deal in the world. That is why the EU is treating India as if it were China,
with aggressions against Christians in Indian states absent from the agenda. - Emanuele
Scimia (Feb 21, '12)
Indian press buries truth at the
border
The shame of a lost war half has left a long tradition of anti-Chinese slant in
Indian newspapers, to the extent that some give the impression that the war
never quite ended. Brace yourself for more malignant stuff this year, which
marks the 50th anniversary of the conflict. - Debasish Roy Chowdhury
(Feb 17, '12)
Reason in a new age of regime
change
With China and Russia throwing a spanner in the works of international
machinations to bring regime change to Syria, it is high time to consider how
Western power play hijacks the rights of people to seek change and peaceful
solutions to problems in their own countries. - Shahnaz Durrani
(Feb 16, '12)
The oil road through Damascus
Middle East oil transit routes are at risk from Islamist revolutions and
Iranian threats. Instability all along the oil road is at its highest point in
decades, and Syria's location as a potential energy path cannot have been
missed. - Ronnie Blewer (Feb 14, '12)
Nepal: law and order denied
Nepal witnessed very grave human rights violations during a decade of conflict,
and even after five years of peacemaking no attention has been paid to innocent
victims and their families. Cheap political compromises that block the route to
justice and a culture of impunity must give way to truth and reparation to end
a vicious cycle of lawlessness. - Gyan Basnet
(Feb 10, '12)
Syria: another US stepping
stone
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shies from Bush-era talk of a
"coalition of the willing", but the rallying call promote a political
transition in Syria cannot be clearer. The fates of Libya and Syria could not
be more similar. Deep in economic crisis, the US and Europe are looking to
regenerate capitalism through widespread war with the developing countries
before being ready for war with Russia and China. - Ardeshir Ommani
(Feb 9, '12)
NATO's not so smart initiative
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has launched a trust fund project to
secure or destroy hidden weapons and munitions in Tajikistan. The first
initiative in a move to low-cost support , it should mark a breakthrough in
multilateral cooperation, but budgetary constraints and commitments in
Afghanistan are making the "smart defense" initiative anything but a reality. - Emanuele
Scimia (Feb 8, '12)
BOOK REVIEW
Playful lessons for North Korea's
young leader
The Lily: Evolution, Play, and the Power of a Free Societyby
Daniel Cloud
Princeton University political philosopher Daniel Cloud's gift to
North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-eun could not have come at a better time. The
book explains to the Young General, that by grasping evolutionary forces, free
societies - as the Dao De Jing puts it - "accomplish everything by doing
nothing." Something for Kim to ponder among his ambitious plans to join the
"elite club of nations" this year. - Mark A DeWaever
(Feb 6, '12)
Lest we forget in Myanmar
Optimistic reports of positive change flow freely from Myanmar, as the
president portrays himself as a leader who sincerely wants to improve citizens'
livelihoods, alleviate poverty and include the oppressed opposition in the
political process. But the West blindly supports the shallow democratic
transition, and increasingly runs the rising risk of being on the wrong side of
history. - Nancy Hudson-Rodd (Feb 3, '12)
Time for Japanese opposition to stand
tall
Japan is mired in a deep socioeconomic malaise and is still struggling to
recover from the tsunami and nuclear disaster of last year. This makes it
hardly the right time for the opposition party to engage in the petty
politicking it seems to prefer.- Brad Williams
(Jan 31, '12)
Moscow populism and the Great
Game
As the scale of rallies against Vladimir Putin suggests that Russia's political
life is on the cusp of change - and with it, the emergence of alternative
visions of power projection in Central Asia. Any rollback would give the
American leadership more room to hatch favorable deals in the region, and allow
China to expand its horzons too. - Uran Bolush
(Jan 30'12)
Oil embargo on Iran a conundrum
for Europe
Maybe for the first time in its history, the European Union is playing a tough
geopolitical game, but it must weigh up the sustainability of its move to ban
Iranian oil. Some Iranian officials have already threatened to stop exporting
crude to Europe promptly to provoke a surge in prices and prevent European
countries from finding other supplies at similar costs in the short term. - Emanuele
Scimia (Jan 25, '12)
Refugees blur Bhutan's image
Bhutan has a carefully cultivated image of mountain vistas and peaceful
Buddhist temples with a content people whose state of mind is measured by a
Gross National Happiness. This fine picture makes no account of the forced
expulsion of a significant portion of the population. - David Koppers
(Jan 24, '12)
US meets resistance to Iranian
sanctions
The ongoing United States presidential and congressional campaign to pressure
the European Union, Turkey, Japan, China and India to stop halt importing
Iranian oil and related financial transactions is facing resistance by the
importing companies and countries. - Ardeshir Ommani
(Jan 19, '12)
The progress flows in
Myanmar
What large-scale protests as seen in the Arab Spring could not achieve in
Myanmar, now may take place sheerly through the weight of history. Perhaps not
wanting to be a surrogate of China or another North Korea, Myanmar sees reforms
as a chance for new economic opportunities with the West. - David Koppers
(Jan 18, '12)
Afghanistan: What is truly
deplorable
The circumstances surrounding the desecration of bodies in Afghanistan by US
soldiers has gained world attention. The truth is that the act is hardly
illustrative of a few bad apples. Rather, the incident is illustrative of a
system of US imperial militarism that is rotten to its very core. - Ben
Schreiner (Jan 17, '12)
Europe is the missing link
Recent announcements by the United States indicate that it will seek to
solidify its influence in the Asia-Pacific and thus, inevitably, North Africa.
It is a strategy that could have far-reaching effects, both positive and
ominous. Without proper support from its allies, this complex game of chess
could become one of dominos. - Emanuele Scimia
(Jan 13, '12)
The war is with China, the
battleground Africa
The obvious intent of the United States' stated focus on the Asia-Pacific is to
remind the rising China that America is still the big dog; the glaze at the
Asia-Pacific is not that region at all, it is Africa. - Dieter Neumann
(Jan 12, '12)
The cost of our habits
Smoke it, chew it or just second-hand inhale it - tobacco and production have
become the target of both health and political advocates seeking a better place
for all of us. Rights seem to dictate that people be allowed to smoke
themselves to death, while the same rights seek to protect non-smokers. All the
while, the tobacco industry lines itself to the tune of billions. - Ardeshir
Ommani (Jan 9, '12)
Afghanistan: US press withdraws
Lost amid the attention paid to the United States withdrawal from Iraq is the
fact that nearly 100,000 US troops (and a near equal number of private
contractors) remain entrenched in Afghanistan. Yet the American media have
largely packed up and withdrawn from Afghanistan, possibly moving away from a
situation that reeks of US imperialism. - Ben Schreiner
(Jan 5, '12)
Policy and politics of
democracy in Tunisia
The first Arab democracies have their work cut out for them as they attempt to
leave behind an era of corruption and human-rights abuses. In this environment,
a successful coming of age for the Tunisian government may act as an example to
the rest of the Arab world. - Ahmed E Souaiaia
(Jan 4, '12)
Finding justice in
Guantanamo
The events of 9/11 and the "war on terror" changed the global outlook and the
way governments function. An unfortunate example of this is the decision by the
supposed bastion of justice and human rights, the United States, to create a
detention facility at Guantanamo as part of the war. - Gyan Basnet
(Jan 3, '12)
A journey through Inner Mongolia
Spending time in Inner Mongolia is an interesting experience, especially when
in some places Mongolian culture is overshadowed by Chinese culture. - David
Koppers (Dec 20, '11)
Kashmiri people should decide
Multiple wars, isolation, human-rights issues and ongoing angst between two
nuclear-armed neighbors should be enough for all parties to agree that a
solution is necessary in the territorial question of Kashmir. Give the people
of Kashmir a choice or the players, including the world community, could see
devastating results. - Gyan Basnet (Dec 19,
'11)
The false monolith of political
Islam
Willful ignorance of one's supposed enemies is not even the most damaging
effect of America's continued rhetoric about the monolithic face of political
Islam. Describing these various groups and regimes as a unified threat is a
self-fulfilling prophecy. - Brendan P O'Reilly
(Dec 16, '11)
Self-immolation tests China
Contrary to most observations, self-immolation does not suggest growing
frustration among the Tibetans. Rather, it indicates newer kinds of protest in
the face of newer kinds of repressive measures from Beijing. - Abanti
Bhattacharya (Dec 15, '11)
Apathy in the face of cruelty
The harsh conditions and lack of opportunity that Africans are forced to live
with are met with another wave of injustice and discrimination in northern
Africa and Europe as they try to emigrate north to find a better life. - Ahmed E
Souaiaia (Dec 14, '11)
Derivatives and free trade
The United States depends on "free trade" for continued expansion - whether in
the shape of opium pushed on China or as no less destructive derivatives forced
on the rest of the world. The US Congress will not support protectionism when
there is still "free trade" in banking to secure. - Zhuubaajie
(Dec 13, '11)
Winning and losing in
Afghanistan
The war in Afghanistan has been a quagmire from the beginning that was driven
by the 9/11 tragedy. Western powers got their man, but the toils of war remain.
The US and its partners have recently announced a 2014 pull-out. The benefits
and the losses are many, just as the players are after the withdrawal. - Gaurav
Agrawal (Dec 13, '11)
The East-West dichotomy
revisited
How do cultures of the East versus the West deduce or induce the world and
reality around them? This affects the world of a society and an individual and
the interpretation of the many religious beliefs they hold. - Thorsten Pattberg
(Dec 12, '11)
India puts the Indo in
'Indo-Pacific'
Indian ambitions to become a linchpin for the United States as it challenges
China's aggressive posturing revolve around US pledges that the "Indo-Pacific"
bilateral relationship is a "defining partnership" of the 21st century. That
the "Indo" in "Indo-Pacific" can be taken as referring to India and not the
"common values and interests" the US shares with Indonesia, tends to muddy
expansive waters. - Rukmani Gupta (Dec 7,
'11)
A new beginning for the
United Nations
The United Nations' structure still reflects conditions at the time of its
founding in 1945, but fundamental questions need to be asked about how well it
is equipped to fulfill its goals and maintain peace in today's world order.
Reform within the UN itself will not suffice in new political circumstances and
the troubled times more than half a century after its creation. Fundamental
change is essential. - Gyan Basnet (Dec 5,
'11)
Making sense of self-immolation
An opinion piece in the China Daily added insult to the injury of Tibetan
persecution with an attack on the Dalai Lama over the recent spate of
self-immolation by Buddhist monks and nuns. While it is a violent act, it can
also be an inherently individualistic act of self-sacrifice that exacts no
apparent cost for others. - Dhundup Gyalpo (Dec
1, '11)
India and the Asia-Pacific chessboard
India's place within changing Sino-United States political and security
equations needs to be reckoned with. Common sense would dictate that 'hedging'
and 'balancing' is perhaps the best safety net, but foreign policy fundamentals
need to be revisited, especially in regard to the most pressing issues with
China. Engagement rather than balancing and containment should be India's
policy brand. - Medha Bisht (Nov 30, '11)
Asia and the sea powers, 1911 and
2011
There are fascinating comparisons between Britain's naval dominance in around
Asia early in the 20th century and that of the US a hundred years later. There
are also stark - even bizarre - differences, including America's indebtedness
to its greatest Asian "rival", China. - Alan G Jamieson
(Nov 29, '11)
The capitalist myth
Conventional wisdom decrees that the private sector is good, and the public
sector bad. That all regulation of the private, capitalist, sector stifles
innovation. Yet it is unregulated capitalism that lies at the root of the
current economic crisis. - Dafydd Taylor (Nov
15, '11)
Japan and Europe toward the
exit from history
Up until 1991, the Land of the Rising Sun and the Old Continent were the United
States' bulwarks at the eastern and western rims of Eurasia’s landmass: the
first line of containment against the Soviet Union along the Pacific and
Atlantic Oceans. Now, despite the diplomatic acrobatics staged by US officials,
the status of Japan and Europe as cornerstones - in their respective regions -
of the American security system is questioned. - Emanuele Scimia
(Nov 14, '11)
West's Spring lacks focus
While the Arab protester could cry out for democracy, those in the West are
left with less inspiring rhetoric. Perhaps the Western protesters need a form
of inspiration more familiar to their Arab counterparts. If the authorities
seek to make an example of some individuals to end the protests, they will
create martyrs. That could be the factor that transforms the discontent into
something more focussed and urgent. - Dafydd Taylor
(Oct 31, '11)
China-US trade ties too
important to fear
Discord over the Sino-America trade imbalance and its causes is potentially
dangerous. The trade relationship is one of mutual dependence. The two
economies are so integrated there's only one sensible way forward - deepening
that integration. Misleading currency chatter does not help. - Nick Ottens
(Oct 28, '11)
Cambodia's unrealized peace
promise
Twenty years after the Paris Peace Agreements that ended Cambodia's civil war
with the Khmer Rouge, the country has seen a fair degree of prosperity and
development. However, Prime Minister Hun Sen's scant regard for the rule of law
has allowed a corrupt elite to ruthlessly pursue wealth at the expense of the
impoverished, with little progress seen towards the democratic future that
long-suffering Cambodians were promised. - Ou Virak
(Oct 27, '11)
Indonesia's 'war' against
the people
The threats from a number of lawmakers in the Indonesian House of
Representative calling for the dismissal of the Corruption Eradication
Commission need to be stopped. Dismissing the commission - which is waging a
successful battle - would be like fighting a "war" against the civilized
Indonesian people. - Yasmi Adriansyah (Oct
26, '11)
What happens to liberal
values in hard times?
Millions of Asians have made the West their home. What are the likely social
and psychological consequences for us "others" in these hard times? With no end
to bad economic news, how many Europeans and Americans will retain or abandon
liberal values? If more of the latter, which members of society are likely to
become victims of growing intolerance and injustice? - Pushkar
(Oct 25, '11)
China's grand strategy
After a 200-year hiatus China's Grand Strategy has been reinstated and looks to
be as successful as ever. It is inexpensive and delivers sustainable, tangible
benefits to the Chinese people. Expect to see elements of it emulated, first by
Asian countries and later - who knows? - by us. - Godfree Roberts
(Oct 24, '11)
A European future
For Europe, the future really should be bright. Yet there is one vital
ingredient missing - a sense of self-confidence. The sort of self-confidence
for which the United States is renowned, and China seems, in the past few
years, to have rediscovered. - Dafydd Taylor (Oct
20, '11)
Indonesia: Among the
happiest people
Indonesian people often refer to themselves as being open-minded, at the same
time some of them are afraid of trying new things. It is a country of diversity
and tolerance. At the same time it is a country of covert intolerance and
internal fear of new things that seem alien to its culture. Indonesia is a
developing country, but the Indonesian people are perhaps among the happiest
people in the world. - Zeyneb Temnenko (Oct
18, '11)
Language imperialism - 'democracy' in
China
Since European languages have their own histories and traditions, they cannot
sufficiently render Chinese concepts, such as shengren and minzhu,
which are erroneously translated as "philosophers" and "democracy. The solution
would be to not translate the most important foreign concepts at all, but adopt
them.
- Thorsten Pattberg (Oct 17, '11)
North Korea tied to China
While North Korea may wish to not be as reliant on China as it presently is,
the visit by North Korean Prime Minister Choe Yong-rim to China shows that its
domestic policies and global isolation have left it with little choice but to
look to that country to once again ensure it stays afloat. - Bruno de Paiva
(Oct 14, '11)
South China Sea: A new
geopolitical node
The South China Sea occupies a special position in the world as the place where
the interests of major powers - the United States, Japan and those rising
giants, China and India - intersect. A whole set of challenges and threats in a
region of growing economic power and potential conflict make the turbulent
waters a flashpoint that will have a huge influence on the course of world
politics in coming decades. - Prokhor Tebin (Oct
13, '11)
Verify, don't trust
Just a few weeks before the US$3.6 billion Chinese-backed dam was suspended,
the government saw popular opposition as no obstacle to work already underway
on the mega-project. Predicting the next twist in the saga is difficult in a
country of limited transparency, when the decision to suspend might yet be
reversed again with a new government take on "the will of the people". - Curtis
S Chin (Oct 12, '11)
Why is USA targeting Pakistan?
The only way out of the quagmire of accusations, counter-accusations, lies and
deceit between the United States and Pakistan is an early withdrawal of
American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces and an end to this war.
Cooler, smarter heads in Washington must rule and drive home the point, as the
problem is the occupying forces, not Pakistan. - Yasmeen Ali
(Oct 6, '11)
The importance of Camp David
If the first historic act the new Egyptian government achieved in regard to its
neighbors was to repudiate the Camp David agreements, then, by defining a
common external enemy and entering into a war-time mentality, the reinsertion
of emergency laws would be justified, the power of the military establishment
over civilian officials would be effectively reinstated and overall democratic
possibilities would be crushed. - Riccardo Dugulin
(Oct 5, '11)
The South China Sea is not
China’s Sea
It would be absurd if England were to try to claim sovereignty over most of the
English Channel, Iran the Persian Gulf, Thailand the Gulf of Thailand, Vietnam
the Gulf of Tonkin, Japan the Sea of Japan, or Mexico the Gulf of Mexico. For
their own sake, the major powers must not abandon the South China Sea to be
turned into a Chinese lake and Southeast Asian nations to fall into China's
orbit. - Huy Duong (Oct 4, '11)
Is Asia the light of the future?
Communist-cum-free market China, democratic but caste-ridden India,
nuclear-stricken Japan, opium-ridden Afghanistan, and the vast oil and gas
reserves of central Asia and the Middle East crescent, form a landscape full of
opportunities and existing or potential conflicts. What the appropriation of
the paradigm of science achieved was globalization that is building a common
destiny for all. - Nicholas A Biniaris (Oct
3, '11)
India: fighting corruption or
adapting to it?
The fight against corruption may be the fashionable thing going well in India.
But there exist some forms of corruption still to be recognized as such. A
startling example of a double murder to obliterate a scam speaks a lot about
the issue. - Ton Lenssen (Sep 28, '11)
Crisis thinkers or thinkers
in crisis?
A recently released report on Myanmar by the International Crisis Group (ICG),
the world's best known think tank on crises, brims with hope. But once past the
optimistic title, Myanmar: Major Reform Underway, multiple shortcomings
and intellectual sins that undermine its credibility make the report grim
reading. - Maung Zarni (Sep 27, '11)
Palestine's bid: An open letter
to Obama
Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims will see a veto of Palestine's application for
statehood by United States President Barack Obama as conclusive proof he is
pandering to the Jewish vote for self-serving, short-term political reasons,
says a Palestinian refugee. Obama's expected veto at the United Nations will be
devastating to America's national interests and relations with the rest of the
world.
- Zakariya A Jalamani (Sep 20, '11)
Questioning Indonesia's
place in the world
Indonesia's lack of influence in the global political-economic arena belies its
size and abundant natural and human resources. Numerous internal challenges
that typically face developing nations are to blame, but by tackling the most
daunting - corruption, rule of law and poverty - Jakarta can prove that the
country is headed towards greater power status - Yasmi Adriansyah
(Sep 19, '11)
The Development Deception
There is a dangerous lie that permeates the media, government and general
discourse of nearly every single nation on Earth. That lie is the Development
Deception; it is grossly misleading for the nations who over-consume the
world's finite resources to be considered developed. - Brendan P O'Reilly
(Sep 15, '11)
Normality trumps rhetoric in
Yeonpyeong
A stroll through the quiet streets of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island some nine
months after North Korean shelling killed four people suggests life has
reverted to the slow pace of the past. However, howitzers, bunkers, tanks and
barbed wire fences are constant reminders to stoic residents that the island's
proximity to the North makes it a significant political bargaining chip. - Matthew
Clayton (Sep 14, '11)
Clausewitz and Sun Tzu after the
neo-cons
Battles and even campaigns can be won following Sun Tzu, but it is difficult to
win a war by applying his Art of War principles which, unlike Carl von
Clausewitz's theories, didn't consider the post-war political-social landscape.
Military prowess, neo-conservative desires and the application of some Sun Tze
principles have been factors in the United States Army's military successes and
likewise in its obvious failures. - Andreas Herberg-Rothe
(Sep 13, '11)
Inward look at Chinese
outward investment
Fear of being displaced by China tops off many claims that its companies'
overseas investments bring wanton damage to the environment, the abuse of local
workers, and disregard for traditional customs. Such anxieties are based on an
ignorance of the facts or context amid China's dramatically changing profile as
an outward investor. - Jean-Marc F Blanchard (Sep
12, '11)
A democracy only in name
Myanmar is celebrating the United Nations' International Day of Democracy,
urging its citizens to be "true patriots" and "honest with good attitude for
the motherland" during the country's still uncertain political transition. Yet
the sober reality of life under both the old and new governments, particularly
for rural farmers, is the antithesis of the regime's declarations. - Nancy
Hudson-Rodd (Sep 8, '11)
Grand bargaining reloaded?
 Hyun
In-taek, South Korea's hardline unification minister, has been replaced by Yu
Woo-ik, a close confidant of President Lee Myung-Bak and a former ambassador to
China. It can be hoped the move does not result in a complete policy reversal,
in a kind of desperate, short-term attempt to cater to voter sentiment ahead of
presidential elections in 2012. - Bernhard Seliger
(Aug 31, '11)
North Korea seeks rice deal
Myanmar may be about to supply North Korea with rice, following a meeting in
Yangon between officials from the two countries. With a barter deal the most
likely arrangement, the question is what can impoverished North Korea bring to
the table. Nuclear expertise is one possibility. - Bruno de Paiva
(Aug 18, '11)
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