Last week’s 70-minute reception of the Dalai Lama by President Obama has greatly increased the tensions between the US and China, apparently putting Hu Jintao’s planned trip to Washington in April in doubt.
Whilst it is hard to gauge what US policymakers hope to gain from supporting Dalai Lama, one thing is clear : God has [...]
China’s loss of US export markets has determined Chinese officials to invest huge amounts of money into the construction of a 16,000-km fast train network, to be fully completed by 2020. During the first three quarters of 2009, investment in fixed assets like factories and railroads has amounted to more than 90 percent of China’s 8 percent growth for [...]
In an increasingly energy-hungry world, no country is hungrier for natural resources and oil than China. Its 8 to 10 percent yearly growth rates over the last two decades have made the Chinese economy the second largest in the world today. With close to 2 trillion dollars in forex reserves, its government was able to [...]
The APEC summit ended this Sunday in Singapore, concluding an 8-day talks marathon between its 21 member nations’ political leaders. The summit’s final declaration included a pledge to create a comprehensive “new growth paradigm” for the region, in order to avoid “growth as usual” strategies. (Vancouver Sun)
One of the most dynamic economic regions in the world, Asia-Pacific has a combined [...]
Until recently, we were used to hearing neo-conservative pundits peddle the idea that the 21st century will see a renewal of American hegemonism over world affairs. The “new American century” has fizzled out amid botched military interventions, lacklustre economic performance in the States and repeated stockmarket scandals that affected the economic stability of the whole [...]
The 15th ASEAN summit kicked off in Thailand yesterday amid heavy security. For those in the know, the April summit could not be held because of heavy anti-government protests.
The ten ASEAN countries have decided to establish a human rights watchdog, considered by observers as weak and ineffective, as it lacks powers to punish offenders (BBC News). The [...]
On the eve of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Geneva-based professor Zhang Wei-Wei felt compelled to summarize for Western audiences the principles which he believes explain China’s successful modernization drive.
In an op-ed published by The New York Times on September 30, he states that when China opened up in [...]
The second trilateral summit between China, South Korea and Japan ended this Saturday in Beijing with a commitment by prime minister Wen Jiabao, Japanese premier Hatoyama and South Korean president Lee to further strengthen ties between the three countries and to push together for the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
During the summit premier Hatoyama outlined his [...]
North Korea has recently announced that the country’s recovering leader Kim Jong-Il, is willing to come back to the negotiating table, provided the six-party talks (Russia, China, USA, Japan, North and South Korea) are complemented by direct talks between North Korea and the US. So, what determined Kim Jong-Il to soften his stance ?
The election results [...]
The plans for creating an Asian economic community grouping China, ASEAN and Japan have received an important boost recently. During his informal meeting in New York with Chinese president Hu Jintao, the new Japanese premier Mr. Hatoyama has proposed the creation of an East-Asian community which would emulate the model of the European Union. Closer ties between Japan and China should eventually create [...]
