Opinion Asia - East Asia

China’s Zero Duty offer to LDCs: Major Diplomatic Gain at Zero Cost

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:20:51 +0800

China has been promising at various international forums that it would grant trade concessions to the least developed countries. In this regard, it recently took a significant decision whereby it has granted duty free access on 4,762 products to 33 least developed countries (LDCs). Most of these countries are in Africa, but at least three are from South Asia.

The Taiwan-China Economic Deal: Good for Taiwan?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:00:50 +0800

Taiwan benefits from its commerce with China more than these data suggest. It has a sizeable favorable balance of trade with China. It is reported Taiwan has invested US$150 billion (probably a low estimate, by two or three fold) in China—half of Taiwan’s total foreign investment. This investment is profitable, and enhances Taiwan’s exports.

The Cheonan Compromise: Chinese diplomacy in action

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:00:03 +0800

China was distinctly unenthusiastic about Seoul’s decision to take the issue to the Security Council and from the beginning had called upon all countries to exercise restraint and bear in mind “the overall interests of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

China moves to outlaw torture - For real this time

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:07:16 +0800

However, it remains to be seen how these new rules are applied. Chinese law books—not to say the Chinese constitution—are full of nice-sounding laws which are only selectively applied. And, of course, as long as judges work under the leadership of the communist party, there will be no independent judiciary and no true rule of law.

In Taiwan: Ma looks to the next elections

Mon, 03 May 2010 07:07:14 +0800

Mr. Ma has proven a somewhat less than inspirational leader save in the area of cross-straits relations, where he has performed brilliantly. His government over the last two years has concluded 12 agreements with China on such things as flights, food safety, tourism and mutual judicial assistance. Of course, those achievements were possible only because of China’s cooperation.

Prospects of Korean Reunification: The Stakes for Southeast Asia

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:32:30 +0800

Which brings me to another point that I heard emphasised during my Korean visit. Despite the lip service that everybody pays, as a desirable objective, to the reunification of Korea between the North and the South into which the peninsula has been divided following the Pacific War, no nation that matters would welcome reunification.

Yuan Appreciation: More than China at stake?

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:26:38 +0800

Without such a bulwark, the entire Asian economy remains fragile to deliberate policy actions like a forced Yuan appreciation or unexpected fluctuations in the global business cycle. Asia may lose its edge as the upcoming global powerhouse and its supply chain network unequivocally indicates that it is not really about one country, China – but about Asia as a whole.

The US-Japan Alliance: Behind unmet expectations

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:48:54 +0800

Given the structural changes in the international system, characterised by US decline and China’s rise, the US is required to shift its alliance policy in favour of one that emphasises the defence of Japan, superficially akin to a Cold-War state of affairs. This shift is inevitable and, objectively, has little to do with the frustration and disappointment of American alliance managers.

Chinese diplomacy works to manage domestic expectations

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:29:55 +0800

But Mr. Li responded that adherence to Deng’s instructions was a basic principle and not a strategy. China, he said, did not adopt a low profile simply to bide its time until it became strong, after which it would reveal its true self. Moreover, he added, China was far from being a great power and it may take several more generations.

Is China a Developing Country?

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:55:12 +0800

But Copenhagen, with its simple division of the world into rich and poor countries, has again highlighted the problems and ambiguities inherent in this terminology. As far as climate change is concerned, it seems that this means others will increasingly want China to behave as a developed country even as it stresses its own developing status. The contradictions look set to continue.

In Beijing's Grip: Hong Kong faces up to reality

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:01:51 +0800

Before the handover, the Chinese government assured Hong Kong people that their future lay in their own hands. But in 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s parliament, decided that Hong Kong could not initiate the process leading to universal suffrage without first obtaining Beijing’s approval.

China reintroduces its "Core Interests"

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:15:23 +0800

Appearing before the media after talks with his Chinese counterpart, President Obama said: “We did note that while we recognize that Tibet is part of China, the United States supports the early resumption of dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve any concerns and differences that the two sides may have." That was what China wanted him to say.

China’s Rising Online Community: To control or not to control?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:16:22 +0800

Internet regulation has increasingly become a great concern for the Chinese government in particular, and for other governments in general, be they democratic or authoritarian. Keeping a balance between proper regulation and respect for people’s civic rights and privacy is a difficult and delicate act to accomplish, especially in view of China’s more recent history.

The People’s Republic’s 60 years: Dichotomy or Continuum?

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:57:48 +0800

There exists a widening chasm across the Chinese political spectrum over the evaluation of the country’s past three decades of breakneck growth. Indeed, the contrast between the two halves of the People’s Republic’s history, roughly equally divided into the “Mao-era” and the “post-Mao era,” could not be starker.

Is Global Power still shifting to the East?

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:02:07 +0800

However, it is also important to recall that shifts in global power could take a number of different forms. While some emphasize the rise of China, others (though not the Chinese government) preserve a role for the still-dominant US by talking up a “G2” which would see Washington and Beijing join hands to lead the world.