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US's dalliance in Beijing is
short-lived
In a joint statement, United States President Barack
Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao this week pledged to "strengthen
communication, dialogue and cooperation on issues related to South Asia". It
took Washington a matter of hours to start backtracking; any enterprise to mount
ill-fated Sino-American ventures in this region could seriously disrupt American
business interests. (Nov 20, '09)
A town with a tale to
tell
The more elderly inhabitants of Tawang, the town plumb in
the heart of disputed territory between India and China, have lived under four
national flags - British, Tibetan, Chinese and Indian. These indigenous people,
the Monpas, have strong views on which country they believe would now best serve
their interests. - Saransh Sehgal (Nov 20,
'09)
Subtle changes
in US's China policy
A closer look at United States President Barack Obama's four-day visit to China
reveals subtle but meaningful changes in US policy towards the Middle Kingdom.
The Obama administration is likely to continue the cooperative and pragmatic
policies of its predecessor, while a heightened emphasis on China shows deeper
recognition of Beijing's growing regional and international clout. - Jian Junbo
(Nov 19, '09)
OBAMA ON THE ASIAN HIGHWAY
A new courtship for Southeast
Asia
Barack Obama at the weekend became the first American president to share a room
with all 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The US's new
Asian focus is based partly on a belief that the region has been neglected,
giving China a pre-eminent position, and that it's time to get down to
business. - Brian McCartan (Nov 18, '09)
 SINOGRAPH
Hu and Obama seal real deals
The joint statement by Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting United States
President Barack Obama signal appears to embrace a long-term, strategic
relationship between the nations. The pledges of cooperation on Iran, South
Asia and the Asia-Pacific may appear principled rhetoric, but in private they
represent concrete deals being made. - Francesco Sisci
(Nov 18, '09)
Obama dodges Chinese missiles
During his visit to China, United States President Barack Obama avoided the
subject of China's military buildup and its deployment of new missiles, as well
as "Juniper Cobra", a vast and sophisticated US-Israel missile defense
exercise. His failure to broach the issue may spark domestic criticism and
concerns among US allies in Asia. - Peter J Brown
(Nov 18, '09)
Political impasse takes Nepal to
brink
Leaders of Nepal's Maoists are threatening more mass protests and to turn the
nation "into another Afghanistan" should their demands for limits to
presidential powers not be met. As the political turmoil drags on - not helped
by an apparent China-India tussle for influence - some see hope in the
formation of a unity government. - Dhruba Adhikary
(Nov 17, '09)
Mafias expose China's legal woes
It took a directive from the top echelons of the Chinese Communist Party before
officials in China's western Chongqing metropolis would unleash an "anti-triad
tornado" on the well-connected mafia syndicates, nabbing close to 3,000
big-time criminals. The fiasco has laid bare the full extent of collusion
between organized crime and senior officers in the police and judiciary. - Willy
Lam (Nov 17, '09)
THE ROVING EYE
Welcome, comrade Maobama
United States President Barack Obama visits Beijing as China is organizing a
new world order based on economic independence and respecting cultural and
political differences - a hierarchical change all nations can believe in.
Beijing welcomes being classed as the US's "essential partner" and
"competitor"; being competitive is second nature when you have been a major
economic power for 18 of the past 20 centuries. - Pepe Escobar
(Nov 16, '09)
Hong Kong plays transgender catch-up
A Hong Kong transsexual is suing the government for the right to marry her male
partner, putting traditionalists on the legal defensive. Attitudes toward
sexual orientation are changing in Hong Kong, though it's behind some places on
the Chinese mainland where such a conjugal union is already legally sanctioned.
- Kent Ewing (Nov 16, '09)
Sino-Indian rivalry fuels Nepal's
turmoil
As Nepal's Maoists intensify efforts to paralyze the central government, the
group's mass protests and provocative acts over a political impasse threaten to
plunge the nation back into civil conflict. With the Maoists claiming the
support of China, and a pro-India government in place in Kathmandu, a barely
concealed proxy contest is developing between Beijing and Delhi for a strategic
advantage in the Himalayas. - Peter Lee (Nov
13, '09)
COMMENT
China: A need for strategic reassurance
Given the residual mutual concerns and suspicions between China and the United
States, even as their common interests and interdependence have never been as
marked, a concept of "strategic reassurance" is emerging. In terms of this, the
US would not seek to impede China's rise, while Beijing would ease Washington's
fears over its emergence on the world stage. - Jing-dong Yuan
(Nov 13, '09)
BOOK REVIEW
An extraordinary life, an ordinary man
Don't Call Me a Crook by Bob Moore
Dissident Books, in rediscovering and editing this overlooked classic first
published in 1935, has resurrected a one-time author whose ignorance,
rakishness and lack of conscience are indicative of his time. What's
extraordinary, however, are his Chinese misadventures, which include tales of
murder and kidnappings. - Kent Ewing (Nov 13,
'09)
OBAMA ON THE ASIAN HIGHWAY
Myanmar up close
United States President Barack Obama's meeting with Southeast Asian leaders
next week will likely focus on the new US policy of "constructive engagement"
with Myanmar, whose poor human-rights record and lack of democracy have for
years placed limits on US efforts to deepen economic ties with the region.
China moved swiftly to fill that gap, and now Washington may fear being left
behind. (Nov 12, '09)
Tug-of-war over Pearl River Delta
Beijing wants to control the relatively free-wheeling and liberal Pearl River
Delta by pushing for its economic and social integration into three mega
metropolitan areas, including Macau and Hong Kong. Local authorities,
accustomed to doing things their own way in an area that accounts for about a
quarter of China's total trade value, are pushing back. - Cristian Segura
and Wu Zhong (Nov 12, '09)
SINOGRAPH
A sacrificial lamb
Discussions between India and China on disputed border issues could be hastened
by Washington's need to find a political solution for Afghanistan, something
that could compromise the cause of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual
leader who donated "his" Tawang to New Delhi. - Francesco Sisci
(Nov 11, '09)
Clouds over Tokyo and Seoul
Disagreements over a United States army base in Japan and a free-trade
agreement with South Korea are likely to figure prominently in President Barack
Obama's visit to Northeast Asia. Nonetheless, Obama is expected to grasp this
opportunity to reaffirm the US's longstanding relationship with its two closest
allies in the region. (Nov 11, '09)
OBAMA ON THE ASIAN HIGHWAY
Space is suddenly on the agenda
As United States President Barack Obama prepares for his first official trip to
Asia, a Chinese army commander has called for China's "superiority in space".
This could be taken as proof that China seeks military dominance in space, and
that the US's planned cooperation in civilian space programs would in effect
transfer technology to a potential adversary. - Peter J Brown
(Nov 11, '09)
Dalai Lama calm in the eye of a
storm
While the visit by the Dalai Lama to the disputed area of Arunachal Pradesh in
India has not helped already frosty relations between India and China - some
even talk of war - the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is possibly closer to
the reality when he points out "my visit here is non-political". - Saransh
Sehgal (Nov 10, '09)
Dalai Lama at apex of Sino-Indian
tensions
Along with the tension created by the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed Indian
state of Arunachal Pradesh, shifts within the Tibetan movement, India's
evolving geopolitical stature and the United States' growing economic ties with
China are converging to create dangerous instability in Sino-Indian relations.
- Peter Lee (Nov 9, '09)
BOOK REVIEW
China according to
the Chinese
The Origin, Process, and Outcome of China's Reforms in the Past One Hundred Years
by Enbao Wang
Much of the English-language discourse on China's unpredicted rise is divided
between those who are fascinated and those who are frightened. The author makes
a useful attempt to bridge a growing gap between what has happened in China in
the past 30 years on the one hand, and persistent Western cultural-political
solipsism on the other. - Yu Bin (Nov 6, '09)
Uyghur activist seeks talks with Beijing
An avowed critic of China's ethnic policy in the Xinjiang region, Uyghur
activist Rebiya Kadeer says Beijing is guilty of persecuting dissidents 
from her minority, as well as of an economic bias in favor of the Han majority.
Rejecting claims she is a terrorist and organized deadly riots, Kadeer wants
dialogue with Beijing. - Catherine Makino (Nov
5, '09)
China's sleepy Hengqin wakes up
A relatively undeveloped corner of the Pearl River Delta immediately west of
Macau is being lined up for an extensive makeover. Hengqin island, part of the
mainland city of Zhuhai, is to be transformed into a resort paradise featuring
golf courses and theme parks. In the process, Macau and Hong Kong will be more
intimately integrated into the mainland delta, tricky legal relationships
permitting. - Kent Ewing (Nov 5, '09)
Russia, India and China go their
ways
Despite its best efforts, Russia failed at a recent trilateral summit to get
India and China to agree to a common regional initiative regarding Afghanistan.
This failure ensures that the United States can now press ahead with its own
strategy of striking grand bargains individually with these key players. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Nov 4, '09)
Who will be the last frog in the well?
After centuries of Sinocentrism behind the Great Wall and secretive imperial
politics within the Forbidden City, China's opening up and thirst for a greater
understanding of the foreign world has sparked a global Chinese renaissance in
engineering, computing and the classical arts. Should the West not try and
dispel its suspicions over this model of modernization, it runs a real risk of
being left behind. - David Gosset (Nov 4,
'09)
China's Three Gorges Dam comes of age
Fifteen years since work began and at a cost of between US$8 billion to $27
billion, the water level in the reservoir behind the Three Gorges 
Dam on the Yangtze River will soon reach its final height of 175 meters.
Officials, though, aren't celebrating too loudly: as China searches for new
forms of renewable energy, the dam has become a monument to obsolete ambitions.
(Nov 3, '09)
Chinese general enters US military core
Ahead of United States President Barack Obama's first official visit to
Beijing, China's second-highest officer became the first People's Liberation
Army member to visit US Strategic 
Command headquarters. Both sides are sending the right signals in pursuit of
strengthening military-to-military ties; beneath the surface, improved
relations do not appear an urgent priority. - Peter J Brown
(Nov 2, '09)
More missiles across strait
A recently released report by Taiwan's Defense Ministry stating that China has
increased the number of missiles targeted at the island demonstrates that
despite unprecedented warming relations, the potential for war between the
long-time rivals still very much exists. - Cindy Sui
(Oct 30, '09)
SINOGRAPH
China no longer a law unto itself
China and the West, in particular ancient Rome and Greece, followed markedly
different routes on the way to developing the legal systems in use today. The
West was notably influenced by the needs of merchants and the market place for
equitable regulation, while China saw this as a threat to central power. As
China steps onto the international stage, it will have to reconcile such
differences. - Francesco Sisci (Oct 29, '09)
China hawks target US sign-off shuffle
United States President Barack Obama has delegated presidential power of
scrutinizing and approving exports of missile- and space-related technology to
the Commerce Department. But anyone who thinks that Obama has suddenly
rewritten the rulebook when it comes to exports of missile and space-related
technology to China is mistaken. - Peter J Brown
(Oct 28, '09)
Beijing runs a diplomatic marathon
From the Americas to Europe to Asia, Chinese leaders this autumn are engaged in
wide-ranging diplomacy to play up the country's status as a near superpower
that is also a responsible stakeholder in the world community. The danger in
Beijing's no-holds-barred projection of military and diplomatic prowess is that
it may also render the "China threat" theory more credible. - Willy Lam
(Oct 27, '09)
China's culture offensive hits a wall
Beijing is working hard to raise its cultural profile on the global stage,
including in the field of publishing, with its latest attempt taking it to the
Frankfurt Book Fair. But it wasn't all about celebrating state-sponsored books
and authors. To the Chinese officials' dismay, the event was marred with
controversy and spats over human rights and press freedoms.
(Oct 26, '09)
 SUN
WUKONG
China's insurers denied
run of property
The Chinese government's decision to allow insurance companies to invest some
of their near US$500 billion in holdings directly in real estate has property
developers keenly anticipating a new inflow of cash. Yet the red tape with
which Beijing is tying up the reform should be sufficient to ensure no quick
bucks - or sharp losses - for anyone. - Wu Zhong
(Oct 26, '09)
US zeroes in on China's clout in
Myanmar
A senior United States State Department mission is going to Myanmar to
ostensibly discuss democracy and human rights, but the subtext will clearly be
boosting ties and building influence in a country long considered to be in
China's diplomatic pocket. The competition between Washington and Beijing for
influence in Southeast Asia could hinge on how Myanmar's generals react. - Brian
McCartan (Oct 23, '09)
China trumps Taiwan's 'democracy card'
As neither unification with mainland China nor independence will likely occur
in the near future, it is more important than ever for Taiwan to figure out an
appropriate position in the international community. Taipei is in the global
"liberal democratic community", but its volatile politics fail to solicit
majority support at home or to remove threats from Beijing. - Erdong Chen
(Oct 23, '09)
Hong Kong law under Beijing’s shadow
Claims that missing Chinese dissident Zhou Yongjun was arrested in Hong Kong
and sent to China for traveling on a fake passport bring the independence and
integrity of Hong Kong's legal system into question. This comes as the wife of
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is welcomed back into the city after
receiving diplomatic immunity for an alleged assault - Kent Ewing
(Oct 22, '09)
COMMENT
Why an East Asian Community matters
Historical feuds, territorial disputes and centuries of neighborly mistrust
have kept the concept of an East Asian Community on the drawing board for
decades. Some critics have called the bloc's formation a "mission impossible",
but nothing will be achieved until a first step is taken. - Jian Junbo
(Oct 21, '09)
China's navy sails past India's dock
Three Chinese naval vessels do not make a fleet, but they do make a statement.
By sending them to patrol off the coast of Somalia as part of the multinational
force operating there, in effect, China is saying to India, "We're back." - Peter
J Brown(Oct 21, '09)
SINOGRAPH
Ten years to tackle the Taiwan equation
Instead of China and the United States sparring over Washington's next arms
sale to Taiwan, they should concentrate on the core issue: the reunification of
Taiwan with the mainland. At the rate of China's current economic growth, they
have about 10 years to prepare for this. - Francesco Sisci
(Oct 21, '09)
China opens a new front in Kashmir
China, by issuing residents from Indian-administered Kashmir visas different
from those given to Indians from other parts of the country, is treating the
disputed area as a sovereign entity. This is a surprising departure from
Beijing's traditional policy of leaving the Kashmir issue to India and Pakistan
to resolve. Delhi suspects a hidden agenda. - Sudha Ramachandran
(Oct 20, '09)
Taiwan recalls days of dance
A new documentary aims to revive the fading memory of Taiwan's defunct E Sha
Song and Dance Group. The group, an overlooked piece of Taiwan's cultural
history, is a snapshot of the country's cultural-political landscape during the
turbulent years from 1959 to 1985. - Lin Zixin
(Oct 19, '09)
China's media blitz needs fact-checking
The heads of the world's leading media organizations gathered this month in
Beijing to relish the fact that Chinese leaders have allocated US$6.6 billion
for the expansion of state media groups. Much was made of China's irresistible
media market, but the topic of press freedom was largely avoided by the bigwigs
in attendance. - Kent Ewing (Oct 16, '09)
The Dragon spews fire at the
Elephant
Indian lobbyists - with an eye on profiting from arms sales with the United
States worth billions of dollars - are whipping up war hysteria and xenophobia
over China, and Delhi is playing along. Against this electrified diplomatic
backdrop, the state-run People's Daily tore into India this week. The
relationship could nosedive further if the Dalai Lama's visit to India's
disputed areas with China goes ahead.- M K Bhadrakumar
(Oct 16, '09)
Maoists go on pilgrimage in China
Nepal's top Maoist leader and former prime minister, Prachanda, took time out
on his trip this week to China to visit the birthplace of Mao Zedong. Prachanda
has a deep-seated interest in original communist concepts, and in comparing
them with present-day realities. Beijing is looking for a dependable ally in
Kathmandu, and Prachanda believes his Maoists can take on this role, he tells
Asia Times Online. - Dhruba Adhikary (Oct 15,
'09)
Taiwan tones down celebrations
Unlike mainland China, with its mammoth 60th anniversary celebrations, Taiwan
celebrated its national day in a less glitzy fashion due to the 
recent deadly typhoon. In his muted address, President Ma Ying-jeou
acknowledged warmer cross-strait ties, while adding he had not forgotten about
a possible military threat from that direction. - Lin Zixin
(Oct 15, '09)
SINOGRAPH
Asia steels for challenges ahead
All of Asia has witnessed the United States battered and mired in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and buffeted by financial crisis. As the world's largest economy
takes stock, trends in Asia could take new directions, and countries in the
region might decide it is more practical and efficient to sort out their
problems by themselves. - Francesco Sisci (Oct
14, '09)
Omaha greets an 'unusual visitor' from
China
People's Liberation Army Colonel Yao Yunzhu is frequently invited to
international conferences because she is one of only a handful of military
researchers in China who speaks English well. But what was she doing at the
United States base near Omaha, Nebraska, which oversees all aspects of US
nuclear warfighting? - Peter J Brown (Oct 14,
'09)
China's rockers too pampered for politics
Unlike trailblazers from the 1990s, who sung fiery political anthems and faced
harsh censorship, 
young rock bands in today's China are indifferent to politics, with
introspection, veganism and day jobs more common than angst. These children of
the urban elite know they should be rebelling against something, but their
lifestyles are just too comfortable to risk. - Alice Liu
(Oct 13, '09)
SPEAKING FREELY
Debating the dragon-bear duet
Are current Sino-Russian bilateral relations the beginning of a new,
multi-polar world order? Or is Beijing pulling Moscow into a new form of
resource patron-clientism in which the former holds the upper hand? While the
skeptics have plenty of evidence to show that Russia is being short-changed by
China, there are mutual regional and global benefits to this partnership. - Anna
Konopatskaya (Oct 13, '09)
Beijing hires a media guru
As part of its modernization efforts, the Chinese Communist Party has recruited
a once-famed news anchor as its top media advisor. A lot has changed
since crisis was met with silence and falsehoods. The party has perhaps
realized that being an international player involves demonstrating some
transparency. - Cristian Segura (Oct 9,
'09)
BOOK REVIEW
Short-changing China's century
The Empire of Lies by Guy Sorman
This book penetrates the interior of China, touching on areas too-often
overlooked, such as poverty, human rights, and archaic governance. But it
fails to note how far the nation has come this century, its pulse of progress
in developing regions and subtle changes in leadership, and the analysis
suffers as a result. - Benjamin Shobert (Oct
9, '09)
Confucianism a vital string in China's
bow
A revival of interest in Confucianism, within China and beyond, is helping
Beijing to develop the "soft power" it needs if the country is to become a true
world power. Some modernization of the 2,500 year old system of thought would
help. - Jian Junbo (Oct 8, '09)
China torn over Internet freedoms
Following a spate of titillating but fallacious stories posted on the Internet
about high-profile 
personalities, such as television hostess Fang Jing, many of China's Internet
users want the government to clamp down, even as Beijing realizes the
advantages of promoting free speech in cyberspace. - Stephanie Wang
(Oct 7, '09)
Give and take on North Korea
North Korea's Kim Jong-il on Tuesday promised visiting Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao that Pyongyang will return to the six-party talks that the
North has previously spurned. Beijing will take credit for arm-twisting the
recalcitrant North Koreans, while Kim will believe he has played his cards just
right. - Donald Kirk (Oct 6, '09)
China's satellite diplomacy shifts a gear
China offers satellites to developing countries at bargain-basement prices,
however, accurately calculating the exact cost of these satellite projects is
difficult because rarely, if ever, is anything done in the open. - Peter J Brown
(Oct 6, '09)
India plays down Chinese
incursions
Reports of Chinese incursions into Indian territory are on the rise, with
alleged firefights, air space infringements and graffiti. But New Delhi has
downplayed them, saying there are diplomatic mechanisms for such issues. At the
same time, the Indian military is making its own assessment. Priyanka Bhardwaj
(Oct 6, '09)
Uyghurs face an education dilemma
The Uyghur ethnic group in China's Xinjiang province says the education system
traps their children between minority and mainstream culture. Chinese-language
schooling may offer better job prospects, while only minority schools teach
traditional language, history and culture. - Paloma Robles
(Oct 5, '09)
The secret of the CCP's success
Aware of the need to "adapt or die", successive leaders of the Chinese
Communist Party have gradually molded it to fit the changing needs of
the people while maintaining an iron grasp on rule. This is evident in the
shift of the core party membership from the peasantry to the rising middle
class. - Justin Vela (Oct 2, '09)
India and China profess brotherhood
With flashy ads and eloquent statements, India congratulated China on its 60th
anniversary, with Beijing in turn touting its commitment to India's
economic development. Beneath the surface, however, a number of issues simmer,
particularly border disputes. - Sreeram Chaulia
(Oct 2, '09)
China warily watches US-Myanmar entente
Ongoing concern in Bejing over unrest near the China-Myanmar border, which led
to a mass influx of refugees into southern China, has been heightened by
diplomatic overtures by the junta to the United States. China's leaders are
suspicious of any US attempt to counter its influence in the region. - Larry
Jagan (Oct 1, '09)
China maps an end to the Afghan war
A senior Chinese official has publicly put forward an unusually forthright and
timely view on the Afghanistan conflict, proposing concrete steps to be taken
towards unlocking the stalemate there. This, he argues, is an Afghan issue,
while al-Qaeda is not a big factor. Not the least important: US troops should
go home. - M K Bhadrakumar (Oct 1, '09)
China's military struts its stuff
The military took center stage on Thursday during celebrations to mark the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Significantly,
the massive parade in Beijing 
featured hitherto unseen advanced hardware developed and made in China. The
People's Liberation Army has been equally open in outlining its ambitious
modernization plans to make it the best fighting force in the world. - Cristian
Segura and Wu Zhong (Oct 1, '09)
The night Zhou was drunk under the table
While out-drinking Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, arguing over literature with Mao
Zedong's wife and sharing turkey with the Gang of Four, a young Westerner in
Beijing at the time of the Cultural Revolution was blissfully unaware of the
Moscow-style purges going on behind the scenes. - Ian Williams
(Oct 1, '09)
Domestic needs shape PRC's foreign policy
In the past 60 years, the People's Republic of China has emerged as a serious
global economic and political contender and can now shape an international
status quo that better suits its goal of a multi-polar world. The Communist
Party's desire for a more stable world is aimed at boosting national
development efforts, as this will strengthen its own hold on power. - Tim
Summers (Sep 30, '09)
SINOGRAPH
A culture at ease with war
A common perception of China is that over the centuries there was a conflict
between culture and literature on the one side and military affairs on the
other. Similarly, a belief grew that China was unfit for war and an easy
pushover. An exhaustive new book tells another story, showing how the Chinese
are well prepared for opposing armies. - Francesco Sisci
(Sep 30, '09)
Taiwan, China tread carefully
Although ties continue to warm, the 60-year stalemate between China and Taiwan
over the latter's sovereignty status shows no signs of breaking. For now,
Beijing and Taipei have shelved the "One Country, Two Systems" issue, focusing
instead on what they can agree on - strengthening economic ties, which are seen
as mutually beneficial. - Cindy Sui (Sep 29,
'09)
East fails to meet West for Palin
According to the United States media, former Republican vice presidential
candidate Sarah Palin's plan to re-emerge as a political force with a highly
publicized appearance at a Hong Kong conference of global investors went over
quite well. Media in the East tell a very different story. - Kent Ewing
(Sep 28, '09)
Obama takes the 'middle way' on Tibet
Though not outright refusing to meet with the Dalai Lama, United States
President Barack Obama sent his aides to India to tell the exiled Tibetan
spiritual leader that it would not be happening during the Dalai Lama's October
visit to the United States - but maybe after Obama’s November trip to China. - Saransh
Sehgal (Sep 25, '09)
Beijing faces a fresh legitimacy test
China's "economic miracle" is a source of national pride that has helped
legitimize the Communist Party's 60-year rule, but the people's loyalty is
being sorely tested by discontent over social ills and the party's autocratic
leadership style. - Verna Yu(Sep 24, '09)
T Rex dinosaur tale gets a China
twist
It turns out the legendary Tyrannosaurus Rex has a 125 million-year-old Chinese
ancestor. Skeletal remains of a relatively tiny three-meter-long "Raptorex
Kriegsteini" - also known as "jaws on feet" - smuggled out of China have shaken
established evolutionary theories about one of the most powerful creatures to
have ever walked Earth. Raja Murthy (Sep 24,
'09)
Cautious welcome for Japan's Asia drive
Plans by the new Japanese government to drift away from its alliance with the
United States in favor of deeper ties with Asia may be met with suspicion in
both Washington and China. The US will not want to lose a cornerstone of its
East-Asian strategy, while Beijing fears Tokyo's gambit could disrupt the
regional balance of power. - Jian Junbo (Sep
23, '09)
SUN WUKONG
Say it loud, I'm PRC and I'm proud
Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of
China, the government has released 50 slogans to be painted on walls and
written on placards and flags so that everyone can get into the (right) festive
spirit. The rousing slogans also reveal a lot of what troubles the leaders in
Beijing. - Wu Zhong (Sep 22, '09)
Asia impacted by US missile shift
When it comes to the economic and national security concerns of the United
States, China - not Russia - is President Barack Obama's top priority. And
North Korea's actions, not Iran's posturing, are what have preoccupied US
missile defense planning so intensely over the past five years. - Peter J Brown
(Sep 22, '09)
COMMENT
Obamacare and the $13 rule
In the capitalist haven of Hong Kong, anybody who can scrape together the
equivalent of US$13 receives timely and usually first-rate health care in an
emergency ward. By contrast, hospitals in the United States are turning away
the sick, the injured and the dying. - Kent Ewing
(Sep 22, '09)
China's leaders give little away
A keenly watched Chinese Communist Party meeting many thought would see Vice
President Xi Jinping emerge as the likely next president has disappointed China
watchers. The expected promotion of Xi did not materialize, and aside from
vague pledges over corruption and ethnic divisions, there was little for
observers to praise. - Kent Ewing (Sep 21,
'09)
China in Laos: Counting the cost
of progress
China's role in the development of northern Laos has grown significantly in
recent years, but with several unfortunate side effects. Rare wildlife is being
poached for Chinese consumption, while land grabs for rubber plantations are
destroying not only the environment, but also the livelihoods of the Laos
people. - Daniel Allen (Sep 18, '09)
For US, China is the financial bogeyman
An emotive new television advertisement in the United States aimed at awakening
people to the long-term perils of rising national debt has an unflattering,
none-too-subtle nod to China. The commercial infers that tomorrow's generation
of Americans will be beholden to Beijing due to its large holdings of US debt,
and that the debt problem is somehow China's fault. - Benjamin A Shobert
(Sep 17, '09)
Dalai Lama caught in Sino-Indian
dispute
Border tensions between China and India over the disputed Arunachal Pradesh
state - which China refers to as "Southern Tibet" - were already high before
the Dalai Lama announced plans to visit there. Beijing is likely incensed by
his plans to visit Tawang, a strategic piece of Indian real estate that China
reportedly covets above all others. - Sudha Ramachandran
(Sep 17, '09)
SINOGRAPH
Memories are made of Mao
The 33rd anniversary of the death of chairman 
Mao Zedong on September 9, 1976, passed with a deafening silence from the
leaders in Beijing. But while China is proceeding quietly with the process of
de-Maoification, the Great Helmsman lives on in the hearts of many, and he is a
long way from being demonized. - Francesco Sisci
(Sep 16, '09)
China struggles for space entrepreneurs
The United States' space commerce sector is recruiting talented and skilled
personnel, but China offers no such opportunities outside its military
dominated, government-supported space sector. This shows how China and the US
can differ greatly in terms of workforce mobility and choices. - Peter J Brown
(Sep 16, '09)
Taiwan's Ma still under typhoon's cloud
Anger in Taiwan over President Ma Ying-jeou's response to last month's Typhoon
Morakot has been somewhat placated by a cabinet shuffle and the premier's
resignation. But cries that Ma passed the buck won't go away, and Morakot could
still be as damaging for Ma as Hurricane Katrina was for a United States
president. - Stephen A Nelson (Sep 15, '09)
Life's no beach for China's leaders
Since China's leaders moved their annual gatherings from Beidaihe to Beijing to
project a frugal party image, the seaside resort's fortunes have taken a dip,
apart from an influx of Russians. Beidaihe locals complain that the symbolism
behind the move from their city is undermined by increased corruption and abuse
of power. - Antoaneta Bezlova (Sep 14, '09)
Taiwan's ex-president Chen gets life
Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian is sentenced to life on US$15 million
corruption 
charges stemming from his two terms in office from 2000 to 2008. As the case
goes to appeal, supporters of his stance for independence from Beijing continue
to question the motivations behind his imprisonment.
(Sep 11, '09)
 ASIA
HAND
Chinese shadow over Vietnamese repression
Vietnamese authorities have in recent weeks arrested and detained journalists
and bloggers who have penned materials critical of China. The crackdown
suggests that Beijing's surging economic power, including as an outward
investor and potential lender of last resort to Hanoi, may have outweighed the
two nations' complex - and at times bloody - relationship. - Shawn W Crispin
(Sep 11, '09)
BOOK REVIEW
US hegemony slips into history
The Future of Global Relations by Terrence Edward Paupp.
The Barack Obama administration, dealing with the fallout of ongoing efforts to
preserve Washington's unipolarity since the end of the Cold War, is facing
unprecedented challenges. The author of this book traces the downward
trajectory of US power and forecasts a very different future for the
international community. - John Feffer (Sep
11, '09)
UN treaty melts into climate sideshow
The United Nations and certain green groups, more intent on political posturing
than cutting greenhouse gases, have all but doomed an upcoming summit on
climate change many saw as a last chance to halt global warming. The recent
alliance of US and China on the issue at least offers some hope of progress. - Muhammad
Cohen (Sep 11, '09)
NGOs tread lightly on China's turf
The Chinese government, struggling to deal with the social problems
entailed by its massive economic reform, has said it will allow certain
international non-governmental organizations to work in areas such as disaster
relief. Yet research of this process during the Sichuan earthquake aftermath
shows a lack of political will to share any power with outside groups. - Stephanie
Wang (Sep 11, '09)
China's military comes to terms with its
past
A new English-language website by China's Ministry of Defense may not divulge
any state secrets, but it does take a remarkable look back at a chapter of the
Middle Kingdom's military history that for decades was shrouded in awkward
silence. For example, the site has neatly aligned pictures of the "Ten
Marshals", resplendent in their Soviet-style uniforms - but left out to dry by
Chairman Mao. - Alexander Casella (Sep 11,
'09)
A positive role for Sino-Western synergy
At the heart of Eurasia, political stability, economic development and the
emergence of modern societies free from religious extremists have to be common
Sino-Western objectives. This could be achieved with a fresh approach to the
region under the growing influence of China, using "Zhang Qian's Diplomacy" as
a guideline. - David Gosset (Sep 10, '09)
China, Myanmar border on a
conflict
The Myanmar government's rout last week of ethnic Kokang insurgents on the
Chinese border may have been a test of Beijing's resolve to back its
Myanmar-based allies and the readiness of rebel groups to band together against
the junta. As all sides prepare for the next round of fighting, it seems
unlikely Myanmar's military will be able to control the ceasefire regions in
time for the 2010 national elections. - Brian McCartan
(Sep 9, '09)
Chinese students take to the hills
In a wave similar to the rural exodus of the Cultural Revolution, thousands of
Chinese students are leaving the cities to work in the countryside. This time,
the program's goals are very different, with a focus on spreading urban
know-how and deflecting attention from the dire graduate employment situation.
- Cristian Segura (Sep 9, '09)
SINOGRAPH
West confused over Confucians
Just as Western civilization owes a huge cultural debt to the Christian
religion, so Chinese civilization owes one to Confucian values. This makes
Western preaching to China problematic, as democracy and human rights are not
guaranteed to be "useful" - as Chinese tradition demands - to the well-being
and development of the country. - Francesco Sisci
(Sep 9, '09)
Beijing scrambles to find scapegoats
The local Communist Party secretary and the police chief have been sacked over
the spate of syringe attacks on Han Chinese in the city of Urumqi, apparently
by Uyghur separatists. In this way, Beijing hopes the real target of the
Uyghurs' anger will be spared. - Wu Zhong (Sep
8, '09)
Dalai Lama tests Taiwan-China ties
The Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan to comfort typhoon victims was a
potential stumbling block to improving cross-strait relations, but the response
from the government in Beijing was relatively mild. Taiwan, too, carefully
stage-managed the visit to keep the reconciliation process on track. - Cindy Sui
(Sep 4, '09)
China's anti-graft drive expands
The latest round of China's anti-corruption campaign is notable in that, apart
from senior party and government officials, so-called "big tigers" among the
miscreants include the bosses of state-held conglomerates and globally known
private firms. The influence of the Chinese mafia is also a target. Getting
top-level cadres to disclose their assets might be a step too far, though. - Willy
Lam (Sep 4, '09)
China grooms new breed of journalists
Inspired by a legendary Western-style school for journalists from the 1980s and
a need to spread "soft power", China has started a graduate 
program for reporters. It is hoped the course - spearheaded by Li Xiguang, an
influential media advisor to the government - will dispel the negative image in
the West of Chinese journalism. - Sunny Lee (Sep
3, '09)
Critic leaves Beijing red-faced
A hard-hitting article - said to have been drawn from the
speeches of a former reformist leader - offers an appraisal of the Chinese
Communist Party's 60-year tenure. Accusing it of self-glorification, clinging
onto power and breaking promises to the people, the words have struck a chord
with many ordinary folk, prompting a swift response from the authorities. - Verna
Yu (Sep 2, '09)
SINOGRAPH
A rising sun sets
Just as Japan's momentous elections signify the dusk of an era in which it
dominated Asia, the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
represents the dawn of its ascendancy. For decades, Tokyo was America's great
ally in the region, enjoying unparalleled access to Washington. Now, with
China's rise, it will have to play second fiddle. - Francesco Sisci
(Sep 2, '09)
Satellites flying in formation over Asia
Over the next two or three years, China, the United States and the Europeans as
well as Japan and India plan to launch smaller and more advanced
formation-flying satellites. At the same time, concerns are mounting about the
"dual use" dimensions of this technology. - Peter J Brown
(Sep 1, '09)
China sees chance of Japanese remorse
With the dramatic change of power in Japan, China hopes the new government's
friendlier stance towards Beijing will help overcome the largest obstacle to
strong Sino-Japanese ties - regular attempts in Japan to whitewash the history
of its invasion of China. - Jian Junbo (Aug
31, '09)
Warmongers in China, India miss the
mark
Alarmists in the Indian and Chinese media warn of imminent war between the two
countries over their long-running border dispute. Officials in both capitals
have dismissed the reports for the nonsense they are. Such turbulence is
inevitable between two rising powers, with people losing sight of the fact that
there is nothing wrong with healthy competition. - Bhartendu Kumar Singh
(Aug 28, '09)
Nepal and India agonize over China
The visit of Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to India was noteworthy
in what was not accomplished, such as addressing key issues that rankle. These
include water concerns, encroachment and armed insurgent groups. This ensures
that ties between the countries will remain tense, especially as Delhi
continues to fret over what it perceives as China's interference in Nepal. - Dhruba
Adhikary (Aug 27, '09)
China's tale of two restive regions
Although Uyghur complaints of Chinese government repression are strikingly
similar to Tibetan ones, Western support for the Muslim Uyghurs in China's
Xinjiang region is markedly subdued in comparison to the impassioned appeals
for Tibet. Lacking a famous leader or the backing of Hollywood stars, Uyghurs
may never be the West's darlings. - Kent Ewing
(Aug 27, '09)
India on a tiger hunt in China
China's insatiable demand for supposedly libido-enhancing tiger parts from
India fuels an illegal cross-border smuggling trade now second only to
narcotics trafficking. As poaching decimates India's tiger population, Delhi's
new environment minister is on a mission to sensitize China's consumers and
save his country's national beast. - Neeta Lal
(Aug 26, '09)
SINOGRAPH
Chinese troops offer an Afghan solution
China's latest military exercises in long-range deployment could be a hint that
it is ready to commit thousands of troops to Afghanistan. Beijing's involvement
might even go beyond troops on the ground; it could facilitate a grand bargain
between India and Pakistan on the future "control" of Afghanistan's security. - Francesco
Sisci (Aug 26, '09)
China's space pioneer under the
microscope
As legendary Chinese scientist Qian Xuesen nears his 100th birthday, his role
in shaping 
China's space program continues to be debated. The latest paper written by two
American researchers portrays him in a different light to an earlier famed
biography, downplaying his fascination with the supernatural while calling him
an incredible cheerleader. - Peter J Brown (Aug
26, '09)
SUN WUKONG
China's birthday movie has many seeing
red
A new Chinese movie is provoking an outpouring of narrow-minded nationalism,
verging on xenophobia. At issue is whether Chinese actors of foreign
nationality should be allowed parts in the movie, which portrays the days
preceding the founding of the People's Republic. The tumult has disturbing
echoes of the Cultural Revolution; ironically, this movie has state backing. - Wu
Zhong(Aug 25, '09)
US agonizes over Taiwan arms sales
United States lawmakers are pushing the Barack Obama administration to sell
more advanced weapons to Taiwan. But the US's expanding ties with Beijing hang
a question mark over such a move. Further, China's military has modernized so
rapidly that new arms are unlikely to redress the imbalance across the strait.
- Micah Springut (Aug 24, '09)
No stopping China's cheaters
With over 40 million people taking at least one government-organized test every
year in China, cheaters are growing in number. In response, one district
brought in kids to guard its test-taking policemen and found that the young
watchers were far more efficient than their adult counterparts. But
eventually, they too are likely to come around to the dark side. - Stephen Wong
(Aug 21, '09)
Typhoon turns into a political storm
Pro-opposition media and the Taiwanese public have targeted President Ma
Ying-jeou over his administration's response to Typhoon Morakot, demanding he
take the blame for the hundreds of lives lost and resign. Behind the backlash
lie deeper suspicions over Ma's overtures to China. - Cindy Sui
(Aug 20, '09)
China-EU ties caught in vicious cycle
China and the European Union are part of a "comprehensive strategic
partnership", but critics say it is neither comprehensive nor strategic. China
resents perceived EU meddling in its internal affairs, while the EU cannot hide
its distaste for China's ideological heritage. In this environment of mistrust,
only economic cooperation proves fruitful. - Jian Junbo
(Aug 19, '09)
SINOGRAPH
China leads an Asian charge
Experience learned from the 1997-98 crisis is helping emerging nations in Asia,
where data shows a China-led recovery underway. In saving itself and the
region, China is making a proud political and strategic statement, but by
taking a new role at the forefront of recovery, it is also dipping into
untested waters. - Francesco Sisci (Aug 19,
'09)
SUN WUKONG
China cut to the core
When, after decades, a high-ranking Chinese official finally listed the
nation's "core interests" that other countries must respect, an army of
nationalists branded him a "traitor" for seemingly placing the survival of
China's "regime" over its territorial integrity. The critics badly missed the
point. - Wu Zhong (Aug 18, '09)
Xinjiang serves as pan-Asian pivot
The portrayal of the deadly riots that gripped China's far-western
Xinjiang province as "ethnic strife" does not do justice to the complex forces
at work in this vast and strategically vital region along the ancient Silk
Road. Such misunderstandings belie the crucial role Xinjiang could play in
stabilizing Central Asia. - David Gosset (Aug
18, '09)
China's war games unnerve neighbors
China has launched its largest-ever war games, apparently as a test run for a
huge, rapid internal troop deployment. In the wake of ethnic unrest and last
year's devastating earthquake, domestic concerns could well be the main
motivation - but this does not ease regional, particularly Indian, fears. - Kent
Ewing (Aug 17, '09)
China's NGOs fear for the worst
Government closures and arrests have sent a chill into China's nascent civil
society, which only recently began challenging leaders on issues such as food
safety, illegal detention and human rights. An emboldened China, say critics,
is becoming less fearful of world opinion. - Verna Yu
(Aug 14, '09)
China to roll out the big guns
Military modernization tops the agenda of Chinese President Hu Jintao. More
hardware, including jets and missiles, will soon be unveiled as Beijing tries
to narrow the gap between China's and the United States' combat capabilities. - Willy
Lam(Aug 13, '09)
SINOGRAPH
China throws a lifeline to Italy's
Taranto
Italy's historic port of Taranto, once a gateway between Europe and Asia, is a
shadow of its former great self. Chinese investment now promises to transform
it into a major transport center. First, though, there's a bundle of Italian
red tape to cut through. - Francesco Sisci (Aug
12, '09)
Beijing's buildings get user-friendly
Many of the ostentatious buildings that grabbed headlines while
Beijing hosted the Olympics now seem more like aging white elephants than
rising dragons. The city's building frenzy continues apace, but the focus is
now on green, utopian structures that are smarter, smaller and more
sophisticated. - Daniel Allen (Aug 12, '09)
China basks in post-Olympic glow
A year on and memories of the spectacular stadiums, fireworks, choreography and
medal triumphs are fading, but China's economic and diplomatic achievements
since the Beijing Summer Olympic Games have also been impressive. A key factor
is a new tone of cooperation in relations with the United States. - Kent Ewing
(Aug 12, '09)
SUN WUKONG
Sex and China's credibility gap
Sex workers are among the top five most trustworthy segments of Chinese
society, way ahead of government officials. The state-run China Daily calls
this finding of an official survey "embarrassing" and "unusual". Worse, the
same poll says that 91% of the people no longer believe government statistics
on social and economic development. - Wu Zhong
(Aug 11, '09)
Taiwan's 'opportunist' president alters
tack
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has upset Beijing by revisiting divergent
interpretations of the "one China" principle. He now says Beijing should
recognize the realities across the Taiwan Strait, using dangerous rhetoric that
China will only tolerate for so long. - Jian Junbo
(Aug 10, '09)
Confucianism at large in Africa
China's attempt to promote its image in Africa through so-called "Confucius
institutes", which teach Chinese language and culture, is flagging. Rather than
spreading Confucius' rigid moral precepts, Beijing might be better off tackling
negative perceptions of China among African youth through simple educational
and cultural exchanges. - Bright B Simons (Aug
6, '09)
India and US build stronger ties in
space
Greater India-United States cooperation in space will likely intensify
competition between India and China - if Delhi's space sector suddenly surges
ahead as a result of the American connection, Beijing will be more than
slightly annoyed. - Peter J Brown (Aug 6,
'09)
China's fishing fleet sets challenge to
US
The expansion of China's fishing fleet far beyond its depleted home waters
raises foreign policy, international security and environmental issues that
cannot be neglected by United States policymakers, while also offering
opportunities for closer cooperation between the two countries.
(Aug 6, '09)
Chavez cherishes his Chinese-built
satellite
Thanks to a Chinese-built satellite, Venezuela's space agency has joined an
elite group in Latin America. The satellite, along with other planned Chinese
infrastructure projects in Venezuela, involve a total investment of more than
US$4 billion. Beijing and Caracas say Venezuela's satellite is working
properly; critics don't agree. - Peter J Brown
(Aug 5, '09)
SINOGRAPH
Fading Europe aids China's US ties
With Chinese President Hu Jintao directly communicating with his Taiwanese
counterpart for the first time, cross-strait relations have taken another step
forward. This sets the stage for a new era in China-US ties, bolstered by
Europe's waning global influence. - Francesco Sisci
(Aug 5, '09)
SPEAKING FREELY
An 'Asia-Pacific' chimera
While evaluating the "Asia-Pacific community" proposed by Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd last year, attention must be paid to the differing and
complex political and economic realities of East, Central and South Asia.
Creating a brand new pan-regional institution is impossible. - Andy Yee
(Aug 5, '09)
China writes new script for mass protests
Portraying demonstrators as agitating "schemers" and local governments as
hapless victims is often how China's government spins incidents of mass
protest. State-run media have now taken an unprecedented swipe at local
leaders' handling of "mass incidents". - Kent Ewing
(Aug 3, '09)
Clouds over China's 'Sunshine' law
China plans to introduce a nationwide "Sunshine" law requiring all officials to
publicly declare their assets and incomes, amid spiraling official corruption.
The policy's test runs have had mixed results, exposing plenty of loopholes to
be fixed. - Stephanie Wang (Jul 31, '09)
China dips its toe in the Black Sea
China's bold offer to effectively underwrite the entire Moldovan economy shows
that it may now regard the post-Soviet space as its own "near
abroad". Beijing's concern is palpable in the face of the rise in militant
Islamist activities in Central Asia, and Russia is entirely sympathetic. - M K
Bhadrakumar (Jul 31, '09)
Xinjiang crisis creates ripples abroad
Beijing's version of the Xinjiang riots has received a boost from artistic
rebels such as film director Jia Zhangke, who boycotted an Australian film
festival in protest against a documentary about exiled Uyghur Rebiya Kadeer. At
the same time, debate over China's treatment of its 56 ethnic minorities
gathers pace. (Jul 30, '09)
China and the US: A G-2 by another name
The first United States-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue failed to yield
any major agreements and left much to be desired in progress on strategic
issues. All the same, the talks set a cordial tone for future cooperation and
resulted in a fundamental recognition of the need to work together on global
challenges. - Jing-dong Yuan (Jul 30, '09)
SINOGRAPH
China and the Vatican take a leap of
faith
With important progress made in talks, the time seems ripe for a long-awaited
normalization in diplomatic ties between China and the Vatican. Beijing's
acceptance of Rome's request to postpone a local Catholic congress and bishops'
conference also highlights the radical shift underway in official attitudes
about Catholicism in China. - Francesco Sisci
(Jul 29, '09)
SPEAKING FREELY
Wilhelmine China?
Some pundits compare the rise of Wilhelmine Germany and modern-day China and
predict major conflict between the United States and the Middle Kingdom. Yet,
such oracles do not account for vastly different international environments
between the two periods. - Sebastian Bruck (Jul
29, '09)
A midsummer tale of two Chinese spies
As the United States marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark report on covert
Chinese attempts to steal nuclear weapons and missile technology secrets, the
capture of two Chinese spies in the US has hung a question mark over its
legacy. Links between China's alleged espionage and its accelerated ballistic
missile programs are difficult to prove, but ethnic Chinese working in the US
defense and space sectors may soon be subject to closer scrutiny. - Peter J
Brown (Jul 29, '09)
Macau chief Ho goes out with a whimper
Edmund Ho has presided over Macau's most tumultuous times in centuries,
bringing unprecedented prosperity. But the city's first chief executive has
backed his way into irrelevance as his terms ends. - Muhammad Cohen
(Jul 28, '09)
Xinjiang riots confound Islamists
That China has so far escaped major jihadist attacks in spite of its harshness
towards its ethnic-minority Uyghur Muslims is not due to superior
counter-terrorism strategies, but rather to confusion among some Islamists and
cooperation from others. China's image as a staunch rival of the West confuses
hardline Muslims, while Beijing's rising clout may have kept Iran's
fire-spewing ayatollahs silent. - Sreeram Chaulia
(Jul 27, '09)
Pulp non-fiction hits Hong Kong
Triad members and hired hit-men are on trial over an alleged plot to
assassinate two of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy figures. But the
real masterminds remain elusive. Beijing, however much it dislikes these guys,
can be ruled out - the last thing China's Communist Party wants to do is whip
up democratic fervor in Hong Kong by creating martyrs. - Kent Ewing
(Jul 27, '09)
NEW GREAT GAME REVISITED, Part 2
Iran, China and the New Silk Road
China's block on Iran's full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization last year might signal that a Beijing-Tehran axis doesn't exist,
yet a strategic alliance between the pair is essential to counter Western
influence in their domain. For China, Iran is all about Pipelineistan, the
Asian Energy Security Grid and the New Silk Road. - Pepe Escobar
(Jul 24, '09)
This article concludes a two-part report.
Part 1:
Iran and Russia, scorpions in a bottle
China's concubine culture is back
China's ancient concubine culture, illegal during the Mao Zedong era, is again
in vogue with the rich and powerful, and most certainly with government
officials. An estimated 95% of officials caught for corruption were keeping at
least one mistress - and in one case it was 140. It seems concubines' appetites
for gifts and cash can push a man to abuse his power. - Stephen Wong
(Jul 24, '09)
Stars align for a Hu-Ma meet
With Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou set to double as chairman
of the ruling Kuomintang party, many hope an historic meeting with Chinese
President Hu Jintao is in the cards. While such a meeting would indeed be
historic, Ma may be better off waiting until Hu makes his exit before he sits
down with his Communist Party counterpart. - Jian Junbo
(Jul 23, '09)
Karmapa Lama: Tibet's young voice
Since his dramatic escape from Tibet in 1999, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee - the
Karmapa Lama or  Tibetan
Buddhism's third-ranking personage - has captivated the Tibetan diaspora with
his charisma and youthful vigor. Many feel the influential 25-year-old is a
natural choice to lead the "Free Tibet" movement's negotiations with China
after the Dalai Lama passes away. - Saransh Sehgal
(Jul 22, '09)
SINOGRAPH
Who is hitting at Hu?
As with most events involving shows of dissent in China, the recent Urumqi
riots have conspiracy theorists abuzz. Considering the timing - President Hu
Jintao had just arrived in Rome for the Group of Eight summit - some believe
the unrest was part of a greater plot to tarnish the leader's spotless crown of
accomplishments. - Francesco Sisci (Jul 22,
'09)
Conflicts in China's North Korea policy
China's indifference to United Nations efforts to block North Korean arms
shipments flies in the face of world opinion and could doom the plan. Beijing
has clear motives: a reunified Korea might recognize United States supremacy in
the region, and if North Korean refugees flood into China, it could spark more
ethnic separatism. - Cynthia Lee (Jul 20,
'09)
India plays catchup in the great
game
To the United States, Central Asia is a region of crisis, whereas to China it
is a region of opportunity to realize its political, strategic and economic
aspirations. If India is to catch up in this region, where it has for years
been known for its "masterly inactivity", it needs to come to a mutual
understanding with China. - M K Bhadrakumar (Jul
17,'09)
Think-tanks with Chinese characteristics
Many believe that modern think-tanks were born in the United States, but China
has a partnership between intellectuals and policymakers that dates to ancient
dynasties. As China's era of technocrats winds down, a weighted emphasis on the
social sciences has returned and leadership positions are increasingly going to
those trained in politics, economics and law. - Erdong Chen(Jul
17,'09)
BOOK REVIEW
Outplaying your partner
Poorly Made in China by Paul Midler
Lead paint in toys and melamine in baby milk formula are not surprises to the
author but predictable outcomes from a manufacturing culture in China that
takes customers for granted and assumes no responsibility for its outputs. This
expose is a cautionary tale that strikes at the very heart of United States
diplomacy with China. It is a fascinating, funny and important book. - Muhammad
Cohen (Jul 17,'09)
Washington funds its Uyghur 'friends'
If the United States is not openly on the side of the Uyghurs,
there are plenty of signs of substantive support. One that's getting notice in
Washington and Beijing is the role of the National Endowment for Democracy, a
non-governmental organization that dispenses money from the US Congress -
including US$200,000 a year to the World Uyghur Congress, blamed for triggering
the July 5 riots. - Donald Kirk (Jul 17,'09)
The empress, the eunuch and $4 billion
Whether one views it as a spiritual saga of love and loyalty or a wholly
material struggle of greed and gall, the court drama playing out in Hong Kong
has a very lucrative prize - more than US$4 billion. This is the estate a
geomancer claims was willed to him by his "empress". The rival claimant
dismisses this as the fanciful talk of a eunuch. - Kent Ewing
(Jul 16,'09)
China stalls on the AfPak road
The few terror attacks or attempted plots China has experienced are only a
minute sample of what will hit the Asian giant if United States efforts
collapse in Afghanistan and Pakistan's government crumbles under the Taliban.
This calls for a redesign of Beijing's platform in the AfPak struggle. - Walid
Phares (Jul 16,'09)
Beijing can't bury the Xinjiang story
Taking a cue from protests in Iran, where new media tools ensured the story was
broadcast to the world, Beijing was eager to put its own version of the July 5
riots in Xinjiang out as quickly as possible. This is symbolic of profound
changes taking shape in China's fast-developing society - a trend the communist
mandarins can no longer fully control. (Jul 16,'09)
'King of Xinjiang' faces blame for riots
Many Urumqi residents are pointing fingers at Wang Lequan, party secretary of
the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, for his failure to anticipate and thwart
the July 5 ethnic riots in their city. Although the 64-year-old Wang is a
well-placed protege of President Hu Jintao, his alleged mishandling of the
embarrassing incident will not soon be forgiven. - Shi-ren Hou
(Jul 15,'09)
SINOGRAPH
China, please invade North Korea
In 1979, China waged war against Vietnam with the blessing of the United States
as Beijing was on the right side in the grand clash of the Cold War. In the
interests of establishing a solid foundation for broad US-China cooperation,
China could do worse than take up arms against recalcitrant nuclear-armed North
Korea. - Francesco Sisci (Jul 15,'09)
SUN WUKONG
The party's over
The Chinese Communist Party's 88th birthday and the row over the government's
plan - suddenly delayed - to introduce web-filtering software in all computers
are interlinked. The days of the party's iron-fisted rule are over as it now
has to take into consideration the views of the majority - be they party
members or not. - Wu Zhong (Jul 14,'09)
COMMENT
The great invisible wall in China
The Great Wall of China has long been a symbol of an isolated, declining empire
incapable of adjusting to change. Today, the West's inability to appreciate
China's total transformation and its role in redistributing world power has
become a great invisible wall. Before China's image in the West deteriorates
any further, this wall of misperception must be torn down. - David Gosset(Jul
13,'09)
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ATol Specials
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Shanghai, the becoming thing
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China:
The
Impossible
Revolution
By
Francesco Sisci
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Sinoroving
Pepe Escobar in China
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Henry C K Liu
on the yuan
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A 3-part series by Macabe Keliher
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China-US: The Quest
for Peace
A series by Henry C K Liu
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A 3-part series on the lamas of Tibet by Julian
Gearing
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A 3-part series by Miao Yi
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A 4-part series by Jasper Becker
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