SPOTLIGHT: South Korea
Reuters/Jo Yong-Hak - U.S. Defense Secretary Gates and South Korean Defence Minister Lee attend a change of command ceremony at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul.
Kongdan Oh, October 2008
Though North Korea receives far more attention in the media, South Korea – a major trading partner and military ally – is far more important to the United States. As defense leaders from the United States and South Korea meet for the 40th annual Security Consultative Meeting, Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Kongdan Oh writes that Washington and Seoul must recast their alliance.
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South Korea, Northeast Asia, International Relations, North Korea, Defense
past event
Reuters/Jason Lee - Military delegates dressed in the latest uniform attend the reception of marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of People's Liberation Army in Beijing.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Washington, DC
On September 17, chapter authors from The “People” in the PLA: Recruitment, Training, and Education in China’s 80-year Old Military, co-produced by the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College and The National Bureau of Asian Research, presented their findings, examining the human capital of China’s military at this event.
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China, Asia, Northeast Asia
past event
Reuters/Toshiyuki Aizawa - A man holds a placard during a demonstration outside the Defence Ministry in Tokyo, calling for the withdrawal of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force stationed in Iraq.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
12:15 PM to 1:45 PM
Washington, DC
On September 10, CNAPS hosted Dr. Andrew L. Oros for a presentation on his recent book, Normalizing Japan: Politics, Identity and the Evolution of Security Practice. Dr. Oros argues that Japanese security policy has not changed as much in recent years as many believe, and that future change also will be highly constrained by Japan's long-standing "security identity."
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Japan, Defense, International Relations
SPOTLIGHT: Taiwan
Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko - USS Mount Whitney, the flagship of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet, is seen in Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti.
Richard C. Bush III and Kenneth Lieberthal, September 16, 2008
In light of the recent conflict in Georgia, comparisons have been made between U.S. approaches toward Georgia and Taiwan. Richard Bush and Ken Lieberthal argue that the different outcomes illustrate the danger of sending mixed messages, and that American commitment should be carefully shaped around sober analysis of American capabilities and interest and the competing goals and interests of other major players.
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Taiwan, Georgia, International Relations, Asia, Caucasus
SPOTLIGHT: Japan
Reuters/Toru Hanai - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda speaks during a news conference at his official residence in Tokyo.
Keiko Iizuka, September 2008
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s abrupt resignation on September 1 illustrated continuing instability in Japanese politics, and may help force his Liberal Democratic Party to lose control of the government. Keiko Iizuka writes that a new government could encourage debate and enact policies that will place severe strain on the Japan-U.S. alliance.
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Japan, Northeast Asia, Asia, International Relations, Politics