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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On the heels of President Obama's recent trip to Asia, Michael Fullilove reassures Australians about the United States' commitment to the Asia-Pacific, saying that they should take the president at face value when he says "Asia and the United States are not separated by this great ocean; we are bound by it."
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Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:07:00 GMT
As part of a multi-nation Asia trip that began last week, President Obama, now in China, met with Chinese Premier Hu Jintao to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and China. Kenneth Lieberthal discusses the importance of the meeting between the two leaders.
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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:35:00 GMT
As President Obama prepares for his trip to China and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Singapore, Richard Bush says that the APEC meetings will help the United States fortify its relationships with Asian countries.
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Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
While the economic entanglements between the U.S. and China have increased over the last decade, so has the tension. With President Obama visiting China and other Asian nations, Brookings expert Eswar Prasad and Grace Gu of Cornell University discuss the tightening embrace between the two countries—in terms of flows of goods and services, financial capital and people—and the implications.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
President Barack Obama's maiden trip to China was his first face-to-face opportunity to shape U.S.-China relations. In this preview of the president's visit, Cheng Li and Jordan Lee examined new openings for Obama to press Beijing on harder questions, and the fine line he would have to walk between respect for China and pulling all his punches, while reflecting candidly on American ideals.
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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 09, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
The efforts of China's America-watching community over the past 30 years, and their effect on China's perception of the United States, have been crucial to a constructive relationship between the two countries. On November 9, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings and the U.S.-China Education Trust co-hosted a discussion on China’s changing views of America.
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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 06, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
In mid-November, President Barack Obama began his first trip to Asia as president with a visit to Tokyo. He also traveled to China, South Korea and Singapore, where took part in meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Prior to the president's trip, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies and the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted a discussion of President Obama’s trip and the issues he was likely to face.
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Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Since 2004 there have been encouraging trends related to internal displacement. Walter Kälin notes that the use of the Guiding Principles as the relevant framework for protecting IDPs and the development of national and regional laws and policies on internal displacement have been positive trends. However, despite such positive trends, the challenges presented by climate change, the disregard for civilian populations in conflict zones, a shrinking humanitarian space, and protracted displacement situations still remain unchanged.
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Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Since its peaceful Democratic Revolution in the early 1990s, Mongolia’s national security strategy has evolved through three phases and is now entering a fourth. Munkh-Ochir Dorjjugder writes that the theme of balancing external actors to ensure sovereignty and security remains the same, but that Mongolia is now adding economic and human elements to its approach to security.
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Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The tragic earthquake in Sumatra, the tsunami in Samoa and the typhoon that hit the Philippines are just the latest in an increasing number of natural disasters. Last year alone natural disasters affected over 200 million people, killing 16,000 and displacing close to 50 million. Elizabeth Ferris evaluates the international capacity to respond to major disasters and argues that more should be done to reduce their impact.
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Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In this chapter of Fighting Chance, prepared for a September 2007 conference, Steven Pifer assesses potential challenges posed by a more assertive Russia. Pifer examines demographic, societal and economic trends in Russia that could create strategic shocks for the region and world over the next several decades.
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Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT
People affected by natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other calamities often face urgent protection needs that may not be immediately visible to humanitarian actors caught up in trying to provide water, food, shelter, medical care and other lifesaving assistance. In this paper, Elizabeth Ferris and Diane Paul provide an overview of protection challenges confronting those affected by natural disasters.
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Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The Korean peninsula served as the battleground for an internationalized civil war from 1950-1953. Over a half-century later, the peninsula is still divided and the Korean question remains unresolved. In this CNAPS visiting fellow working paper, Wonhyuk Lim writes that placing Korean unification within the broader context of regional integration in Asia may be an effective geopolitical strategy for the Korean nation.
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Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
China has been the fastest growing major economy for the last two decades and its future prospects are bright, but China’s political future is less clear according to Cheng Li. He writes that even though the Chinese Communist Party will continue to hold power for the near-term, it is unlikely they will remain as dominant in the future.
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Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Internal displacement continues to be one of the world's major humanitarian and human rights challenges and many internally displaced persons (IDPs) experience serious violations of their human rights. In his annual report to the UN General Assembly, Walter Kälin argues that it is important to translate the increasing recognition of the human rights dimension of internal displacement at the international and regional levels into effective action at the national and local levels of government.
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Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Eswar Prasad argues that a key component in restoring overall global financial health is to fix growth imbalances in Asia's emerging markets, especially China's excessive dependence on export- and investment-led growth. Prasad encourages financial market development in China to increase private consumption to make growth more balanced and thus help stabilize the world financial and economic systems.
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Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The now-defunct six-party talks in which the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Russia, and China participated focused almost exclusively on North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But, as Roberta Cohen argues, with a struggle for succession underway in Pyongyang and some of the country's internal controls reportedly beginning to erode, it's the time to rethink the near-exclusion of human rights from the U.S.-North Korean dialogue.
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Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Senior journalist and CNAPS Visiting Fellow Huang Ching-Lung writes that Taiwan’s media, despite major contributions to democratization, has come to play a controversial and often negative role in the democratization process. Factors such as market competition, lack of professional organization, and ties to political parties have lowered the quality social benefit of journalism in Taiwan, Mr. Huang writes.
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Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Bruce Riedel warns not to be fooled by some of the positive news from Pakistan, because the Taliban and their allies have gained significant power there recently. Riedel says we face the potential of a nuclear-armed state run by Islamic extremists, shows the devastating consequences of such and offers ideas to keep it from occurring.
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Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The U.S. government's policies toward North Korea in recent years have drawn criticism for focusing primarily on denuclearization, while neglecting human rights issues, even as the country's human rights situation remains dire. Roberta Cohen says arguments against including human rights in discussions with North Korea are flawed and recommends integrating human rights as part of an overall U.S. policy toward North Korea.
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Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The Asia Pacific region has undergone fundamental changes since the Cold War. Once perceived as institutionally underdeveloped, a wide range of regional community building initiatives has transformed Asia’s institution-building and major power relations. Richard Weixing Hu, CNAPS visiting fellow, writes that this institutional proliferation now poses challenges to regional community building, and explores how a stable regional architecture may be constructed.
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Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- July 14, 2009, 9:30 AM to 5:00:00 PM
- July 15, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:15 PM
On July 14 and 15, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) at Brookings and the Institute of International Relations (IIR) at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University hosted leading experts from Taiwan and the United States for the 38th Taiwan-U.S. Conference on Contemporary China.
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Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Ethnic riots in western China in July left at least 156 dead and thousands injured or imprisoned. Brookings China expert Cheng Li joined Diane Rehm to speak about the Uighur protests and the response from China's leadership.
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Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Displacement is one of the tragic consequences of conflict. Elizabeth Ferris argues that once a conflict ends, resolving displacement and preventing future displacement is inextricably linked with achieving a lasting peace.
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Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On May 16, 2009, the Sri Lankan government announced that it had overrun the last insurgent stronghold and that 26 years of civil conflict had finally come to an end. Despite the end of the war, the humanitarian emergency continues. And, as Elizabeth Ferris argues, the underlying causes of the Tamils' demands—whether for autonomy or simply greater respect for their human rights—have yet to be addressed.
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Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
South Asia is a "theater for disaster." In the past decade alone floods, cyclones, earthquakes, droughts, and a devastating tsunami destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives and livelihoods and left millions more homeless. In each disaster, humanitarian responders rushed to the scene to preserve human life and reduce immediate suffering. However, many times, human rights protection has been a secondary concern. This new report, based on a regional meeting in Chennai, India, discusses the challenges in incorporating human rights into disaster response in South Asia.
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Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Taiwan and China have made impressive progress over the last year improving relations in the political and economic arenas, but China’s People’s Liberation Army has continued to procure and deploy equipment that puts Taiwan at risk. Richard Bush points out that the rate of growth is a bit less than previous years but it still raises the question, what is going on?
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Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Michael O'Hanlon and Stephen Solarz write that with China’s lead—and U.S. support—Pyongyang could be brought to its knees and given the choice of watching its economy collapse or giving up nuclear weapons.
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Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Civilians have long borne the brunt of the conflict in Afghanistan. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, civilian casualties in 2008 were 40% higher than the previous year. However, although civilian casualties are widely covered and are being addressed, Alex Mundt and Susanne Schmeidl point out that the broader protection concerns, particularly the plight of battle-affected IDPs, remain invisible and largely unacknowledged.
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Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Once again the newspaper headlines report a massive displacement crisis. This time the displaced are fleeing counter-insurgency campaigns in Pakistan. Though the situation of displacement in Pakistan will have its own unique circumstances, Ferris points out that there are some lessons learned from other displacement situations that may be applicable to planning an appropriate response.
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Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Iraq and Afghanistan continue to pre-occupy U.S. military planners. But North Korea, with its growing nuclear arsenal, would become America's paramount security challenge if the state were to collapse. Michael O’Hanlon writes that the United States and other nations must begin detailed and coordinated planning for stabilization in the event of collapse of the North Korean state.
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Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
For years, Americans and Japanese have discussed what their alliance should do in the post-Cold War era. CNAPS Director Richard Bush argues in the Yomiuri Shimbun that, with its response to the DPRK’s May 25 nuclear test, the U.S.-Japan alliance is fulfilling its most important strategic function: to help manage the rise of China.
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Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
China-Japan relations have been markedly tense and constrained in recent history, especially in the decade following 1995. Richard Bush examines the deterioration of this relationship during that time from three different perspectives, identifies the underlying causes, and suggests steps that can be taken by both countries to further improve relations.
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Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In recent months, North Korea has unabashedly plowed forward with the development of its nuclear program, an action that threatens to erode regional stability in Northeast Asia. Dennis Wilder examines the role of China in reducing the North Korean threat and explores the causes, pointing to necessary limits of China’s calculated caution toward North Korea.
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Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
At first glance, the return of hundreds of displaced Pashtun families from war-torn Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan to their villages of origin in the comparatively peaceful north would seem an obvious and attractive option. It is a solution welcomed by a beleagured Afghan government and supported by the United Nations agencies. But, as with many things in Afghanistan, as Mundt, Schmeidl, and Ziai argue, apperances often deceive.
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Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On May 25, 2009, North Korea (DPRK) conducted its second underground nuclear test—believed to be larger than its 2006 test—and drew swift condemnation from the U.N. Security Council and many nations. Linbo Jin outlines the reasons why the DPRK persists in pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community.
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Wed, 27 May 2009 09:51:59 GMT
The United Nations Security Council, President Obama and other global leaders have condemned North Korea’s recent nuclear test and the launch of several short range missiles. Richard Bush, director of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, examines North Korea’s bold actions and considers how the United States might respond.
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Wed, 20 May 2009 08:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- May 20, 2009, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- May 21, 2009, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Together with the ICONS Project at the University of Maryland, Brookings held a two-day exercise on May 20 and 21, 2009 simulating a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. Among other results, participants found that accidental war in the Taiwan Strait was less likely than an escalating crisis over real, substantive issues of importance to the two sides of the Strait.
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Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Engagement between Beijing and Washington operates on many levels but none is more critical than a regularized mechanism for strategic discussion by the top officials in economics and foreign policy. Dennis Wilder explores how dialogue should be carried out between the two countries during the Obama administration.
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Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Pakistan's aggressive military campaign against the Taliban's growing threat has resulted in almost a million Pakistanis being displaced in the past two weeks—in addition to the 500,000 who were displaced last fall by fighting. Despite the turmoil, Beth Ferris says there is an opportunity to strengthen civilian government, build strong civil society organizations and support internally displaced people in a way that builds confidence in their government.
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Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Jacques deLisle of the University of Pennsylvania argues that Taiwan’s participation at the 62nd World Health Assembly this month marks a significant development in Taiwan’s quest for international space, in cross-Strait relations, and for the World Health Organization. Implications for Taiwan’s participation in other organizations may be limited, Professor deLisle writes, but this achievement could become an important template for future developments.
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Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Migration and displacement in and from Afghanistan are bewilderingly complex. One of the world's largest protracted refugee situations coincides with the largest repatriation in recent history. Returnees to Afghanistan cross paths with increasing numbers of cross-border migrants, traders, and new refugees moving in the opposite direction. Other returnees have become IDPs. Khalid Koser argues that as a result, Afghanistan's border regions illustrate a "migration-displacement nexus."
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Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- April 30, 2009, 2:00 PM to 4:15 PM
On April 30, chapter authors from Beyond the Strait: PLA Missions Other Than Taiwan, co-produced by the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, The National Bureau of Asian Research, and the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University, presented their findings examining the People’s Liberation Army's varied missions at this event held at the Brookings Institution.
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Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- April 29, 2009, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
On April 29, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted an event on China’s "angry youth" to explore the characteristics of this unique segment of Chinese society – their views, values and behavior.
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Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT
From Japan to India, there are concerns that America's search for a solution to its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression may lead the Obama administration into not only expanded strategic economic and political dialogues with China but a full-blown strategic partnership. Dennis Wilder argues that U.S. relations with Asia's democracies can't take a back seat to cooperation with China.
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Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) countries met in London on April 2 for their second summit on the global financial crisis. In a new set of articles, Brookings experts addressed the critical issues for policy-makers and offered guidelines for more effective global coordination.
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Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Responding to an article by Robert Sutter, Richard Bush and Alan Romberg examine cross-Strait relations between Taiwan and China, including the role the U.S. plays. Bush and Romberg dissect Sutter's comments and where they disagree and offer solutions for better relations between all parties involved.
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Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Post-conflict reconstruction and stabilization requires protecting and assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been uprooted from their homes and made vulnerable to violence, exploitation, discrimination and other human rights violations. In this paper, Andrew Solomon and others review the international standards and best practices for protecting the housing, land and property rights of IDPs.
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Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Saleem Ali writes that China is a great nation from which the U.S., and indeed Pakistan, have much to learn. However, as friends we must engage in a relationship that builds on our common humanity.
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Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In an interview in the Straits Times, Wing Thye Woo discusses China's growth prospects during the global financial crisis, including the potential for sustainable development, and issues related to China’s currency valuation and current account surpluses.
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Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Shih-chung Liu writes at the onset of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to Asia that when she arrives in Beijing on the last stop of her journey, she should bring a commitment from Washington to the symmetry of cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan.
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Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tours East Asia this week she may find something surprising: respect for the United States remains strong. David Shambaugh and Thomas Wright explore the positive attitudes emanating from the region toward the U.S., and they note that this is an invaluable asset given the current need for cooperation regarding the global economic crisis.
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Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting four Asian countries this week, including China, and speculation about the issues she will discuss has become a major topic. Hao Zheng discusses how the U.S. and China can cooperate on the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the nuclear crisis in North Korea.
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Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Keiko Iizuka writes that by choosing Japan as her first official overseas visit, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has successfully sent a clear message that the Obama administration places a great deal of importance on its relationship with Japan. Iizuka believes it is now Tokyo's turn to respond as the world's number two economy and "the cornerstone" of U.S. policy in the Asia-Pacific.
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Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Nearly five million refugees have returned to Afghanistan since 2002 and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) often cites Afghanistan as a positive example of refugee repatriation. In reality, however, the return of Afghan refugees may prove to be one of the most ill-conceived policies in the Islamic world in recent times.
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Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first overseas trip will include a visit to Indonesia. Lex Rieffel explains how engagement with Indonesia will be key to U.S. relations with Asia.
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Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- February 12, 2009, 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
The Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies and the John L. Thornton China Center hosted a discussion on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first trip abroad. Secretary Clinton will visit Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China and is expected to address the challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis, humanitarian issues, regional security and climate change.
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Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
CNAPS Director Richard Bush argues that American soft power in East Asia is diminished but not exhausted. Our postwar record, the goodwill of friends in the region and the special character of the 2008 presidential election create a basis on which to restore it. This is a strategic opportunity that should not be missed, says Bush.
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Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Amid the global financial crisis and its strong impact on the Chinese economy, the Party leadership has embarked on another land reform plan. This ambitious development plan promises to give farmers more rights and market incentives that will encourage them to subcontract and transfer land and give incentives for surplus rural laborers to move to urban areas. Cheng Li's preliminary study of the launch of Hu Jintao’s land reform aims to shed light on the program.
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Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In this article, Walter Kälin explains that while it is hard to take an objective view on an enterprise in which you have been closely involved, he thinks that it is fair to say that over the last ten years the Guiding Principles have demonstrated their utility and impact but also their limitations.
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Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised that in the first 100 days of his administration he would "travel to a major Islamic forum and deliver an address to redefine our struggle." Michael Fullilove suggests there is no better place than Indonesia.
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Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Issues in its relationship with the United States often become domestic political problems for the South Korean government, to far a greater extent than for Washington. CNAPS Visiting Fellow Park Sun-won describes the various policy forces in Korea, explores their expectations of the U.S., and prescribes some steps for the two governments to maintain stability in the alliance.
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Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
December 10 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. Catharin Dalpino writes that the Obama administration will face unprecedented challenges in the promotion of human rights in Asia, but is also likely to find new opportunities and should adopt a fresh approach.
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Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT
China’s new National Energy Administration (NEA), established in March 2008, is the PRC government’s latest attempt to create an effective national-level energy institution. However, China Energy Fellow Erica Downs believes the NEA is unlikely to have the the authority, autonomy, resources, and tools to govern the energy sector.
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Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The world is excited to turn the page on the Bush administration and begin working anew with President-elect Obama, but Michael Fullilove notes that the new president's popularity means the Australia-U.S. relationship could be lost in the crush.
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Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT
As leaders from around the Asia-Pacific gather in Peru for the APEC summit on November 22-23, former CNAPS Visiting Fellow Richard Weixing Hu writes in the Brookings Northeast Asia Commentary that APEC’s relevance could be jeopardized by its hollow dialogue agendas and competition from the growing number of regional community building projects.
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Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Leaders from G-20 countries gathered in Washington, D.C. to address a financial crisis whose evolution highlights a dramatic shift in the global economy. In a new report, Brookings Global experts examine seven key issues at stake and make recommendations for next steps.
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Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 12, 2008, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
For the past sixty years, most analysts have assumed that Japan's security policies would reinforce American interests in Asia. The political and military profile of Asia is changing rapidly, however. In this presentation, Dr. Richard Samuels argues that North Korea's renewed nuclear program, China's rise, and the relative decline of U.S. power have commanded strategic review in both Tokyo and Washington, and while Japan is becoming more muscular, it is also clinging to the alliance.
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Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 30, 2008, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has proposed a “diplomatic truce” between Taiwan and China, in which the practice of competitive checkbook diplomacy would be replaced by engagement between the two sides. In this presentation, CNAPS Visiting Fellow Liu Shih-chung explores the early results of President Ma’s proposal and discusses some of the factors that influence Taiwan’s decisions on diplomacy and cross-strait policy.
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Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT
There has been much speculation over the declining health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in recent weeks. Kongdan Oh writes that it is imperative to prepare for the eventual collapse of the Kim regime and that regime change in North Korea can open the way for an end to the Cold War on the Korean peninsula and build the foundation of a democratic and unified Korea that will influence the region.
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Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT
CNAPS Nonresident Fellow Yeongseop Rhee writes that the current financial crisis calls to mind the 1997-1998 Asian crisis. At that time, the U.S. and international organizations blamed Asian countries for their plight and prescribed harsh measures for fixing the situation. Dr. Rhee argues that now the U.S. must follow its own advice to maintain its leadership position.
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Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Arbitrary displacement as a consequence of violence or threats thereof, ethnic persecution or cleansing, as well as displacement as a consequence of natural disasters, is not just a passing event in peoples' lives. Rather, displacement means that, from one day to the next, families lose their homes and livelihoods, leaving behind all they had cherished, shattering lives. In responding to displacement situations, it is necessary to look for long-term, durable solutions for all groups of displaced persons, rather than focusing on one specific group.
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Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- September 17, 2008, 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
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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Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Shih-chung Liu discusses Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen's recent visit to the United States. Liu believes that Tsai's visit shows that the DPP has found a new sense of responsibility toward relations with the U.S. and that her party is interested in rebuilding broken relations.
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Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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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Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
When those working with IDPs develop programs and policies without taking the time to listen to those most affected — the IDPs themselves — plans often go wrong. In order to ensure their needs not only are met but also that lasting solutions are found for their displacement, Roberta Cohen explains that it is critical to listen to the voices of IDPs.
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Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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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Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
With a focus on both intra-party elections and people’s congress elections, China expert Cheng Li offers a preliminary assessment of elections in China—their significance, limitations, and impact on the Chinese political process.
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Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Though Chinese strategic thinking has long included concepts similar to “soft power,” it is a new field of international cooperation and competition for the Chinese government. Former CNAPS Visiting Fellow Pang Zhongying writes that the 2008 Beijing Olympics were an important milestone in China’s exploration of soft power.
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Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In “What Does a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific Mean to China,” the latest installment of the Brookings Global Economy and Development working paper series, Tingsong Jiang, Senior Economist at the Centre for International Economics in Australia, and Warwick J. McKibbin, Nonresident Senior Fellow in Global Economy and Development, assert it is in China’s interest to actively liberalize trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:24:10 GMT
As the excitement of the Olympic Games continues, Jeff Bader says that China’s leaders want to showcase a “new China” that is ready to take its rightful place in the global community.
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Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:39:44 GMT
Calling the 2008 Olympic Games a wake-up call, Cheng Li says China is at the precipice of new openness and transparency. Change is critical, he adds, if China wants to be a serious global power.
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Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
As the aftermath of cyclone Nargis becomes clearer, Lex Rieffel and David I. Steinberg argue that the best hope for tangible improvements in the daily lives of Myanmar's people is the newly adopted charter of the 10 ASEAN member countries. The charter has a weak human-rights provision, but it will provide a stronger basis for dialogue with the Myanmar government.
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Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- July 28, 2008, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
On July 28, 2008, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies hosted an event featuring remarks by Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte on U.S. policy toward Asia and its evolution in light of the major political, economic, and security trends shaping the region.
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Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In 2005, the international community adopted a new concept, the responsibility to protect (R2P) but its meaning and application are still unclear. The United Nations ruled out applying it to Burma, but Roberta Cohen argues that the denial of access to cyclone survivors could well have been an R2P case. Much work needs to be done to clarify the concept and mobilize international support around its implementation.
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Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- July 15, 2008, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
On July 15, the 21st Century Defense Initiative at Brookings and Lowy Institute for International Policy hosted the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, the Australian minister for defense. Minister Fitzgibbon outlined the new government’s priorities and discussed the role of the U.S.-Australia alliance in shaping peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Michael Fullilove discusses Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd's government. Fullilove believes that in his first six months in office, Rudd has taken a strong, energetic approach to foreign affairs -- something which his predecessor was unable to do.
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Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In a bid to secure much-need energy resources, China’s national oil companies (NOCs) have moved in to international mergers and acquisitions. Despite some initial disappointments they are developing a spread of global assets. Erica Downs reviews some of the lessons they have learned from their experiences
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Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Philip Gordon assesses China's role in recent diplomatic initiatives meant to contain Iran's nuclear program. Gordon believes China should stop refusing to place significant sanctions on Iran, and that Chinese leaders should focus on the long-term regional and global impact of a nuclear capable Iran instead of the short-term impact of their energy relationship.
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Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- July 08, 2008, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
On July 8, CNAPS and the John L. Thornton China Center hosted James Miles, The Economist‘s China correspondent, for a conversation about recent events in China which has faced a number of very public challenges, including the devastating earthquake affecting hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens. At the same time, China is completing its preparations for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games. What impact have these events had on the growth of Chinese nationalism? Have they influenced the relationship between the people of China and the Communist Party? Is China’s stability being affected?
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Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
The threat of high inflation is plaguing many countries, including China, which must balance its long-term goal of sustained and strong economic growth with policies to tame inflation. Wing Thye Woo offers recommendations on how to balance these competing demands.
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Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
With North Korea now releasing information on its nuclear program and the Bush Administration stating that it will lift sanctions and remove North Korea from its list of terrorist states, Jeffrey Bader and Richard Bush offer their comments on both actions and offer recommendations for future U.S. policy. Bader and Bush say that North Korea will first need to allow on-the-ground verification at its nuclear sites.
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Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- June 23, 2008, 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan has complicated the displacement crisis in the country, as fighting continues to displace both new groups and IDP and refugee returnees. The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement hosted a breakfast with Ewan McLeod, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Afghanistan to discuss the displacement sitaution for both IDPs in Afghanistan and refugees who have fled elsewhere.
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Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
China expert Cheng Li writes about the future of China as a world power. He argues that in order for the country to continue rising to prominence, Chinese leaders will have to realize it is dependent on further adaption to global governance norms like openness and the rule of law.
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Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Recent uprisings across Tibetan regions of China as well as purported terror plots planned by Uighur separatists seeking independence for Xinjiang have highlighted the challenges that the Chinese Communist Party faces in governing a Han-dominant but multiethnic China. Cheng Li analyzes these challenges in this empirical assessment.
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Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Cross-strait relations under the Ma administration are off to a good start, but it is only a start. Richard Bush writes that the two sides should be pleased with the Chiang-Chen meetings in Beijing last week, but they should remember that they have embarked on a long and complicated process of re-engagement.
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Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- June 17, 2008, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
On June 17, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) at Brookings and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs hosted a seminar to announce and examine the findings of a groundbreaking public opinion survey on the current and potential use of soft power in East Asia by the United States, China, Japan and South Korea.
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Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Since the Asian financial crisis began in 1997, momentum toward regionalism in East Asia has increased and the process has become more Asia-centric. In this CNAPS Visiting Fellow Working Paper, Liu Fu-Kuo traces the development of the new East Asian regionalism, with a special look at the consequences of excluding Taiwan from multilateral institutions.
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Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In this Brookings Northeast Asia Commentary, Nonresident Senior Fellow Roberta Cohen calls for the development of performance standards for addressing natural disasters including the cyclone in Burma, earthquake in China, and famine in North Korea. Without such standards, states and the international community may be hampered in saving lives and reconstruction efforts.
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Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- June 03, 2008, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
On June 3, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion with the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) visiting fellows who are completing their academic year at Brookings. They discussed their views of U.S. foreign policy and current relations between their countries and the U.S.