2007
[ News ] [
Papers ]
North Korea Crisis
EU Arms
Embargo
~ 2001 ; 2002 ; 2003-2004 ; 2005-2006
Beijing Quashes HK Vote Hopes
(The Australian, Dec. 31, 2007) Hong Kong must wait for another decade for the
opportunity to elect its own chief executive and it will be 2020 before it
can have a fully elected legislature, China ruled at the weekend. The
rulings sparked outcry accusing the Government in Beijing
of ignoring the wishes of Hong Kong's seven
million people.
Africa: China Cashes In
(Agence France Presse, Oct. 28, 2007) China's government may have high-profile political and strategic
reasons for seeking closer ties with Africa, but its companies are on the
continent mostly for the money, analysts say.
India, China to Set Up New
Working Group on Border Issue
(Hindustan News, Oct. 26, 2007) India and China have decided to set up a working group that will
prepare a framework to resolve their decades-old border dispute. India and China would
shortly hold a counter-terrorism exercise involving their armed forces.
Taiwan Issue Fails to Make
Agenda of Trilateral Talks
(Taiwan
News, Sep. 9, 2007) Taiwan
was not a topic covered in the trilateral breakfast discussion between the United States, Japan and Australia yesterday morning, but
the heads of state and government of the three powers agreed on the need for
"positive engagement" with China for the sake of regional stability
and development.
Australia and China Upgrade
Security Ties, Ink Energy Deal
(AP, Sep. 7, 2007) China and
Australia upgraded their security ties, announcing annual talks on
international issues and overseeing a new energy trade deal that underscores
their flourishing economic relations.
China, Russia, Central Asian Leaders Meet in Security Summit
(AFP,, Aug. 16, 2007) The leaders of China, Russia and four Central Asian states met
in Kyrgyzstan to build on
growing military and political ties and to counter Western influence in the
strategic region.
Vietnam, China clash again over Spratlys
(Straits Times, July 19, 2007) Tension is growing between China and Vietnam
over control of the Spratly
Islands after another
violent clash in the oil-rich offshore region. A group of Vietnamese boats
fishing in waters near the Spratlys, 350km
east of Ho Chi Minh City,
came under fire from Chinese naval vessels on July 9.
Australia's
Nelson Says Japan Defense Pact Isn't Aimed at China
(Bloomberg, July 10, 2007) Australia doesn't view China as a threat and its
recently signed defense cooperation agreement with Japan shouldn't be seen as
an effort to ''contain'' China, Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson
said.
India and China
to Hold Joint Military Exercises
(AP, May 30, 2007) India
and China,
which fought a war in 1962, have decided to start periodic joint military
training exercises, the Indian Defense Ministry said. The decision was made
during Indian army chief J.J. Singh's week-long visit to China.
Singapore PM
Warns US over China
(BBC, May 5, 2007) Singapore's
prime minister has urged the US
to maintain ties with both China
and Japan
because south-east Asian nations do not want to "choose sides".
India Says Border
Talks with China "Friendly, Constructive"
(AFP, Apr. 24, 2007) India has said that talks to resolve a longstanding
border dispute with giant northern neighbor China were "friendly"
and "constructive" and would be continued at a later date.
China, Russia Sign $4.3 Bln
Trade Deals
(DPA,
Mar. 28, 2007) Russian and Chinese companies inked deals worth 4.3 billion
dollars Tuesday, as Chinese President Hu Jintao marked day two of a visit to
Moscow that has stressed trade ties and geopolitical cooperation.
China's Hu in Russian State
Visit
(BBC,
Mar. 26, 2007) China's
President Hu Jintao is starting a three-day state visit to Russia aimed
at promoting trade and energy ties.
Taiwan Leader
Urges EU to Keep Arms Embargo on China
(AFP, Mar. 14, 2007) Taiwan
President President Chen Shui-bian on urged the European Union to maintain
its arms embargo on China,
saying Beijing's
military buildup posed the biggest threat to regional peace.
Hu's Third Visit
to Africa Keeps Close Ties Going
(Straits Times, Jan. 25, 2007) President Hu Jintao will visit eight African
countries, including major trading partner South Africa and geopolitical
flashpoint Sudan, to cement ties not long after Beijing held a successful
China-Africa forum.
China and EU
Launch Partnership Talks
(AFP, Jan. 18, 2007) China
and the European Union began negotiations on broadening an existing economic
and commercial treaty into other fields such as the environment.
Asian States Sign Key Energy
Deal
(BBC, Jan. 16, 2007) Leaders at an East Asian summit have signed an agreement
to promote energy security and find alternatives to conventional fuels. The
agreement was signed by 10 South East Asian nations, China, Japan,
New Zealand, India, S Korea and Australia.
China Deal Starts
Flurry of Asia Summits
(AFP, Jan. 14, 2007) Southeast Asian leaders have signed a much-awaited
economic cooperation deal with China at a summit as the bloc held a flurry of
talks on trade and security across the region.
Australia to Sell
Uranium to China
(AP, Jan. 5, 2007) Australian uranium exports to China
could begin as early as next month after the two countries ratified key
nuclear
safeguards agreements this week, Australia's foreign minister
said.
Full Democracy for Hong Kong Questioned
(International Herald Tribune, Dec.
31, 2007) The goal of full democracy for Hong Kong is far from guaranteed,
despite a pledge by China to permit voters here to directly elect their chief
executive and legislature beginning in 2017, democratic politicians and
analysts said.
Space - Asia's New Military Frontier By C. Raja Mohan
(Straits Times, Dec. 22, 2007) The missile defense tests this month by Japan
and India make 2007 a
significant milestone in the evolution of Asia's military space capabilities.
The year, we might recall, began with a dramatic testing of an anti-satellite
(Asat) weapon by China
in January. Popular attention has been riveted on the Asian race to the moon,
as Japan and China
launched lunar orbiters in 2007. The year has also seen India and South Korea announce ambitious
plans for lunar exploration.
The End of a Sino-EU Love Affair
( Straits
Times, Nov. 28, 2007) For decades, nothing
stood in the way of better relations between China and the European
Union (EU). But, as the EU and China
sit down today for their 10th bilateral annual summit in Beijing, the mood cannot be more different:
A raft of trade and political issues has soured the relationship.
ASEAN, Scared of China, Looks to Integrate Economy
(Reuters, Nov. 18, 2007) Southeast Asian countries are pushing ahead with
regional free trade as they are scared of being left behind by Asia's
economic powerhouses, China and India. The Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN), set to sign a charter next week in a step towards
economic integration by 2015.
What's Behind Asia's Moon
Race?
(Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 25, 2007) As the rocket carrying China's
first lunar probe blasted off, it left in its wake a vapor trail of questions
about the nature of Asia's new space race. Japan
launched its own moon orbiter last month. India plans to send a similar
satellite up next year. The dawn of the Asian space age, however, has been
darkened by suspicion, instead of cooperation.
Caution by Junta's Asian
Neighbors Reflects Their Self-Interest By Edward
Cody (Washington Post, Sept. 28, 2007) The United
States and Europe have fiercely criticized Burma's military rulers for
clinging to power during another round of pro-democracy protests, this time
led by unarmed monks. But closer to home, the junta's Asian neighbors and
trading partners -- China
chief among them -- have walked a distinctly more cautious line, expressing
distress over the violence and, after long hesitation, renewing calls for
reconciliation and eventual transition to democracy.
Asia Rising: Lost in the
Pacific Ocean By Robert D. Kaplan
(International
Herald Tribune, Sep. 21, 2007) The
ultimate strategic effect of the Iraq war has been to hasten the arrival of
the Asian Century. While
the American government has been occupied in Mesopotamia, and our European
allies continue to starve their defense programs, Asian militaries - in
particular those of China, India, Japan and South Korea - have been quietly
modernizing and in some cases enlarging. Asian dynamism is now military as
well as economic.
Time to Break New Ground By Barry
Desker
(Straits Times, Sep. 7, 207) This
week's Apec Leaders' Meeting in Sydney
could mark a turning point. Apec is trying to remain relevant to its members.
It risks being overshadowed by the newer, more vibrant East Asian Community
(EAC) and East Asian Summit (EAS) groupings.
Abe's Grand Plan: An Asian
Democracy Club
(Reuters, Aug. 23, 2007) Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a 'broader Asia' partnership of
democracies that would include India,
the United States and Australia, but leave out the region's
superpower, China.
But in a
sign that New Delhi is keen not to upset Beijing, Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv
Shankar Menon warned on Monday against a 'zero sum game' with China.
What Asia Has Learnt By Janadas Devan
(Straits Times, July 2, 2007) What were the lessons of the Asian financial
crisis - and has the world learnt those lessons? Lesson No 1: Connecting to
super highways is all well and good, but it would be prudent to have speed
bumps. Lesson No 2: Government matters, regulatory oversight is essential,
the rule of law is crucial.
Democracy Takes Backseat to Asian Economic Growth By William Pesek
(Bloomberg, July 2, 2007) In the age of globalization, capitalism often
widens the gap between rich and poor, even undermining the push toward democracy It's more a recognition that democracy can have its limits when
it comes to economic policy making.
A Balm for Tokyo's Nerves? By Robyn Lim
(Straits Times, June 5, 2007) Australia,
by strengthening its security cooperation with Japan,
is hoping to moderate Tokyo's
inevitable rearmament by embedding it within a wider framework. Thus, Australia hopes, Japan will be less likely to go
its own way.
A New Model of Cooperation By Robert Beckman
(Straits Times, June 4, 2007) In recent years, the South China Sea has been
relatively calm, a major reason being that China agreed in 1995 to discuss
the disputes at the multilateral level with Asean. The result was the
Asean-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South
China Sea, which was signed by both parties in 2002.
Beijing, Taipei vie for
Caribbean Support By Carol J. Williams
(LA Times,
Apr. 30, 2007) China has begun outbidding Taiwan for the islands' allegiance,
compelling some to switch sides and embrace its policies. None of the
remaining Taipei backers appears at imminent
risk of changing China
tactics, although all have been approached by Beijing with aid and investment offers.
China's Footprint in Pakistan By Henry Chu
(Los Angeles Times, Apr. 1, 2006) Officials in countries such as India and the United States are eyeing the
port, Gwadar, warily, seeing more there than mere commercial value.
Meanwhile: China Changes, Not
Hong Kong By Philip Bowring
(International Herald Tribune, Feb. 12, 2007) What's changed in Hong Kong
since Britain handed the territory over to Beijing 10 years ago? Hong Kong has hardly changed at all. The People's
Liberation Army is almost invisible in its barracks, but Beijing's shadow lies across the
government.
Hu Defends China's Role in
Africa
(Washington Post, Feb. 8, 2007) Chinese President Hu Jintao sought to
reassure Africans that his country's aggressive investments in oil, copper
and other natural resources do not amount to a new wave of colonialism,
saying China would "not do anything harmful to the interests of Africa
and its people."
Asia and the Rule of Law By Dominique Moisi
(Straits Times, Jan. 26, 2007) Chinese rule of law is
necessary for creation of Asian community similar to European model. The rule
of law is the equivalent for Asia today of what democracy was for Europe yesterday.
Green Light for Study on
16-nation Trading Bloc
(Straits Times, Jan. 16, 2007) Leaders of 16 countries across Asia gave the nod to a feasibility study that could
pave the way for a trading bloc of three billion people - half the world's
population.
Asian Leaders Talk Security
Under Threat of Bombs
(Reuters, Jan. 8, 2006) Leaders of 16 Asian nations aim to seal agreements on
counter-terrorism, energy and trade this week at a summit in the central
Philippines clouded by bomb threats and regional insecurity.
China Courts
Africa With Aid, Projects
(Associated Press, Jan. 4, 2007) China
has found a seemingly limitless market in Africa
for its cheap goods. And oil-rich countries like Nigeria
and Angola provide the
natural resources China
needs to sustain its rapid growth.
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