Regional Issues

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Opposition in ASEAN Nations As China Free-Trade Agreement Comes into Force (Bloomberg, Jan. 2, 2009) A FTA between China and ASEAN came into force, consolidating a sixfold surge in economic activity over the past decade between countries representing a quarter of the world’s population.

ASEAN-China Open Free Trade Area
(AFP, Dec. 29, 2009) China and Southeast Asia establish the world's biggest free trade area (FTA), liberalizing billions of dollars in goods and investments covering a market of 1.7 billion consumers.

China Not Taking Sides on Kashmir
(Global Times, Nov. 23, 2009) Chinese experts say China isn't interfering in the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan, despite a separatist leader of the India-controlled part of the region applying for a visa to visit China.

Obama to Meet with Prime Minister of Myanmar
(AP, Nov. 9, 2009) President Obama plans to meet with the prime minister of Myanmar along with other Southeast Asian leaders, in a high-level affirmation of the new policy by Washington of engaging the military-ruled country.

India, China Agree to Maintain Peace on Border
(PTI, Oct. 29, 2009) Seeking to put behind the recent irritants in bilateral ties, India and China have reaffirmed the need to maintain peace and tranquility on border and agreed to resolve all issues in the spirit of “strategic and cooperative partnership.”

Chinese Visit Seals End of Chilly Ties with Australia
(Reuters, Oct. 28, 2009) The arrival of China's Vice Premier in Sydney and a glowing editorial in one of China's most popular newspapers this week seem to seal the end of diplomatic tensions between Canberra and Beijing.

Asia Looks to ‘Lead World’ with EU-Style Bloc
(AFP, Oct. 25, 2009) Asian leaders discussed plans at a summit Saturday to "lead the world" by forming an EU-style community, as regional giants China and India tried to cool a simmering border spat.

China Protests Trip by India Leader
(New York Times, Oct. 14, 2009) A Chinese official said that a recent visit by the Indian prime minister to a Himalayan territory in northeastern India that China claims as its own land has jeopardized China-India relations.

Australian Attitudes Cool towards China: Poll
(Reuters, Oct. 12, 2009) Australian attitudes to China are cooling, with 50 percent believing there is too much Chinese investment in Australia and almost half the population in favor of limiting China's influence.

China, Japan, SKorea to Consider Free Trade Pact
(AP, Oct. 10, 2009) Their economies enmeshed as never before, leaders from China, Japan and South Korea said that they would explore the idea of a free trade pact, inching closer toward deeper regional integration.

China Won’t Wage War on India
(Times of India, Sep. 20, 2009) Despite reports of frequent border incursions, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu believes that China will never a wage a war on India.

U.S., Australia to Ask China to Exercises: Report
(Reuters, Sep. 3, 2009) China will be asked by the United States and Australia to join military exercises to repair ties after a diplomatic row between Canberra and Beijing, a top U.S. military official said.

Asean to Get $25bn Loan from China
(Bangkok Post, Aug. 16, 2009) China agreed to provide a US$15 billion loan to help Southeast Asian countries with infrastructure development and another $10 billion in the form of an emergency investment fund to help the region cope with future economic crises.

U.S., India Set Up ‘Strategic Dialogue’
(Washington Post, Jul. 21, 2009) The United States and India established a high-level forum designed to further strengthen a relationship that has dramatically improved in recent years.

BRIC Seeks Global Voice at First Summit
(Reuters, Jun. 14, 2009) The leaders of the world's biggest emerging markets -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- meet in the coming week for their first formal summit, seeking a louder voice on the global stage.

Taiwan Likely to Boost South China Sea Presence
(AFP, Jun. 14, 2009) Taiwan's coastguard said it was likely to increase its presence in a disputed South China Sea archipelago, in response to a significant rise in the number of foreign fishing boats there.

China, Turkmenistan Seals $3 Billion Energy Loan
(AP, Jun. 6, 2009) China will lend energy-rich Turkmenistan $3 billion to develop its vast South Yolotan natural gas field, Turkmen state media reported.

Asian Countries Finalize Details on Crisis Funds
(Reuters, May 4, 2009) Japan, China and South Korea finalized the details of an emergency US$120 billion liquidity fund for 13 Asian countries, a key regional initiative to counter the global economic downturn.

Russia and China Announce New Era of Military Cooperation
(Times, Apr. 29, 2009) Russia and China announced plans for an intensified programme of military cooperation as part of a burgeoning “strategic partnership.”

China’s ‘Checkbook Diplomacy’ in Fiji under Fire
(Sydney Morning Herald, Apr. 21, 2009) Australia has been pressing China to curb its support for Fiji over concerns that Beijing is propping up the military regime by supplying hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.

China to Set Up US$10 Bil. ASEAN Fund
(Reuters, Apr. 19, 2009) China will set up a US$10 billion China-ASEAN investment cooperation fund to support infrastructure projects in the region, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said.

Russia, China Stage War Games in Central Asia
(Reuters, Apr. 18, 2009) China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan took part in war games in the first such exercise since Kyrgyzstan said in February it would shut the last U.S. air base in Central Asia.

Southeast Asia Military Delegates Tour China Base
(AP, Mar. 31, 2009) Top Southeast Asian military brass toured a tank base north of Beijing, highlighting China's growing engagement with a region that has long felt neglected by the United States.

Australia Blocks China’s Purchase of Mining Company
(New York Times, Mar. 28, 2009) Citing national security, Australia blocked one of several acquisitions China is seeking in the country’s natural resources sector.

China Arms Spend Prompts South Korea Arms Race Warning
(Reuters, Mar. 5, 2009) South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak warned on Thursday of the danger of a North Asia arms race after China announced another double-digit rise in annual military spending.

Chinese Officials Protest Sinking of Cargo Ship by Russians
(New York Times, Feb. 21, 2009) A senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official said Friday that Russia had an unacceptable response after one of its warships sank a Chinese cargo vessel last Saturday.

China Pursues Latin America Ties
(BBC, Feb. 9, 2009) China has stepped up its efforts to strengthen ties with Latin America. It is rare for two of its top leaders to descend on the region almost at the same time.

India Denies Chinese Sub Reports
(BBC, Feb. 5, 2009) Indian naval officials have denied media reports that Chinese warships forced an Indian submarine to surface in a stand-off in waters off Somalia.

Vietnam and China Demarcate Land Border
(AP, Jan. 1, 2009) Vietnam and China have completed the demarcation of their long-disputed land border in what they hailed as an event of "great historic significance" 30 years after their brief but bloody border war.

Nepal: Caught Between the Ambitions of China and India By Jyoti Thottam (Time, Mar. 2, 2010) India has just launched a plan to spend $361 million over the next several years on roads and rail links in the terai; China, meanwhile, recently increased its annual aid to Nepal by 50% to about $22 million.

New World Order without a Hegemon: Compete and Cooperate By Dilip Hiro (YaleGlobal, Feb. 24, 2010) The US, China, EU, Russia, India, and Brazil are emerging as the key players whose relationships will define the future of global relations. While the era of unrivalled American supremacy is over, a new pattern of relations is emerging.

Globalization in Trouble—Part II By David Dapice
(YaleGlobal, Feb. 15, 2010) Free trade works well when there is relatively full employment. With rising unemployment globally, the tendency toward protectionism is bound to rise. Indeed, there are signs that it may already be here.

China Intensifies Tug of War with India on Nepal By Jim Yardley
(New York Times, Feb. 18, 2010) If it once regarded Nepal with intermittent interest, China is now exerting itself more broadly toward its small Himalayan neighbor, analysts say.

India Worries As China Builds Ports in South Asia By Vikas Bajaj
(New York Times, Feb. 16, 2010) As trade in the region grows more lucrative, China has been developing port facilities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, and it is planning to build railroad lines in Nepal.

Australia’s Old Ties with U.S. Deepened in the Past Decade By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Feb. 14, 2010) Behind the scenes, the United States and Australia were working to strengthen their security and intelligence ties with a view to countering a rising China.

Globalization in Trouble—Part I By Bernard K. Gordon
(YaleGlobal, Feb. 12, 2010) While still too early to tell, if burden-sharing transforms into burden-shifting, the prognosis for free trade, let alone security, is bleak.

As Obama Bets on Asia, Regional Players Hedge By Jim Hoagland
(Washington Post, Feb. 14, 2010) These are clear signs of Indian hedging: seeking allies for worst-case scenarios while accommodating China on economic matters.

Demonizing China: Pundits Get Its Role in Africa Wrong By Barry Sautman and Yan Hairong (YaleGlobal, Feb. 10, 2010) China may be the newest scapegoat for Africa’s development problems, but in the end, the debate on China’s involvement in Africa misses the point – that of improving the lot of the poorest continent in the world.

A Reality Check in Asia By Brad Glosserman
(PacNet #5A, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Feb. 8, 2010) There is a growing sense that we are witnesses to the first stages in a fundamental transition in the way the world works. This is a compelling portrait – but it is simplistic.

China Casts Nervous Eye at Erstwhile Ally Myanmar By Ben Blanchard (Reuters, Jan. 25, 2010) China's fear is that the kind of unrest seen last August in Kokang will be repeated with any one of a number of different ethnic rebel militias, and spill into its territory again.

China-ASEAN Pact Offers More Than Win-Win By Brantly Womack
(Asia Times, Jan. 7, 2010) The formal inauguration of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) on January 1 marks the culmination of arguably the most successful big-power diplomacy of the post-Cold War era.

China Resets terms of Engagement in Central Asia By M K Bhadrakumar (Asia Times, Dec. 24, 2009) The main thing is that China has reset the terms of the West's engagement with Central Asia. Western countries need to negotiate hard with Central Asian interlocutors squarely.

After Expelling Uighurs, Cambodia Approves Chinese Investments By Seth Mydans (New York Times, Dec. 22, 2009) China signed 14 deals with Cambodia on Monday worth approximately $1 billion, two days after Cambodia deported 20 ethnic Uighur asylum seekers under strong pressure from Beijing.

China Gets Myanmar Assurances on Pipeline, Border By Ben Blanchard (Reuters, Dec. 21, 2009) Myanmar has given China political assurance over an important crude oil pipeline and promised to maintain stability along the border after unrest in August pushed thousands of refugees into the Chinese side.

China in the Caribbean: The New Big Brother By Daniel Erikson
(China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Dec. 16, 2009) As China becomes more deeply engaged with the tiny micro-states of the Caribbean, China is positioning itself to be an increasingly influential actor in a distant part of the world traditionally attached to its principal rival, the United States.

Bickering by Champions of Globalization in Asia Worries the Region By Sadanand Dhume (YaleGlobal, Dec. 17, 2009) India and China seem to be locking horns more frequently of late, setting off alarm bells that a long standing rivalry may rekindle overt conflict.

New Gas Pipeline from Central Asia Feeds China By Andrew E. Kramer (New York Times, Dec. 15, 2009) China’s president, Hu Jintao, opened a big natural gas pipeline from central Asia to China, significantly increasing China’s access to the fuel and providing the first major alternative to exporting the region’s gas through Russia.

As Ties between India and China Grow, So Does Mistrust By Emily Wax (Washington Post, Dec. 14, 2009) In many ways, cooperation between India and China has never been better, but border disputes are occurring more frequently, analysts say, one sign that a fierce competition between India and China for regional dominance is heating up.

China’s Hu Boosts Energy Ties with Central Asia By Raushan Nurshayeva and Shamil Zhumatov (Reuters, Dec. 12, 2009) Chinese leader Hu Jintao opened the Kazakh section of a new Central Asia-China gas pipeline, tightening Beijing's control over natural resources in the vast energy-rich region.

China’s Backing on Iran Followed Dire Predictions By John Pomfret and Joby Warrick (Washington Post, Nov. 26, 2009) The Chinese were told that Israel could bomb Iran, leading to a crisis in the Persian Gulf region and almost inevitably problems over the very oil China needs to fuel its economic juggernaut.

China Gains in U.S. Eyes, and India Feels Slights By Lydia Polgreen
(New York Times, Nov. 24, 2009) The statement rank as one of several perceived slights that have dampened hopes for a new chapter in the sometimes rocky relationship between the United States and India.

China Helps the Powerful in Namibia By Sharon LaFraniere
(New York Times, Nov. 20, 2009) Inquiries in Namibia and in other developing countries in Africa and Asia have cast a fresh light on how China sometimes uses its treasure chest of foreign loans and aid to create elite alliances and ease the approval of no-bid contracts.

A Nuclear Power’s Act of Proliferation By R. Jeffrey Smith and Joby Warrick (Washington Post, Nov. 13, 2009) In 1982, a Pakistani military C-130 left the western Chinese city of Urumqi with a highly unusual cargo: enough weapons-grade uranium for two atomic bombs, according to accounts written by the father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, Abdul Qadeer Khan.

As Allies Struggle in Battle, China Moves in to Do Business By Bronwen Maddox (The Times, Nov. 5, 2009) Obama will face criticism at home that while China has contributed little so far to Afghan security, it is reaping the rewards of others’ blood and money.

Out of the Cold: Burma and US Take Tentative Steps By David I. Steinberg (YaleGlobal, Nov. 4, 2009) With the visit this week by Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell as well as a recent trip by Virginia Senator Jim Webb there are signs of a thaw. Still, such developments only suggest tentative steps in normalizing relations between Burma and the U.S.

China to Map out Africa Strategy at Forum in Egypt By Christopher Bodeen (AP, Nov. 1, 2009) China will set the future direction of its burgeoning ties with Africa at a multinational forum in Egypt this month, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was quoted as saying.

Competing Communities: What the Australian and Japanese Ideas Mean for Asia’s Regional Architecture By Amitav Acharya (PacNet #70, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Oct. 27, 2009) The outcome is unlikely to be a revolutionary change in Asian multilateralism, a la a European Union in the east but an adaption and modification of extant bodies.

We’ve Left Taiwan Out in the Cold By Rowan Callick
(The Australian, Oct. 27, 2009) In his first interview with an Australian journalist since being elected 18 months ago, Ma asked: "If Beijing is willing to improve relations with us, why couldn't Australia?"

US Zeros in on China’s Clout in Myanmar By Brian McCartan
(Asia Times, Oct. 24, 2009) the US now at least has a seat at the table with the generals to discuss China's role in Myanmar, and with concessions could potentially provide the regime with diplomatic and economic alternatives that gradually shift the region's balance of power.

China, India Stoke 21st-Century Rivalry By Peter Wonacott
(Wall Street Journal, Oct. 23, 2009) Dueling territorial claims along this heavily militarized mountain border, coupled with economic tensions between the two nations, are kindling a 21st-century rivalry.

Beijing’s Diplomatic Offensive: “Marathon Autumn Diplomacy” By Willy Lam (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Oct. 22, 2009) To what extent has Beijing’s Autumn Diplomacy attained its main goals? At least in the near term, the Obama Administration seems anxious to impress upon China that it is being treated as America’s equal.

Chinese Company Is Near First Deal to Buy Stake in Oil Drilling Leases in Gulf of Mexico By Clifford Krauss (New York Times, Oct. 17, 2009) Trying to acquire a foothold in the American oil patch, a Chinese company is closing in on a deal to buy stakes in a few drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico from a Norwegian company.

Russia and China: An Old Alliance Now Hinges on Energy By Austin Ramzy (Time, Oct. 15, 2009) Despite the bonhomie and talk of common interests, the neighbors are now most aligned by the bottom line.

China, Russia Bolster Ties with Gas, Trade Deals By Darya Korsunskaya and Chris Buckley (Reuters, Oct. 13, 2009) Russia and China bolstered their close but increasingly imbalanced relationship when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ushered through a tentative gas supply agreement and deals worth $3.5 billion.

China Warily Watches US-Myanmar Detente By Larry Jagan
(Asia Times, Oct. 2, 2009) The border dispute between two close allies, China and Myanmar, has now been compounded by concerns over the junta's future relations with the United States.

Can China Help to Defuse the Nuclear Threat from Iran? By Tania Branigan (Guardian, Sep. 27, 2009) Iran and China have energy and trade links that could block Beijing's backing for sanctions.

Asia Impacted by US Missile Shift By Peter J Brown
(Asia Times, Sep. 23, 2009) Silence or not, both China and Japan must assess the consequences of this activity because what the US is now proposing for Europe in terms of missile defense is right in line with what has been unfolding all along in East Asia.

Booming China-India Ties Strained by Border Tension By Alistair Scrutton and Emma Graham-Harrison (Reuters, Sep. 18, 2009) Anger over troop deployments, reports of border incursions, and a high-pitched media debate have reignited strains between China and India over long-festering border disputes in the Himalayas.

China’s Sway Over Myanmar Limited, Says Crisis Group
(Reuters, Sep. 13, 2009) Beijing's sway over Myanmar may be too weak to deter the junta from launching fresh offensives against armed ethnic groups on its volatile frontier with China, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a new report.

Chinese Shadow Over Vietnamese Repression By Shawn W Crispin
(Asia Times, Sep. 12, 2009) Vietnamese authorities have in recent weeks arrested and detained a handful of journalists and bloggers who have penned materials critical of China.

A Positive Role for Sino-Western Synergy By David Gosset
(Asia Times, Sep. 11, 2009) Despite the July 5 tragedy which killed 197 people, Xinjiang will not only help to sustain the energy demand of the world's largest developing economy but "Zhang Qian's Diplomacy" will also prove to be the best guarantee of stability in Central Asia.

Between China and India: Is Tibet the Wedge or Link? By George Yeo (YaleGlobal, Sep. 8, 2009) Today, Tibetans lag behind Han Chinese especially in economic performance and this discrepancy needs to be recognized and managed.

Tibetan Area a Tinderbox for China-India Tensions By Edward Wong (New York Times, Sep. 4, 2009) “The entire border is disputed. This problem hasn’t been solved, and it’s a huge barrier to China-India relations,” an India scholar at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations said.

China Fails to Prevent Myanmar’s Ethnic Clashes By Michael Wines
(New York Times, Sep. 4, 2009) China is Myanmar’s closest ally. But in the wake of a recent clash between Myanmar’s army and ethnic rebels, analysts have begun to question how much influence China has.

Border War Rattles China-Myanmar Ties By Larry Jagan
(Asia Times, Sep. 1, 2009) Myanmar military operations against an ethnic insurgent group have forced tens of thousands of refugees across China's southern border and ratcheted up bilateral tensions between the usually allied neighboring nations.

Warmongers in China, India Miss the Mark By Bhartendu Kumar Singh (Asia Times, Aug. 29, 2009) As rising powers, China and India will compete for power, influence and resources, but perhaps the neighbors can live with a fair amount of healthy competition.

Tension Increases As China and Australia Grow Closer By Michael Wines (New York Times, Aug. 22, 2009) China’s diplomatic relationship with Australia, so recently flourishing despite occasional spats, this month has taken a severe turn toward the governmental equivalent of thrown dinner plates.

China-ASEAN Free Trade Area: A Chinese “Monroe Doctrine” or “Peaceful Rise”? By Vincent Wang (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Aug. 20, 2009) China’s economic statecraft toward Southeast Asia will provide the material support for its stated goal of “peaceful rise,” augment its stature and influence in regional and world affairs, and present a challenge to the United States.

The China Paradox By Andrew Shearer
(Wall Street Journal, Aug. 19, 2009) The dilemma is this: The closer free nations draw to China, the greater the potential friction with Communist Party interests. Australia's partners in Asia and beyond need to pay attention to the lessons Canberra is learning.

South Korean Launch Raises Questions By R. Jeffrey Smith and Stella Kim (Washington Post, Aug. 18, 2009) South Korea plans to launch a satellite into space using technology capable, in theory, of eventually delivering nuclear warheads or other weapons of mass destruction.

China Charges 4 Employees of Rio Tinto, but Backs off Allegatioins of Spying By David Barboza (New York Times, Aug. 13, 2009) China formally arrested an Australian citizen and three other employees of the British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto on suspicions of commercial bribery and trade secrets infringement.

China Will Be One of Our Primary Challenges: Navy Chief
(The Hindu, Aug. 11, 2009) The Chief of the Naval Staff underscored the primacy of challenges posed by China as India draw its national security plans to keep pace with its rise to global prominence.

China and Taiwan End War Over Pacific Aid By Rowan Callick
(The Australian, Aug. 10, 2009) China and Taiwan have struck a truce in their long-running and costly checkbook battle for support in the Pacific, a truce that will be especially welcome in Canberra after the recent fraying of its ties with Beijing.

Fading Europe Aids China’s US Ties By Francesco Sisci
(Asia Times, Aug. 6, 2009) The absence of Europe could be the yeast of trans-Pacific ties - the gluing factor, like the absence of air - between the US and China.

China Dips Its Toe in the Black Sea By M K Bhadrakumar
(Asia Times, Aug. 1, 2009) In a stunning development, China entered the fray this month and signed an agreement to loan $1 billion to Moldova at a highly favorable 3% interest rate over 15 years with a five-year grace period on interest payments.

Clinton Helps Obama Rope in India As Potential Ally
(Editorial, Christian Science Monitor, Jul. 21, 2009) President Obama sees India as one of a few major or emerging powers that are well shy of being US allies but nonetheless might work more closely with the US.

Australia Mustn’t “Lose Face” in Rio Row with China By Rob Taylor
(Reuters, Jul. 18, 2009) The prime minister made a rare error in adopting an early strident tone with Beijing, against his own judgment that it would be better to keep the matter behind diplomatic doors.

Dams in China Turn the Mekong into a River of Discord By Michael Richardson (YaleGlobal, Jul. 16, 2009) Exploiting the natural resources that cross borders on a fair and equitable basis requires not only inter-government coordination, but also a knack for expecting the unexpected.

Courting the Dragon By Brahma Chellaney
(Times of India, Jul. 12, 2009) The key reason why India ranks lower in the policy profile of the Barack Obama administration than it did under President George W Bush is that America’s Asia policy is no longer guided by an overarching geopolitical framework.

China Detains Mining Executive on Spy Charge, Australia Says By David Barboza (New York Times, Jul. 9, 2009) An Australian executive from Rio Tinto is being held by Chinese officials on suspicion of stealing state secrets and could be charged with espionage.

Sino-Russian Baby Comes of Age By M K Bhadrakumar
(Asia Times, Jun. 13, 2009) If all the world's a stage and the regional organizations are players who make their exits and entrances, the SCO is doing remarkably well playing many parts. That it has finally reached adulthood is beyond dispute.

Emerging Powers Prepare to Meet in Russia By Clifford J. Levy
(New York Times, Jun. 16, 2009) While China’s official news media often give sizable attention to coming international gatherings, they have offered little coverage of the BRIC summit meeting. The silence reflected a desire not to raise hopes for the meeting.

Mining Giant Scraps China Deal By David Barboza and Michael Wines (New York Times, Jun. 6, 2009) The Chinese government’s largest investment in a Western company, a proposed $19.5 billion stake in the Australian-British mining giant Rio Tinto, collapsed.

Australia Feels Chill as China’s Economic Shadow Grows By Michael Wines (New York Times, Jun 3, 2009) A few months after the first of the deals was announced, a sharp initial backlash has given way to a more subtle queasiness over whether Australia’s place in the region is about to be altered by the new Chinese giant looming over its horizon.

China’s Strategy toward Central America: The Costa Rican Nexus By Daniel Erikson (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, May 27, 2009) China correctly views Costa Rica’s 2007 conversion as a major victory that they have time to savor and deepen before conducting their outreach to other countries in the region with renewed intensity.

Chinese Support Crucial to Sri Lankan Victory Over Tamils By Jeremy Page (Times, May 16, 2009) With Sri Lanka’s military claiming to be on the verge of at last crushing the Tamil Tigers, many are asking if that victory has come thanks only to a life-saving injection of Chinese weaponry.

Asian Naval Programs Confident Despite Economy By Wendell Minnick (DefenseNews, May 11, 2009) Confidence in Asian naval and maritime defense markets appears undaunted by the economic crisis savaging defense budgets around the world.

Australia Bulks Up By Andrew Shearer
(Wall Street Journal Asia, May 6,2009) Asia has long looked to the United States to underwrite two critical public goods: free trade and security. Now there is anxiety in the region about its continuing willingness and ability to so, and governments are looking for ways to adapt.

Australia Tries to Placate China over Navy Expansion By Rob Taylor (Reuters, May 1, 2009) Australia sought to reassure China that plans to double its attack submarine fleet and buy warships capable of carrying ballistic missile shields in a $72 billion military upgrade were not aimed at Beijing.

Impeccable Affair and Renewed Rivalry in the South China Sea By Ian Storey (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Apr. 30, 2009) Over the past two years the South China Sea dispute has moved from the back to the middle burner of Asian security issues; if present trends continue, it may not be long before it is seen once again as a major potential regional flashpoint.

China Tires of Pyongyang’s Antics By Shen Dingli
(Asia Times, Apr. 28, 2009) If North Korea continues to recklessly jeopardize China's legitimate security interests while still receiving Chinese aid, Beijing will inevitably be forced to review its relationship with Pyongyang.

Despite Setback, Asean Has Important Role By Simon Tay
(YaleGlobal, Apr. 27, 2009) Asean fosters coordination and stability not only among its members through agreements and summits, but also by bringing nations such as China, Japan, and South Korea into a forum for dialogue and consultation on regional issues.

China Concerns Shape New Paper on Defense By Greg Ansley
(New Zealand Herald, Apr. 27, 2009) Australia is about to release a new defense white paper shaped by growing concerns about the rise of China and emerging threats to the nation's maritime approaches and trade routes.

India Upset with China Over Sri Lanka Crisis
(Times of India, Apr. 26, 2009) China's declaration of support for the Sri Lankan government against the LTTE, apart from sticking out like a sore thumb in the eyes of the world, has further fuelled India’s mortal distrust of its largest and most powerful neighbor.

Cash-Rich China Courts the Caspian By M K Bhadrakumar
(Asia Times, Apr. 18, 2009) The global downturn is spreading to Central Asia. It may lead to a marked shift of fortune in the Great Game for control of Caspian energy reserves.

Deals Help China Expand Its Sway in Latin America By Simon Romero and Alexei Barrionuevo (New York Times, Apr. 16, 2009) As Washington tries to rebuild its strained relationships in Latin America, China is stepping in vigorously, offering countries across the region large amounts of money while they struggle with sharply slowing economies.

Constructing Asia’s Missing Links By Fidel Ramos
(Taipei Times, Apr. 16, 2009) If Asia is to begin to build the type of dense institutional infrastructure that has brought Europe peace and prosperity, the flashpoint between China and Taiwan will need to be transformed into a foundation stone of regional cooperation.

China Keeps Chavez Close, But Not Too Close
(AFP, Apr. 11, 2009) Despite his gushing compliments this week, Beijing has been careful to keep Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at a distance as it tries not to jeopardise its relations with Washington, analysts say.

China, Philippines Stoke Island Tensions By Joel D Adriano
(Asia Times, Mar. 27, 2009) The Philippines stirred a diplomat hornet's nest with China and others when it passed a new law this month that defines its national maritime boundaries to include the long-disputed and potentially fuel-rich Spratly islands in the South China Sea.

China’s Maturing Relationship with Latin America By Evan Ellis
(China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Mar. 18, 2009) When President Hu traveled to the region in November 2008 to attend the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, the trip highlighted how far China’s relationship with Latin America had evolved in only four years.

India Frets Over Obama’s Chinamania By M K Bhadrakumar
(Asia Times, Mar. 14, 2009) The intensity of US-China traffic is in sharp contrast with the virtual absence of high-level political exchanges between the Indian leadership and Obama.

Asia Pacific Joint Security Statement Takes Aim at China’s Military Build-up By Greg Sheridan (The Australian, Mar. 9, 2009) The statement commits Australia and ROK to greater co-operation in security and global matters, and provides for substantially enhanced intelligence sharing. Most significantly, it locates the joint security statement in the context of both nations being military allies of the US.

US Strength Crucial to Asia Peace By James Holmes
(Taipei Times, Mar. 5, 2009) Should allies and friends in the region conclude the US has become an untrustworthy partner, they will fend for themselves. That’s the logic of self-help, of threat and response.

When Allies Drift Apart By Shawn W Crispin
(Asia Times, Feb. 14, 2009) The US has lost substantial regional ground to China, which has leveraged soft power initiatives and economic integration into hard power gains, including unprecedented joint naval and later this year special forces operations with Thailand.

Recent Trends in Russo-Chinese Military Relations By Stephen Blank (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jan. 22, 2009) Moscow’s arms sales to China is falling victim to its angst at the United States and its arms producers’ need for cash even as it builds up a formidable military force that it knows one day could be deployed against it.