Regional Issues

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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.

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.