In The News

Militants Warn China Over Oil in Niger Delta

Craig Timberg May 2, 2006
Immediately after the Nigerian government signed agreements on oil access and other investments with Chinese President Hu Jintao, militants detonated a car bomb and threatened Chinese investors and officials, as well as oil workers, offices and storage facilities. One militant group labeled the Chinese, who have a $2.2 billion stake in Niger Delta oil field, as “thieves.” Currently, the US is...

Africa Emerges as a Strategic Battleground

Frederick Kempe April 28, 2006
Africa suffers from a series of humanitarian crises, but the continent also offers tremendous opportunity. Oddly enough, it’s the US general in charge of the Europe Command and NATO who insists that the US must pay more attention on Africa. The Bush administration, distracted with war in Iraq, faces three urgent issues in Africa – Islamic terrorism, energy security and growing Chinese influence...

East Asia’s Troubled Waters – Part II

Peter Beck April 27, 2006
In 1910, Japan invaded Korea, colonizing the country for 35 years and attempting to obliterate its culture. Nationalism, fed by historic grievances, lingers today. In the second part of this three-part series, Peter Beck of the International Crisis Group analyzes the troubled relationship between Japan and South Korea, who are major trading partners, yet continue to clash over territorial...

India Flexes Its Muscles With First Foreign Military Base

Nick Paton Walsh April 27, 2006
The Indian Air Force is reportedly refurbishing an airbase in the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan. Jane’s Defence Weekly reports that India will station two squadrons of Russian-built fighter craft and also help train the Tajik air force. Tajikistan and India refuse to confirm the report. Tajikistan, an impoverished and largely Muslim nation, is bordered by China on the east and Afghanistan...

China Seeks "Strategic Partnership" With Africa

Tom Ashby April 27, 2006
After making economic inroads throughout Africa, China seeks to strengthen political ties. Speaking in Nigeria – Africa’s top oil-producing nation – China President Hu Jintao promised respect for African sovereignty, which contrasts with the ongoing US demands for democracy and a war on terror. The Chinese president’s tour has included stops in the US, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Kenya. "...

EU Accused of Ignoring Human Rights Abuses in Rush for Gas Deal

Nicholas Watt April 26, 2006
The lucrative gas reserves in Turkmenistan attract the EU to such an extent that parliamentary committees are prepared to disregard the harsh regime of President Niyazov and many human-rights abuses. In contrast, the EU has banned Belarussian leaders from traveling for vote-rigging their country’s elections, a less serious crime than human-rights abuses. Coincidentally, Belarus does not have oil...

East Asia’s Troubled Waters – Part I

Wenran Jiang April 25, 2006
In recent history, Asian neighbors such as China, Japan and South Korea have transformed from traditional foes to complementary trading partners. But this three-part series explores how competition for natural resources rekindles historical grievances, fueling nationalism and confrontation. Rising tension over the waters demonstrate how increased interdependence brought about by globalization may...