In The News

Sands Shifting for Africa's Nomadic Herders

February 12, 2010
A recent study undertaken by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) found that African pastoralists produce goods more efficiently than their peers who practice “modern” farming techniques. For example, while cattle ranchers specialize solely in meat, pastoralists utilize their cattle's milk and blood, and produce manure from their excrement. Moreover,...

China’s Strident Tone Raises Concerns Among Western Governments, Analysts

John Pomfret February 1, 2010
China’s response to Washington’s plans to sell weapons to Taiwan is part of the recent change in tone in China’s relations not only with the US, but also the world. That change likely stems from China’s ever increasing importance on the world stage as well as new confidence generated by its survival of the financial crisis relatively unscathed. But domestic insecurity over unrest in its western...

China and Google: Searching For Trouble – Part I

Jonathan Fenby January 19, 2010
Google’s recent dispute with China is not just about internet censorship; it’s also about China’s evolving role on the world stage, according to journalist and author Jonathan Fenby. It is unlikely Beijing will allow citizens to access banned Internet sites through Google – a condition the company demanded for staying in China. There are also concerns about Internet security in general, but the...

China Helps the Powerful in Namibia

Sharon LaFraniere November 30, 2009
The daughter of Namibia’s president, Hifikepunye Pohamba is studying at the Beijing Culture and Language University under a scholarship provided by the Chinese government. Several other scholarships have also been awarded this year, and only to the children of top Namibian officials. With national elections drawing near Namibia’s anticorruption commission has begun an inquiry into how the...

Obama in Asia – Part III

Shen Dingli November 20, 2009
US President Obama’s recent trip to China reveals the ways in which US-China relations might be changing. According to Shen Dingli, Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University Shanghai, the tenor of the trip showed that China’s status has risen as the US appears to be accepting China’s terms of the relationship. Obama’s exposure to the Chinese people was also limited as his...

The Future Path for an East Asian Community

Kavi Chongkittavorn October 26, 2009
Southeast Asian countries known as ASEAN have agreed on the need to form a broader East Asian community and increase regional cooperation, despite the many challenges that such integration faces. Among these is the disagreement over how to deal with human rights violations, the differences in economic development and political systems of member states, diverging opinions on US involvement, and...

China, India Stoke 21st-Century Rivalry

Peter Wonacott October 23, 2009
As each day passes, India and China seem closer to butting heads openly over a number of issues including contested territory, strategic relations, and trade. China claims Indian province Arunachal Pradesh is part of Tibet while India accuses China of occupying Indian territory in eastern Ladakh. Increased militarization and tightened controls at the border help to keep tensions simmering. China...