In The News

Obama's Trade Policy Taking Shape – Part II

Bernard K. Gordon September 16, 2009
With the upcoming G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh and recent proposed tariffs on Chinese tires as a backdrop, the spotlight has shifted to Obama’s trade policy and support of the Doha Round, at least momentarily. But circumstances for the White House are different today than in the past. According to Professor Emeritus Bernard K. Gordon, India, which was blamed for stalling the Doha Round before, now...

China and US: Tire-d of Fighting

Gady Epstein September 14, 2009
China and the US seem like Siamese twins that hate each other – joined at the hip by trade but pushed apart by issues as diverse as human rights, climate change, and security. The current financial crisis makes some believe focus on trade may take center stage. Gady Epstein from Forbes argues that the decision by President Obama over the influx of cheap Chinese tires reflects the deepening...

Will Japan Finally Get a Cabinet That Makes Policy?

Karel van Wolferen September 10, 2009
For all of Japan’s economic prowess and impact on the rest of the world, in one area the country has remained relatively diffident: foreign policy. While reasons for such a stance lie in Japanese public opinion, an important factor is Japan’s status as a virtual protectorate of the US. In the past, Japan rarely rocked the boat when it came to US geopolitical and strategic goals, creating a...

Between China and India: Is Tibet the Wedge or Link?

George Yeo September 8, 2009
Ever since the March 14 riots in Tibet, the Autonomous Region has enjoyed increased global scrutiny, though access for foreign observers has been limited. Recently, Singapore’s George Yeo became the first foreign minister to visit Tibet since the riots. A long-time student of Asian history, Minister Yeo explores Tibet’s role in the relations between Asia’s two rising giants China and India in its...

A New Path for Japan

Yukio Hatoyama August 27, 2009
Yukio Hatoyama, the leader of Japan’s Democratic Party and potential prime minister if his party wins the election, holds a skeptical view of the benefits of globalization. Human and environmental costs are discounted in favor of economic value. “People are simply personnel expenses,” with the global economy destroying “traditional economic activities” – e.g., agriculture – and communities. Such...

Afghanistan’s Election Matters as Much for the Country as for the World

Bruce Riedel August 27, 2009
Afghanistan’s presidential election could provide a critical update on the progress of the war in that country, writes Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. That is, it should reveal the strength of the Taliban insurgency relative to the success of the US and NATO. The US and NATO appear to have an upper hand given that the Taliban were unsuccessful in disrupting the election...

Japan’s Coming Election Could Mean Its Withdrawal from the World

Ko Mishima August 25, 2009
The result of Japan’s upcoming election could be more than a test of confidence for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). It might determine the nature of the country’s engagement with the world. According to Professor Ko Mishima, the Japanese doubt the LDP has a handle on the nation’s economy, and thus a win by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) looks close to certain. Though...