In The News

China’s Soft-Power Push

David Shambaugh August 13, 2015
Investing billions in a range of soft-power endeavors, China leads on Asian trade and infrastructure initiatives and is active in a variety of global forums. “While China’s economic prowess impresses much of the world, its repressive political system and mercantilist business practices tarnish its reputation,” writes David Shambaugh, author and professor. He refers to Joseph Nye, the Harvard...

Small Burundi Could Ignite Big Conflict

Itziar Aguirre August 11, 2015
Burundi, landlocked, poor and one of Africa’s smallest nations, battles corruption and ethnic tensions. The re-election of President Pierre Nkurunziza, in defiance of the nation’s constitutional limit of two terms, may compound the challenges. “Ethnic violence could spread, threatening foreign aid, foreign investment and the credibility of international peacekeeping in Africa and destabilizing...

Temperatures in the South China Sea Continue to Rise

Gregory Poling August 6, 2015
China announced on July 20 plans to conduct military exercises in areas of the South China Sea, including those under dispute with Vietnam. “The exercises overlapped with a high-level gathering of senior officials from China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, in Tianjin for their ninth meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of...

Barack Obama’s Climate Plan Makes for Canny Politics

Nick Butler August 5, 2015
President Barack Obama announced a Clean Power Plan for the United States – reducing carbon emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and increasing reliance on renewable energy; solar power is expected to expand by 700 percent with reduced costs. “Coal-fired power plants will be closed and, with export potential limited, dozens of US coal mines will close as well,” writes Nick Butler for...

“The Last Mile”: Laying the Political and Security Foundations First for Peace, Then Development

Bruce Jones August 5, 2015
Poverty, while declining worldwide, is increasingly concentrated in regions fraught with violence and instability. Roughly half of the world’s poor live in fragile states. The international community encourages peace agreements, focusing less on the long-term stability needed for economic development. The Central African Republic is an example, facing cyclical violence and lack of economic...

US-Malaysia Relations: Strategic Imperatives Over Human Rights – Analysis

David Han Guo Xiong August 5, 2015
The US Congress passed legislation prohibiting fast-track trade negotiations with countries ranking low on compliance and efforts to stop human trafficking. The US State Department proceeded to upgrade Malaysia’s ranking, suggesting the country is making an effort, to ease negotiations for the Trans-Pacific-Partnership trade pact. David Han Guo Xiong, writing for RSIS Commentaries, argues the...

China Tightens Its Two-Systems Approach for Hong Kong

Michael C. Davis August 4, 2015
A one-country, two-systems model describes China’s relationship with Hong Kong. Observers naturally can’t help but weigh the pros and cons of each system, regarding one better than the other. China is tightening controls on the mainland for human-rights advocates, educators and internet users while also denying the “high degree of autonomy” once promised to the citizens of Hong Kong as a special...