In The News

Friends or Else

January 20, 2011
China is the world’s second largest economy, rapidly gaining ground on the US. The two nations have a nervous mutual dependence and on issue after issue confront a dilemma about whether to view the other as competitor or partner. “This mix of partnership and rivalry is a recipe for confusion,” notes the Economist in its review of the US-China relationship. Security interests can clash with...

A New Rice Revolution on the Way?

John Berthelsen January 19, 2011
New research from Asia has produced strains of rice that can withstand a range of disease, soil and weather conditions. Developed over 12 years, the process “holds out the hope of a scientific method of increasing yields of other crops, making them hardier and more resistant to disease and insects and cutting the use of fertilizers and pesticides without resorting to genetic modification,”...

Lessons Learned, South Korea Makes Quick Economic Recovery

Martin Fackler January 17, 2011
During the 1997-98 Asian currency crisis, the International Monetary Fund forced tough medicine on South Korea with a tough bailout package and strict conditions. The nation endured high interest rates, massive company and bank closures, and yet recovered quickly by clearing bad debt and investing in education. Its economy now ranks 15th in the world. Now, some analysts suggest the US should...

WikiLeaks Fallout – Part II

Frank Ching January 14, 2011
Leaked US State Department cables, more than 2500 published in diverse news outlets so far, offer glimpses into methods and goals of individual US diplomats. This two-part series explores how WikiLeaks adds to diplomatic challenges around the globe. The second article, written by author and journalist Frank Ching, examines one of the more thoughtful cables. In January 2009, Clark T. Randt, then...

Dealing With Nuclear North Korea

Bennett Ramberg January 10, 2011
North Korea’s newly revealed uranium-enrichment program continues to advance. No amount of sticks or carrots – negotiations, incentives, sanctions, waiting for the regime to fall – has slowed the North’s determination in building its nuclear arsenal, writes author and nuclear expert Bennett Ramberg. Dealing with a state that’s otherwise undeveloped, isolated and paranoid remains a leading source...

China’s Green Ambition, US Sees Red

Michael Richardson January 5, 2011
As factory to the world, China is hungry for energy. The nation secures traditional sources of energy – as the largest producer and consumer of coal, ranking second in oil consumption and imports, fifth for oil production – and is also intent on dominating the global renewable-energies industry. Recognizing that the rapidly-growing industry creates jobs, China devotes a growing pile of investment...

Asia: Eastern Billions Can Still Join the World

Nandan Nilekani January 5, 2011
With global economic recession, many nations look inward, prioritizing domestic concerns and rejecting globalization. But the inward focus may not last for long, predicts Nandan Nilekani, author and former chief executive of Infosys, writing for Financial Times. India’s and China’s growth, combined with their transition from rural agricultural economies to manufacturing giants, could deliver new...