In The News

Will Japan Emerge from its Shell? – Part I

Edward J. Lincoln February 3, 2010
For the world’s second largest economy, Japan takes a decidedly backseat approach to involvement in global affairs. While there are no rules to force global intercourse, Japan-specialist Edward J. Lincoln believes that as a key beneficiary and user of global public goods, Japan should become more involved. But the hurdles preventing greater interchange between the world and the Japanese are many...

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 and Google: “Illegal Flower Tribute”

Evan Osnos January 14, 2010
The news that Google will offer uncensored searches in China at the risk of being shut down has caused a stir in China despite the government's efforts to restrict coverage of the story. The response by state-backed media has been predictably critical of Google, even alleging ulterior motives for its actions. Yet, as New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos posts from Beijing, the “savviest” Web...

Google Threat Jolts Chinese Internet Industry

Loretta Chao, Aaron Back January 13, 2010
Google’s decision to start offering uncensored searches in China at the risk of being barred from the country is likely to have broad repercussions. Google announced its decision as a result of cyber attacks, some of which sought to compromise Google’s Gmail accounts of human rights activists. Politically, the move could add further tension to the US-China relationship, as the attacks were...

Laos Steps into the Globalized World

Bertil Lintner December 15, 2009
Laos’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Games is in some way a metaphor for the country’s entrance into the globalized world. And Laos has crossed that threshold holding China’s hand, according to journalist Bertil Lintner. As a land-locked country, Laos decided to become “land-linked” to China. In other words, the constraints of geo-politics meant Vientiane had two choices: wallow in isolation or...

How Do You Say "Pink Cadillac" in Mandarin?

Daniel Gross November 30, 2009
The American direct-sales firm Mary Kay is proving popular in China, as an aspirational and premium brand for China’s growing middle class. Mary Kay’s initial transition to China in the 1990s was difficult because the middle class was smaller then and direct-sales firms were viewed with suspicion. But as the Chinese economy developed, Mary Kay turned into a juggernaut with rapidly growing sales...

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...