In The News

Challenges for China at Sixty – Part II

Frank Ching September 28, 2009
China, a significant beneficiary of globalization, is happy to go out into the world, but seems less willing to let the world come in, according to writer Frank Ching. In fact, China, which asserts that it does not interfere with the internal affairs of other countries, appears to do the exact opposite, especially with regard to issues surrounding alleged separatism in China. Notably vocal...

Challenges for China at Sixty – Part I

Pranab Bardhan September 25, 2009
China is in many ways a land of contradictions, confounding outside observers. And such contradictions are nowhere more obvious than in China’s economy: a market-driven allocation of resources overseen by the Communist Party. But as Berkeley Economics Professor Pranab Bardhan notes, the contradictions lie at an even deeper level. Simply establishing private ownership of some of China’s largest...

Asian Universities Court Students Nearby

Liz Gooch September 24, 2009
In an effort to attract promising students, Asian universities are offering an education in English at a fraction of the cost of Western institutions. Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong are all trying to attract international students with various points of interest: participation with Western universities, joint degree programs, and competitive prices. While many institutions are competing more...

China Spreads Aid in Africa, With a Catch

Sharon Lafraniere, John Grobler September 23, 2009
In recent years, China has greatly increased its presence throughout the developing world by offering loans below market-rates, championing such efforts as win-win for both China and the receiving countries. Whereas Western nations have often attached political and economic reforms as conditions to their aid, China instead offered “no strings attached” assistance, disregarding human rights...

Vietnam Brewers Fight Global Giants By Popularizing Kegs of 'Fresh Beer'

James Hookway September 15, 2009
Global beer behemoths have been trying to make inroads to rising Vietnam. Indeed, the market looks enticing – Vietnam’s demographics lend themselves to lots of potential beer consumers – and trade barriers have eased. But foreign brewers might be missing a key ingredient for success: the people’s taste for a particular brew. Known as “bia hoi”, or fresh beer, this unpasteurized concoction is a...

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...

The Noodle Bowl

September 8, 2009
Large economies like China, Japan and India have signed free trade agreements (FTA) with the regional grouping ASEAN. But in the absence of a comprehensive, multi-lateral free trade agreement, Asian countries are settling for bi-lateral FTAs. But this trend is not necessarily in response to the stalled Doha round of trade talks. Bi-laterial FTAs have increased from six in 1991 to 166 by mid-year...