In The News

Cheating Great Expectations

Philip Bowring September 1, 2005
September 5 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the Russo-Japanese War. And as columnist Philip Bowring writes, that conflict bears lessons on how the international community should view today's rising powers – namely, China. After France, Germany, and Russia forced Japan to cede several territorial claims in an 1895 treaty, Japan spent the coming decades building its military...

The Legacy of Lee Kyung Hae

John Feffer August 29, 2005
The organic farms that line the Han River in South Korea may be the country's agricultural future – and sadly, they tell the story of its troubled past and present. More broadly, the Korean agricultural crisis is a story of small farmers forced to negotiate among the shifting currents of globalization. The industrialization of South Korea's agriculture, the Green Revolution, rendered...

China's Rise Threatens to Divide Asia, Not Unite It

Daniel Twining August 22, 2005
As the catalyst of Asia's recent economic growth, China has widely been seen as the first non-Western power since Japan to emerge with the potential to transform the global order. Instead of facilitating regional integration, however, China's ascendancy is threatening to divide Asia, causing a clash of national identities and fueling nationalist sentiments. Perceiving China's...

Russia and China Rattle Sabers with Joint War Games

Tom Parfitt August 19, 2005
Russia and China recently began a series of joint military exercises, marking the countries' first cooperative military action. Officials on both sides explained that the collaboration was designed to protect against international terrorism and provide security for the region and the world. Some analysts believe there are some ulterior motives, but one thing is clear: Russia and China are...

China's Cautious Pride in an Ancient Mariner

Wang Gungwu August 4, 2005
Six centuries ago, Chinese Admiral Zheng He embarked on the first voyage of a career that encompassed destinations as far as India, Persia, Arabia, and Africa. Though his achievements were forgotten for centuries, a re-emergence of interest in his story coincides with China's dramatic rise. As historian Wang Gungwu notes, it also coincides with the publication of a controversial theory:...

Beijing Clamps Down on Foreign Television

Chris Buckley August 4, 2005
The Chinese government recently announced that it would deny approval for more foreign satellite broadcasters entering the Chinese market, as well as increase restrictions on already existing foreign media. Certain US entertainment companies will still have the right to broadcast to certain Chinese audiences, and to foreigners in hotels and similar multi-cultural spaces. The initiative, however...

Chinese Company Ends Unocal Bid, Citing Political Hurdles

David Barboza August 2, 2005
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has withdrawn its takeover bid for America's Unocal, discouraged by political opposition that complicated the deal. CNOOC's offer was the largest takeover bid ever attempted by a Chinese company, and considerably larger than Chevron's competing bid, but it faced strident opposition in Washington. Set on the backdrop of a rapidly...