In The News

Help the Refugees Who Reach China

Joel R. Charny June 14, 2005
Thousands of North Koreans have succeeded in reaching China in hope of refuge. However, instead of receiving the humanitarian assistance that China is internationally bound to provide for those claiming refugee status, these North Koreans are labeled as illegal immigrants and deported. Once back in their home country, they face harsh conditions, including imprisonment, torture, and sometimes...

Japan's Beneficent Potential

Makoto Taniguchi June 14, 2005
Regional cooperation is essential to the development of the Asian economy, but discord among the region's top three actors – Japan, China, and South Korea – is hindering the process of integration. The lack of a common historical perspective has led to a political impasse between Japan and both China and South Korea, making it difficult to foster mutual understanding. Former ambassador...

Don't Mention Democracy, Microsoft Tells China Web Users

Mure Dickie June 13, 2005
In order to steer clear of political censors, Microsoft has banned the use of certain words, among them "democracy" and "freedom," from its new Chinese internet portal. In accordance with central government regulations, Chinese MSN subscribers are restricted from labeling their web sites with words that might be seen as critical of China's Communist leadership. Working...

New History Text Turns a Page in East Asia Ties

Chua Chin Hon June 10, 2005
A newly published history textbook marks an effort to harmonize relations between Japan, China, and South Korea. Recent months saw diplomatic and political tensions between Japan and its two neighbors after the government published a history textbook which failed to make light of Japanese wartime atrocities against China and South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi added salt to...

Slow-Motion Reunification

John Feffer June 9, 2005
For a half-century, it has been impossible to cross the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. But not today: Daily buses now transport South Korean workers across the border to work in a joint industrial complex. The project is part of a larger South Korean effort to promote engagement with North Korea and to stabilize the region. While President Bush hopes that North Korea will...

Wanted: A Roadmap for North Korea

Michael O'Hanlon June 9, 2005
With North Korea hinting at the possibility of a return to six-party talks amidst speculation about its testing a nuclear device, the long-simmering issue of non-proliferation is back in the limelight. On June 10, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun arrives in Washington to discuss a possible solution to the crisis. While Pyongyang prefers bilateral talks, the US has insisted on the six-party...

Diplomats Put on Backlash Alert

Cynthia Banham June 2, 2005
Contrary to initial reports, the "biological agent" scare at Canberra's Indonesian embassy may have been a false alarm. The white powder may not be as dangerous as previously thought, and many accuse Australian Prime Minister John Howard of over-reacting. Regardless of the substance's potency, overseas Australian diplomats remain on guard against a potential retaliation. A...