In The News

Two Top Hong Kong Ministers Resign

Mary Kwang July 17, 2003
Coming on the heels of massive street protests, two of Hong Kong's top appointed officials resigned yesterday. The Security Secretary and the Financial Secretary said they were leaving office as soon as possible. Both officials were targets of angry protests over a proposed sedition law that threatened to restrict Hong Kong people's rights of assembly and free speech. Protestors have...

What Next?

July 17, 2003
In an interview with the Straits Times, Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew expresses his views on the recent protests in Hong Kong against the proposed anti-subversion legislation. Lee predicts that Hong Kong’s special legal status is unlikely to be threatened, as it is based on the Basic Law for the territory. He also contends that Beijing would not sacrifice Hong Kong’s Chief Executive...

Xenophobia has no place in Thailand

Pravit Rojanaphruk July 16, 2003
Writing in Thailand’s major newspaper the author urges his fellow citizens not to view Burmese refugees as unwelcome invaders. Though historical enmity, national security, and the "ungratefulness" of Burmese people are regularly cited whenever there is a crackdown against student protestors or migrants, Thai people should not be blinded by mistrust. The reality is that, regardless of...

Talk of a Washington Split Over North Korea Is Overblown

Victor D. Cha July 11, 2003
Compared with the Bush administration's speedy handling of the Iraq challenge, its response to North Korean provocation has been surprisingly slow. The reason is widely believed to be a split between hawks and doves in the administration. But Korea expert Victor Cha says the division is not as wide as press reports suggest. Everyone in Washington agrees: North Korea must disarm. And,...

Australia Steps Towards Stopping North Korean Ships

Tom Allard July 11, 2003
An international military force will soon begin intercepting ships transporting North Korean nuclear materials and missiles to other countries. Following the Proliferation Security Initiative's Brisbane meeting this week, Australia, the United States, and nine other nations announced that they will begin military exercises as early as September. The plan serves as the most aggressive joint...

Editorial: Remember SARS as More than a Disease

July 10, 2003
China should not remember SARS as a period of panic or as evidence of weaknesses and failings in the Chinese government, this editorial in an official Chinese paper says. Rather, the rapid defeat of the disease should evince the dedication, energy, and lightning speed of China's "efficient and centralized command team." The editorial downplays the secrecy that allowed SARS to...

Preservation of Asia’s Forests: A Global Hurdle

Takeshi Toma July 9, 2003
The destruction of Indonesia’s rainforests is a local problem with global consequences and solutions, this Jakarta Post article maintains. While forests provide integral resources both locally and globally, curbing their degradation requires a collective effort. The recently formed Asia Forest Partnership (AFP), comprised now of 10 member countries, provides an excellent start. However,...