In The News

Meeting the North Korean Nuclear Challenge

May 19, 2003
This special report from a task force at the Council on Foreign Relations suggests that the nuclear crisis in North Korea can be resolved only if the US creates a coalition of partners to pressure Pyongyang. China, in particular, the report says, should be called upon to impose sanctions on North Korea if Kim Jung Il's regime refuses to go along with a US deal. But without a firm, visible...

Taiwan Makes Progress at WHO

Melody Chen May 19, 2003
Sars has certainly brought enough troubles to East Asia, but for Taiwan, it also means an opportunity to legally present the health situation of Taiwan at the World Health Organization (WHO). The Taiwanese Department of Health Chief is scheduled to make a presentation at the World Health Assembly, a major WHO conference, on Sars in Taiwan. Taiwan is also trying to join the WHO as an observer at...

Is It Legal to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Exports?

David E. Sanger May 18, 2003
As the first round of negotiations with North Korea ended without positive results, the US is considering other strategies to deal with the nuclear crisis in Northeast Asia. The hawks in the Bush administration have come up with the "quarantine" solution, which will put North Korea in an isolated position, allowing only food into the country. They also advocate interdictions of North...

Latest SARS Victim Is Clothing Industry

Tracie Rozhon May 17, 2003
Clothing manufacturers in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong have been the biggest suppliers for the American clothing industry. With the Sars outbreak, however, many garment merchants in the US have experienced time delays when they want to examine the samples and inspect the production. The US Customs has decided to hold packages from Sars-affected countries for four days before...

Be Thai, Use Thai

Wijit Boonchoo May 16, 2003
Despite efforts by the Thai government to support local manufacturers, consumers continue to believe in the superiority of imported goods. Although a few Thai audio makers have succeeded in competing locally and exporting abroad, with foreign rivals becoming increasingly competitive in both price and perceived quality, most Thai products still have a tough battle in this globalized economy. –...

China Threatens Execution in Intentional Spreading of SARS

Erik Eckholm May 15, 2003
In a remarkable judicial interpretation of existing disease laws in China, the Communist Party has issued new rules allowing for the imprisonment or execution of anyone found to be spreading SARS intentionally. Following severe international criticism for its handling of SARS, China has taken steps to improve the reporting and disclosure of the health threat. The official media has now begun to...

Roh Stresses 'Win-Win Model' in Industrial Relations

Roh Moo-hyun May 15, 2003
In his speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-Korea Business Council in Washington, South Korean President, Roh Moo-hyun, spoke at length on two major aspects of market reforms in South Korea: corporate transparency and labor-management relations. The public engagement also provided an important opportunity to reiterate South Korea's commitment to strengthening its relationship...