In The News

Deported Uighurs Highlight China’s Ties to Cambodia

Brendan Brady January 11, 2010
China’s use of its economic power to foster investment or effect policy has acquired a new dimension with the repatriation of Uighur asylum seekers in Cambodia. As a signatory to the 1951 international Refugee Convention, Cambodia is obligated not to return refugees that may face persecution. But its role in the repatriation to China of 20 Uighurs, who may face prosecution for their alleged...

Bickering by Champions of Globalization in Asia Worries the Region

Sadanand Dhume December 17, 2009
India and China seem to be locking horns more frequently of late, setting off alarm bells that a long standing rivalry may rekindle overt conflict. As journalist Sadanand Dhume relates, the countries have sparred over issues as diverse as delimiting borders, development loans from international agencies, trade, and the Dalai Lama. While India might be the weaker of the two, China has more room...

A Natural Alliance

Nayan Chanda November 30, 2009
Though India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the US was being viewed as all form and no substance in the lead up to the trip, the result was the complete opposite. This conclusion is inescapable when one observes the stark contrast between the joint US-China statement – issued a week earlier – and the US-India statement. The former is a study in an uneasy business partnership made...

The Long March

Debarshi Dasgupta November 5, 2009
Indian construction projects are seeing an influx of Chinese laborers who are being paid more and treated better than their Indian counterparts. This has sparked resentment among Indian workers and led to scattered instances of violence. Curiously, many of the Chinese workers have entered on business visas designed for skilled individuals on short visits not intending to take up employment. Some...

The Future Path for an East Asian Community

Kavi Chongkittavorn October 26, 2009
Southeast Asian countries known as ASEAN have agreed on the need to form a broader East Asian community and increase regional cooperation, despite the many challenges that such integration faces. Among these is the disagreement over how to deal with human rights violations, the differences in economic development and political systems of member states, diverging opinions on US involvement, and...

Between China and India: Is Tibet the Wedge or Link?

George Yeo September 8, 2009
Ever since the March 14 riots in Tibet, the Autonomous Region has enjoyed increased global scrutiny, though access for foreign observers has been limited. Recently, Singapore’s George Yeo became the first foreign minister to visit Tibet since the riots. A long-time student of Asian history, Minister Yeo explores Tibet’s role in the relations between Asia’s two rising giants China and India in its...

India’s Election Shows Equitable Globalization Can Succeed

Sadanand Dhume May 21, 2009
India’s Congress Party’s big win in the recent election has as much significance for citizens of that country as it does for citizens of the world. It shows that democracy and development can go hand in hand, according author Sadanand Dhume. A country that is slated to grow above 5 percent amid the financial crisis is a model for developing nations. That India can do this while sporting the world...