~ 2001

[ News ] [ Papers ] 

Japan, China, South Korea Agree to Ministerial Meetings
(Japan Times, Nov. 7, 2001) Japan, China and South Korea agreed to launch separate regular meetings of their economic, foreign and finance ministers to foster closer cooperation. The three also agreed to work together in combating terrorism and on issues that affect the region, such as piracy and the environment.

Asean, China Agree to Set up a Free Trade Zone
(BBC, Nov. 6, 2001) Southeast Asian nations and China have agreed to set up the world's biggest free trade area within 10 years. The area would cover a market of nearly two billion people.

China and Southeast Asia Eye World's Largest Free-Trade Area
(China Daily, Nov. 2, 2001) China Premier Zhu Rongji and the leaders of Southeast Asia's 10 nations are expected to agree on an ambitious plan to create the world's largest free-trade zone.

China's Next Leader Steps on to World Stage
(Reuters, Oct. 28. 2001) China's heir apparent Hu Jintao, the little known vice president being groomed to take over as leader from Jiang Zemin next year, stepped on to the world stage, launching a visit to Russia and Europe.

Australia 'Must Commit Troops in Taiwan War'
(AFP, Aug. 19, 2001) US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Australia was obliged to commit troops to any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Mr Armitage also threatened a backlash from Washington if Canberra failed to support the US in any future Asian conflict.

White House Unconcerned About China-Russia Pact
(NYT, July 17, 2001) The Bush administration played down the importance of a friendship pact between Moscow and Beijing today, saying it represented short-term interests rather than a long-term strategy that should concern the United States.

Russia, China Sign Pact on 'Strategic Partnership'
(Washington Post, July 16, 2001) Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin signed their countries' first friendship treaty since the Cold War, vowing to create a "new international order" to counter U.S. dominance and reaffirming their opposition to the Bush administration's proposed national missile defense system.

'Shanghai Six' in Pact to Counter Western Powers
(AP, June 16, 2001) The leaders of six nations led by China and Russia signed an agreement that they cast as a step toward building a new economic and security bloc in central Asia. But even as the six praised the agreement following two days of talks in Shanghai, questions remained about their ability to form an effective counterweight to US and European influence in the region.

China's Jiang to Meet Russia's Putin in Shanghai
(Reuters, June 14, 2001) China's President Jiang Zemin meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, kicking off a six-nation summit aimed at combating Islamic militancy in Central Asia.

China Presses A ‘New Silk Road’
(Reuters, May 26, 2001) Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for a "new Silk Road" between Asia and Europe as envoys from the two continents continued their uphill quest to build political ties to match strong commercial links.

Russia, China Gear Up for Pact to Seal 'Strategic Partnership'
(LA Times, May 4, 2001) At a time when Sino-U.S. relations are going through a rocky phase, Russia and China are preparing to boost their "strategic partnership" by signing a treaty of friendship and cooperation.

Australian Warships Rebuff Chinese
(AP, Apr. 29, 2001) An Australian navy task force was confronted by a Chinese warship in the Taiwan Straits, adding to recent diplomatic tension between the two nations. China complained to Australia last week after the three warships entered Chinese territorial waters while passing through the straits.

Taiwan, Singapore Step up Military Cooperation: Report
(AFP, Feb. 12, 2001) Taiwan and Singapore plan to renew military cooperation later this month despite China's efforts to woo the city state away from Taipei. The planned agreement, based on an existing programme known as "Operation Hsing Kuang" (Starlight), would continue to provide training venues for Singapore artillery, armoured vehicles and infantry units.

Singapore Will Stay Out of Taiwan-China Dispute: SM
(Straits Times, Jan. 24, 2001) Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said he had no plans to mediate between China and Taiwan despite talk that he could re-emerge as a conduit between the two sides.

Japan, China, Korea Forge Closer Economic Links
(Reuters, Nov. 24, 2000) China, Japan and South Korea agreed on Friday to forge closer economic links in a move towards closer integration that could lead to the establishment of a new permanent political grouping in East Asia.

China Pushes Higher Profile For ASEAN Talks With Japan, South Korea
(AFP, Nov. 22, 2000) China wants to raise the profile of a three-way meeting with Japan and South Korea at this week's ASEAN plus-three forum in Singapore, with its plans for an Asian monetary fund on the agenda.

North Korea Joins Southeast Asia Security Group
(AFP, July 26, 2000)

India, China Look for Border Settlement to Push Forward Relations
(AFP, July 23, 2000)

G8 Bow To China, Keep Taiwan Off Agenda
(Reuters, Jul 11, 2000)

China Hopes to Benefit From Korean Talks
(New York Times, June 16, 2000)

Regional Approval for Korean Summit Tempered by Caution
(AFP, June 14, 2000)

Chinese Aircraft Seen Over South China Sea Shoal: Philippines (AFP, Jan. 23, 2000)

China Breaks Vow, Sends N. Korea Missile Materials (Washington Times, Jan. 6, 2000)

Vietnam and China Sign Landmark Border Treaty (AFP, Dec. 30, 1999)

China Uses Regional Summit To Bolster Role As Key Ally (AFP, Nov 29, 1999)

Beijing Tries to Cool Spratlys Dispute (International Herald Tribune, Nov. 29, 1999)

US Exercises in South China Sea (Straits Times, Aug. 12, 1999)

China Says Spratlys Issue Will Not Harm Asian Neighbors (AFP, June 15, 1999)

'Greater China' FTA a Boon or Bane? By Tom Plate
(Straits Times, Dec. 8, 2001) Something major is happening in the Asia-Pacific region. It is a bid to create a sprawling free-trade area (FTA) that has the potential to reshape the globe's geopolitics. Indeed, if you grant that economic integration can lead to political integration - and that the prime mover here is China - this development could prove, over time, significant.

China's Stunning Growth May Galvanise Asean By Felix Soh
(Straits Times, Nov. 6, 2001) The threat - as well as opportunity - posed to South-east Asia by China's stunning economic growth may well be the issue to energise a moribund Asean. A free-trade area between South-east Asia and North-east Asia would allow the Asean economies to ride on the slipstream of China's unrelenting economic growth.

Can China Live Up to Asia's Expectations? By Ching Cheong
(Straits Times, Nov. 5, 2001) Just last year, people were talking about the 'China threat' in the economic dimension, meaning the rise of China would squeeze out the lesser economies in Asia. Now they are hoping that it can hedge the region's economies.

For Moscow, Beijing and Washington, a Common Goal By David E. Sanger
(NYT, Oct. 28, 2001) It was striking last weekend in Shanghai when George W. Bush, Vladimir V. Putin and Jiang Zemin all signed up for the war on terrorism. Each defined his country's participation differently, and they had differing levels of enthusiasm. But there they were.

The Downturn Is Hitting Asians Hard By Tadao Chino
(International Herald Tribune, Oct. 25, 2001) The repercussions from the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington have been felt around the world, but nowhere more profoundly than in Asia and the Pacific. It is too early to gauge the full impact on all countries, but across the region, from Afghanistan to remote atolls of the South Pacific, developing countries are showing ominous signs of the fallout.

Americans Must Correct Their Ignorance of Asia By John Brandon
(International Herald Tribune, Oct. 23, 2001) In the 21st century, Asia will wield greater international influence and play a much larger role in world affairs. If Americans remain ignorant of emerging trends and issues in Asia and elsewhere, it will undermine the ability of the United States to meet many of the global challenges it faces.

Washington Starts Rethinking Security Ties in Asian Region
(Reuters, Aug. 16, 2001) The George W. Bush administration, girding for battle for influence in Asia, is rethinking its relationship to regional organizations there, according to US officials. But they said they are mulling over ways in which the US might strengthen ASEAN as well as firm up Washington's ties to the region's democracies.

Toward a New Security Architecture for East Asia By Robyn Lim
(International Herald Tribune, Aug. 15, 2001) The United States and Australia have both spoken recently of the need for a new security dialogue linking America and its three main allies in the Asia-Pacific region - Japan, South Korea and Australia. Today this is only a coalition in embryo, but its outlines are clear enough.

Chinese Debate Value of Sino-Russian Landmark Treaty By Ching Cheong
(Straits Times, July 18, 2001) China and Russia signed a landmark treaty on Monday, in which they hoped to lay the foundation for lasting peace between the two nations.

Combating American Hegemony By Willy Wo-lap Lam
(CNN.com, June 20, 2001) Beijing has made impressive strides in relations with Russia and Central Asia. And Jiang, the originator of "Great Power Diplomacy," has gone beyond predecessor Deng Xiaoping's cautious dictum about world affairs: "Adopt a low profile and never take the lead."

Asia Needs US To Be on Board Train of Change
(Straits Times, June 15, 2001) Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong delivered the keynote address at the US-Asean Business Council's annual dinner in Washington, DC. In the post-Cold War era, a corollary of strong economic growth is strengthened strategic weight. Some reconfiguration of the regional order, therefore, seems inevitable.

How Asia Became A Pentagonal Priorities By Michael Elliott
(TIME, June 18, 2001) The Taiwan Strait, not the East European borderland between democracy and communism, is now the most dangerous place on Earth. If any country is going to be a strategic threat to the U.S., it will be China, not Russia.

Watch China Move Up and Southeast Asia Down By Ronnie C. Chan
(International Herald Tribune, May 23, 2001) The ASEAN economies were the hardest hit by the crisis, yet have shown the least determination to reform. Now they find themselves competing head-on with China in low value-added manufacturing. In terms of both financial and human capital, they are not competitive.

Settling Asia's Sea of Disputes By Scott Snyder and Ralph A. Cossa
(Japan Times, May 21, 2001) Last month's spy-plane incident between the United States and China inadvertently highlighted South China Sea territorial disputes as a focal point of possible international confrontation.

Cooling South China Sea Competition By Brad Glosserman
(Japan Times, May 13, 2001) The Sino-U.S. spy-plane crisis is a reminder of the ever-present potential for confrontation in the South China Sea. China's increasing assertiveness and its apparent claim to the entire South China Sea has set off alarm bells from Jakarta to Tokyo.

Why Russia and China are Coming Closer Together By Salman Haidar
(Straits Times, May 7, 2001) A friendship treaty between Russia and China is to be concluded this July when President Jiang Zemin visits Moscow. Their border alignment has been sorted out, trade has expanded, Russia has supplied sophisticated arms to China, high-level exchanges have taken place.

Taiwan and the South China Sea By Mark J. Valencia
(Taipei Times, Apr. 20, 2001) Taiwan has long viewed the Pratas Islands as an important bastion against Chinese forces in the South China Sea. The archipelago, consisting of Pratas Island and two coral reefs submerged at high tide, is about an hour's C-130 plane ride or 384km from Kaohsiung.

With Friends Like These . . . By Ted Galen Carpenter
(Washington Post, Apr. 18, 2001) Critics of the Bush administration's diplomatic compromise with China over the spy plane incident worry that Washington conveyed weakness and damaged its credibility with East Asian friends and allies.

Northeast Asia Survey
(Brookings Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, March 2001) In contemplating their work for 2001 and beyond, policymakers and analysts across Northeast Asia, as well as in Washington, will need to assess what happened—and what did not happen—in the year just past.

US Looks Likely to Cut Back on Military Presence in East Asia By Ted Galen Carpenter
(Taipei Times, Mar.7, 2001) The prevailing assumption in both east Asia and the US is that the election of a Republican to the White House will mean the adoption of more pro-military policies. That is largely true.

India and China: Not Quite Brothers Yet By Sultan Shahin
(Asia Times, Jan. 18, 2001) A 10-day visit to India by senior Chinese leader Li Peng, culminating in his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on January 15, has strengthened the "China-is-no-threat" lobby in the country.

An Asian-Pacific Checklist for the Incoming Bush Administration By Tom Plate
(Japan Times, Jan. 1, 2001) George W. Bush's greatest foreign policy challenges over the next four years may well originate in the Asian-Pacific region, where two-thirds of the world's population reside, and where probably two-thirds of the world's major geopolitical crises fester.

Australia Re-Examines Its Defence Role in Asia By John Fletcher
(Straits Times, Dec. 13, 2000) Last week, two important news items emanated from Canberra. These seem unrelated but are, in fact, closely inter-linked. The first related to military spending.

Asia-Pacific Military Cooperation Is a Good Work in Progress By Admiral Dennis Blair
(International Herald Tribune, Dec. 7, 2000) The armed forces of countries in Asia and the Pacific are under increasing pressure to contribute to a broader set of security concerns, beyond the traditional military arena.

Asia Dreads a 'Hard Landing' for U.S. By Clay Chandler
(Washington Post, Dec. 7, 2000) The slowdown in U.S. economic growth has cast a pall over hopes for continued recovery in Asia, just as the region was beginning to shake off the effects of the 1997 financial crisis.

Need for a Balancer on East Asia's Way to World Eminence By Lee Kuan Yew
(International Herald Tribune, Nov. 23, 2000) In 50 years, China will have a giant economy. Per capita, China's GNP may still be about one-quarter to one-third that of the United States, but its total output and technological competence will make it a heavyweight.

EU's China Policy and Possible Impact on Taiwan By Yachung Chang
(Peace Forum, Taiwan Research Institute, Nov. 15, 2000) in Cross-Strait affairs, the EU adopts differentiated political and economic policies toward Taiwan. Politically, it follows U.S. position, supports the "Three-No's Policy," and calls for a peaceful solution to Cross-Strait conflicts.

Russia and Taiwan are Tying Closer Bilateral Ties By Arkady Borisov
(Taipei Times, Nov. 13, 2000) The bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Russia has been increasing recently. Visits to Taipei by both the members of the Russian legislature and Oleg Labov, the chairman of the Moscow-Taipei Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission (Moscow-Taipei Commission) within the time span of a month, has greatly promoted the cooperative relationship between the two nations.

The New Economy Offers APEC New Paths to Free Trade By Julius Caesar Parrenas
(International Herald Tribune, Nov. 13, 2000) It is not the best of times for government officials and business executives attending the annual meetings this week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Bilateral Pacts Alter Trade Equation By Philip Bowring
(International Herald Tribune, Nov. 13, 2000) As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum assembles in Brunei for its annual meeting, members need take note of a major new development among some of them.

History Hinders China's Bid to Play Big Brother in Southeast Asia
(Agence France Presse, Nov. 8, 2000) When Chinese President Jiang Zemin embarks on a week-long trip to Laos, Cambodia and Brunei this week he will be carrying China's ambition to be a regional power, but will be weighed down by history. It is the first time since the 1960s that a Chinese head of state has paid a visit to any of these countries, but analysts say Beijing's hope of gaining influence in Southeast Asia should not be underestimated.

South China Sea Code of Conduct and Taiwan By Yann-huei Song
(acific Forum, CSIS, PacNet 40, October 6, 2000) The ASEAN-China regional Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, once  adopted, could help build up trust, enhance cooperation, and reduce tensions in the Spratlys/South China Sea area. 

Here's How to Settle Rocky Disputes in the South China Sea By Stein Tonnesson
(International Herald Tribune, Sep. 6, 2000) China's policies in the security field are generally reactive and suspicious. This also characterizes its approach to the South China Sea, although there it now in fact has a diplomatic window of opportunity.

Japan and the U.S. Send Some Wrong Messages By Ralph A. Cossa
(International Herald Tribune, August 29, 2000) Like President Bill Clinton before him, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has just completed a trip to South Asia that has been high on hope and symbolism but disappointingly low on results. Both leaders argued that it was important to engage India and Pakistan to revive the momentum of global nuclear nonproliferation.

The Role of Armed Forces in Regional Security Cooperation By Dennis C. Blair (Pacific Forum, CSIS, PacNet 34, August 25, 2000)

Slow-Intensity Conflict in the South China Sea By Andrew Scobell (Foreign Policy Research Institute, Aug. 16, 2000)

Planning for the Future: The Role of U.S. Forces in Northeast Asian Security By Larry M. Wortzel (Heritage Foundation, July 26, 2000)

Southeast Asian Perceptions of Major Power Relations in Northeast Asia By Chien-peng Chung (Pacific Forum, CSIS, PacNet 30, July 28, 2000)

Southeast Asians Have a Big Stake in Northeastern Stability By Philip Bowring (International Herald Tribune, July 25, 2000)

Unnatural Union: The China-Russia Partnership is America's to Make or Break By Greg May and Paul Saunders (Nixon Center, July 25, 2000)

China Is Keeping Up Its Nuclear and Missile Aid to Pakistan By Brahma Chellaney (International Herald Tribune, July 18, 2000)

Beijing Is Setting the Stage for Trouble in the South China Sea By Mark J. Valencia (International Herald Tribune, July 3, 2000)

In Search of Partners in Southeast Asia By Chen Hurng-yu (Taipei Times, June 15, 2000)

Flashpoints in East Asia: Hot, Hotter, Hottest -- A Conference Report By Amy E. Gadsden (Foreign Policy Research Institute, Volume 8, Number 3, June 2000) unresolved conflicts, intense nationalism, and competing strategic interests.

China's Korea Game By Lorien Holland and Shim Jae Hoon (Far Eastern Economic Review, June 15, 2000)

Asian Armed Forces: Internal and External Tasks and Capabilities By Sheldon W. Simon (The National Bureau of Asian Research Analysis, May 2000)

To Counter China, U.S. Should Pay More Attention to India By Brahma Chellaney (International Herald Tribune, May 29, 2000)

To Counter China, U.S. Must Ignore India and Focus on Japan By Robyn Lim (International Herald Tribune, May 29, 2000)

For Pentagon, Asia Moving to Forefront By Thomas E. Ricks (Washington Post, May 26, 2000)

Asean Has a Role in Taiwan Straits By Kavi Chongkittavorn (The Nation (Thailand), Jan. 24, 2000)

The Asian Century By Robert Manning (Intellectual Capital, Dec. 23, 1999)

A Solution to Conflict in the Spratlys By Chen Hurng Yu (Taipei Times, Dec. 23, 1999)

After Macau, will the Spratly Islands be Next? By Jonathan Power (Taipei Times, Dec. 16, 1999)

U.S.-Japan-Korea: Creating a 'Virtual Alliance' By Ralph A. Cossa (Pacific Forum CSIS, PacNet 47, December 3, 1999)

China, India, Russia: Eyeing New Alignments By Ramesh Thakur and Zhang Yunling (International Herald Tribune, Nov. 30, 1999)

Asia's Nuclear Arms Race By Robyn Lim (The Asian Wall Street Journal, Nov. 8, 1999)

The Future of China-Japan-U.S. Trilateral Relations By Greg May (The Nixon Center, October 1999)