Asia

Between the Senkakus and a Hard Place

December 3, 2011 by Leonard Kosinski
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Unresolved territorial disputes are among the key issues — along with China’s continued military growth, a resurgent Russia and a provocative North Korea — that create a balance of power that is not necessarily in Japan’s interest. In light of these challenges, the US-Japan Alliance remains as critical an anchor for security in Pacific Asia as ever before.

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Raining on Pyongyang’s Parade

December 3, 2011 by Sung-Yoon Lee

Behavioral patterns in North Korea’s brinkmanship make preparing for the next provocation possible. Understanding these patterns is important for the year 2012 when North Korea celebrates the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the founding dictator of North Korea and late father of Kim Jong Il. Pyongyang’s most likely next move would be another nuclear or ballistic missile test in 2012.

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China in Africa: Symbiosis or Exploitation?

May 15, 2011 by David Haroz

China’s engagement in the African continent continues to grow. In examining the history, economic viability, and political expediencies of the Sino-African relationship, David Haroz concludes that the current relationship is more symbiotic than exploitative.

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The Future of Nuclear Energy

April 2, 2011 by Rizwan Ladha

In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that overwhelmed the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, and as workers continue battling the second- and third-degree effects of the disaster, important questions are being raised about the future of nuclear energy in the United States. The U.S. Department of Energy has been investing for a long time [...]

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India’s Approach to Great-Power Status

January 20, 2011 by John Ciorciari

In the last decade, India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and a legitimate member of the “nuclear club.” John Ciorciari of the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy tracks how India has framed its foreign policy to effectuate its rise to global and regional power. He traces the path from a nation grappling with post-colonial legacies to a country asserting itself on the international stage as a great power, and outlines the future of the U.S.-Indian relationship.

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China won’t solve the North Korean nuclear problem

November 26, 2010 by Meghan Healy Luecke

The United States and China have fallen into a pattern when it comes to North Korean brinkmanship: the U.S. nags and China ignores. This week’s latest conflict won’t be any different. China has a strong interest in preserving the status quo. It seeks to reap the benefits of economic ties with both the North and [...]

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