Topic: East Asia

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China's growing military might: top 4 concerns for the Pentagon

In a report issued this week, the Department of Defense for the first time directly accused China’s military of using cyberattacks to spy on US networks. In this arena and others, “China’s military buildup shows no signs of slowing,” said David Helvey, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for East Asia, who presented the report.Here are Pentagon officials’ top four concerns as they carefully monitor the growth of China’s military.
2012's 'good news' stories

2012 saw jobs returning to the US, health concerns improve in historic numbers, and more.
How the world is reacting to Obama's reelection

From China to Iran, President Obama's reelection elicited everything from celebration to doubt about his second-term agenda. Here are 11 responses:
Obama vs. Romney 101: 4 ways they differ on China

China's rise has led President Obama to “pivot” his foreign policy toward Asia, hoping to enhance US power and expand its cooperation with China. Romney speaks more in terms of confronting a country whose interests often clash with those of the US.
Diplomacy or military intervention in Syria? 7 opinions from around the globe.

After 15 months of violence in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad announced yesterday that the country was facing a full-on civil war, a conflict he would do everything in his power to win.This adds increased pressure to the ongoing international question du jour: Is the answer to Syria’s conflict diplomacy or military intervention? Or something else entirely? From Thailand to Jordan, here are some opinions around the globe.

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Tsunami gives Indonesian leader a reprieve from WikiLeaks

Newly leaked US cables accuse Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of spying on his opponents and paying off judges to protect allegedly corrupt allies.
Europe rethinks dependence on Libyan oil

Italy and Spain depend on Libya for as much as 22 percent and 13 percent of total crude consumption, respectively, a supply not easily replaced on short notice.
Why India's PM Singh pledging sharper attack on corruption

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been under political pressure to address corruption more directly. New data indicate that corruption concerns are affecting both foreign and domestic investment decisions.
Caught in the Thailand-Cambodia crossfire: Preah Vihear temple

In the two years since Preah Vihear temple was designated a World Heritage Site, repeated firefights across the Thailand-Cambodia border have taken a heavy toll on the ancient spiritual site.
India pushes back on Somali pirates' new 'mother ship' offensive

Indian naval forces have shut down two Somali pirate “mother ships” operating close to the subcontinent, highlighting the increased range and sophistication of the pirates.
Classic review: The Count of Monte Cristo

A swashbuckling new edition of a story that never grows old.
Opinion: Pentagon cuts don't cut it. Want to really save money? Get a new security strategy.

Billions in Pentagon cuts touted by Gates and Obama recently don’t represent real decreases to defense spending. With troops in more than 150 of the world's 195 countries, the US needs to abandon its cold-war era deployment strategy. It's time for our wealthy allies to pull their weight.
West Africa Rising: Senegal hopes new $450 million airport will make it a world trade hub

Senegal's government wants its new airport to become a 21st-century global hub, but why don't African infrastructure projects link the region's cities to each other better?
Opinion: China's Hu can rightly ask Obama: What have you done for me lately?

Chinese President Hu and President Obama must work toward building mutual trust between the US and China when they meet in Washington Tuesday. But Obama must allay China's concerns on North Korea before the US can press China for more.
North Korea tests limits of South Korea, Japan cooperation

US envoy Stephen Bosworth arrives in Tokyo Thursday after visiting Seoul and Beijing. Implicit in his talks is a push for Japan and South Korea to cooperate for mutual defense against North Korea.
What's North Korea's next move? Perhaps a nuclear weapons test.

North Korea appears poised to display its nuclear weapons capability with an underground test, say experts, in a bid to keep military tensions high and force a return to talks.
The next 40 years will be the most important in human history

Don't underestimate the significance of China's rise. We are living through the biggest shift in wealth, power, and prestige since the Industrial Revolution catapulted Western Europe to global dominance 200 years ago.
Opinion: Why Russia is warming to the West

Stepping out of Putin's shadow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has made bold moves recently that tighten ties with Washington. Senate ratification of the new START treaty would give Obama a chance to complete the US-Russian 'reset.'
Wikileaks release: in Russia, fear of damage to future US relations

As Wikileaks prepares to release millions of confidential cables, Russian diplomats worry about their ability to talk frankly in the future – while some politicians and anti-Kremlin activists are concerned about private conversations.
Leonardo DiCaprio gives Russia's tiger summit a helping hand

A five-day tiger summit aimed at conservation generated a $1 million donation from Leonardo DiCaprio. The world's remaining 3,500 tigers are at risk from poaching and loss of habitat.
Opinion: A whole new world for US and Asia: Can America adapt to the power shift?

President Obama's trip to Asia shows just how much the global power balance has shifted. China and India now hold the key to Western economic recovery. In this climate, the US must learn a new form of international leadership.
Japan abandons bid to make China a key pillar of its foreign policy

China's recent aggressive behavior over disputed islands spurred Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan to turn his back on earlier efforts to rebalance ties with China and the United States.
Obama's Asia visit: Do free trade deals really boost economies?

President Obama hopes to ink a US-South Korea free trade agreement Thursday. Trade deals among Asian countries are all the rage, but some say they may not have much impact.
Obama trip welcomes India to high table of global influence

President Obama left India with reassurances of his strong support for a 'strategic partnership' – as well as strong words about his commitment to free trade.
Opinion: G-20 must take radical measures to end ‘mother of all crises’

Mathir Mohamad, former prime minister of Malaysia, discusses the mishandling of the global financial crisis and proposes radical measures for G-20 leaders to address it when they meet in Seoul, South Korea, next week, Nov. 11 and 12.
G-20 must take radical measures to end ‘mother of all crises’

Mathir Mohamad, former prime minister of Malaysia, discusses the mishandling of the global financial crisis and proposes radical measures for G-20 leaders to address it when they meet in Seoul, South Korea, next week, Nov. 11 and 12.
Allen Iverson and the top 6 basketball players outside the NBA

Allen Iverson is perhaps the most high-profile basketball player to ditch the NBA for a team overseas, but he's not the first. Mr. Iverson on Friday signed a $4 million, two-year contract with Turkey's Besiktas Cola Turka basketball team. Click through the following slides to read about five of the most notable basketball stars who have left the NBA in recent years to play abroad.
Obama, Clinton visit India with wary eye on rising China

President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton are making trips to India and the region in the coming weeks, with an eye toward strengthening alliances to counterbalance China.
Is hard currency on its way out? Introducing the new virtual world currency.

The new virtual world currency is an index of the world’s 15 largest economies, weighted by their gross domestic product, adjusted for purchasing power parity.
Opinion: Will US naval power sink?

A strong Navy is key to America's diplomatic standing and containing an aggressive China. Yet soaring debt threatens US naval prominence. That's why maritime defense is the sleeper issue of these midterm elections.