Topic: East Asia

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Energy Voices Tensions mount in South China Sea. Here's how to ease them.

Escalating international dispute over South China Sea islands involves an oil bonanza of unknown proportions. Here are steps China, Japan, the US, ASEAN, and others can take to neutralize regional competition over energy.
Putin on the birds: 'Only the weak ones didn't follow' me

Speaking at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin talked of leading a flock of birds and got in a veiled dig at voters who spurned him.
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.
The Monitor's View Japan-China island clash: Peace in a common history

The island clash between Japan and China, as well as other island disputes in East Asia, could be more easily resolved if neighbors shared a common view of history.
What is a 'blue moon' anyway?

August 31 will arrive with a blue moon, and it won't happen again for three years. What exactly is a blue moon? And where did it get its name?
Modern Parenthood Living abroad: Lifetime friends reconnect, reminisce in Beijing

Growing up together — classes, soccer, and prom — lifetime friends Joanna and Emily reconnect while living abroad in Beijing, a place they have both come to call home.
Mermaids don't exist, says US government (+video)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has attempted to put an end to the mermaid myth by denying the existence of the fabled aquatic creature.
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.
Crackdown on punks in Indonesia

Some who see punks as a welcome challenge to the conservative form of Islamic law in Aceh worry that the crackdown is working too well.
Putin's China visit shows warming ties between neighboring giants

The historically tense relationship has warmed in recent years, leading to flourishing bilateral trade. Vladimir Putin will be in Beijing Tuesday to discuss everything from trade, to Iran's nuclear program, to Syria's bloody war.
Keep Calm As Europe peers into economic chasm, Africa's economy is rising

Reports by the African Development Bank, World Bank, and McKinsey show how Africa continues to offer a bright spot in the global economy.
Half as many women die during pregnancy, childbirth as in 1990

Worldwide, maternal mortality has been cut in half in the past 20 years, says a new UN-World Bank report. India and Nigeria accounted for about one-third of the 287,000 deaths in 2010 attributed to problems during pregnancy or childbirth.
Russian, French, Italian jobs hang on Sukhoi Superjet crash probe

No survivors have been found at the crash site of the Russian Sukhoi Superjet in Indonesia. A key question: Was it pilot error or equipment malfunction?
Are some global companies too reliant on China?

Consumer companies like Apple, BMW, and Starbucks saw profits rise last quarter because of surging sales in China, while industrial companies like Caterpillar and ABB struggled. Slowing Chinese growth could threaten the latter, but not the former as much.
Unity and spirituality in Russia

A Christian Science perspective.
Leaning on US, Philippines boldly pushes back on China in sea dispute

The Philippines, a normally quiet claimant in South China Sea disputes, is mounting unusually bold resistance against China as it edges in on Manila’s maritime interests.
Decoder Wire North Korean missile launch failure: what it means for West (+video)

Washington’s snap reaction to the North Korean missile launch failure contained decidedly mixed emotions, including relief and concern about what the regime might try next.
The Monitor's View North Korea rocket launch: fireworks of fear

North Korea plans to launch a missile by April 16 in violation of UN sanctions. It will be yet another provocative act by a regime that has long used blackmail and crisis to simply survive and to win concessions.
Fantasy football fans: Do you know where your favorite apps are made?

Last season’s popular Facebook fantasy football app was developed in Karachi, Pakistan, a city known more for its chronic ethnic and sectarian bloodshed than football.
Escape from Camp 14

This true story of life in a North Korean prison camp may be the most disturbing book that you will ever read.
Why North Korea missile launch angers US, Japan (+video)

North Korea announced plans to launch a satellite atop a ballistic missile. The US says North Korea would be violating a UN resolution.
New human species discovered? How China fossils could redefine 'human'

Scientists have recently dated and described fossils from what may be a new species of hominid, the Red Deer Cave people. The discovery could shed new light on emergence of humankind in East Asia.
Possible new human species unearthed in China

Scientists in China have found what may be a new species of human. Fossils show a group of people with similarities to and differences from modern humans.
China plans double-digit boost in military spending

China will raise its military spending by 11.2 percent in 2012 as the Asian giant worries about the US presence in the region.
Why Ethiopia's authoritarian style gets a Western nod

Ethiopia is a geostrategically important ally in the West's efforts to battle extremism in the Horn of Africa. Western leaders have also emphasized its progress in battling poverty.