Author: Razeen Sally, ECIPE

The last economic era, roughly from 1980 to 2008, was the most successful combination of globalisation, growth and prosperity in history.

The West benefited, but, more importantly, this was when ‘the Rest’ came on board: ‘underdeveloped countries’ cast off post-colonial isolation and embraced the world economy. Read more…

Author: Andy Yee, Hong Kong

At a time when Chinese power is inchoate, Vietnam and the Philippines are becoming increasingly assertive in the South China Sea.

China has tried both the ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ approach, and neither has been successful. Read more…

Author: M Govinda Rao, NIPFP, New Delhi

In a recent public lecture at the India Policy Forum, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia underlined the new challenges of managing water, energy, urbanisation and environment as critical to accelerate growth, arguing it must fulfil a more substantial part of the 12th Plan.

On the energy sector, Ahluwalia stated that an increase in sustainable energy supply would increase the cost of energy and India can contain emissions from energy supply only when it reduces energy intensity. Read more…

David Kelly, UTS

We live in a riskier, more uncertain world than just a few years ago.

Climate change, financial crisis and the decline of the West are three issues many put high on their list of ‘Black Swan’ factors, that is, major events that might occur very unexpectedly. China figures centrally in all three. Read more…

Author: Ryo Sahashi, Kanagawa University and GMF

There is a strong tendency in Washington and other foreign capitals to believe that the Japanese politicians you know and that are practised in telling you what you want to hear are good, and that unfamiliar names are a bad sign for smooth international relations.

The foreign media in particular seems to dislike Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s ‘humble attitude’ (describing himself as a ‘loach fish’ during his campaign for the leadership) and portray him as someone without vision and leadership. Read more…

Author: Marianne Dickie, ANU

The recent High Court of Australia decision effectively ended the Australian Government’s ‘Malaysia Solution’, where the incumbent Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard had agreed on a bilateral deal with Malaysia that would see 800 asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat be taken to Malaysia.

In return, Australia would accept 4,000 already-processed refugees from Malaysia over four years. Importantly the High Court case exposed the weakness behind the Malaysia Solution and the faulty premise upon which it was established. Read more…

Author: Peter Drysdale, Editor, EAF

The US debt-ceiling deal at the beginning of last month helped send world financial markets into a round of renewed volatility.

The deal significantly increased the probability of a double dip recession and put on display for all to see the contemporary flaws in the American political system. Read more…

Author: Ronald McKinnon, Stanford University

In reforming the international monetary system, exchange rates usually get primary attention front and center — such as in numerous meetings of the Group of 20. Indeed, at the G20 meeting in November 2010, President Obama attacked China for not appreciating its currency.

But China’s monetary policy has been oriented toward keeping the renminbi-dollar rate stable since 1994, which served China well as a nominal anchor for its domestic price level and to smooth exchange relationships with its smaller neighbours. Read more…

Author: Peter Warr, ANU

Since the Asian financial crisis of 1997–98, the countries of East Asia have, in aggregate, run huge annual current account surpluses.

The counterparts of these surpluses, including Europe and the US, have been correspondingly huge current account deficits. Read more…

Author: Eddie Walsh, Washington DC

The Australian government is now reconsidering its $16 billion-plus commitment to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

Experts believe that the Lockheed Martin program has suffered significant damage to its public and political standing in Australia. Read more…

Author: Anil Kumar Kanungo, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

How India will negotiate the issue of trade and sustainable development at international fora with its new environment minister, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, is a question that concerns many.

Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh had fought the issue tooth and nail in different international platforms, blaming both developed and developing countries for their brazen exploitation of the environment in the guise of public good. Read more…

Author: Yu Keping, Peking University

In recent years, a new institution has been established within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): at the very beginning of each year, a senior workshop of leading officials at the ministerial or provincial level is held at the Central Party School.

At this workshop, the priorities of each year’s work are laid out. This year’s Central Party School workshop, held in February, focused on ‘social management innovation’ (社会管理创新). Read more…

Author: Ghulam Ali, National Chengchi University

On 11 August 2011 China successfully launched Pakistan’s communication satellite, Paksat-1R, into space from its Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in Sichuan Province.

The satellite covers all of Pakistan, parts of South and Central Asia, the Far East, Eastern Europe and East Africa. It will replace the aging Paksat-1, which is approaching the end of its 15-year life span this November. Read more…

Author: Evelyn Goh, University of London

After nearly a year of tensions over conflicting territorial claims, East Asian waters have calmed significantly.

At last month’s ASEAN meetings, China and the ASEAN nations agreed on guidelines for implementing the 2002 Declaration of Conduct to govern their activities in the South China Sea. Read more…

Author: Liu Lili, CCPS

China is a united multicultural country. The development of each national minority (with its unique language, culture, location and shared experience) has different requirements and the educational needs of each nationality within China involve unique challenges.