Canada, Mexico Invited to Join Pacific Trade Zone
Joining the Trans Pacific Partnership will prove highly advantageous if Canada it is to diversify its exports.
East Asia
South Korea Accepts Japanese Yellow Sea Deployment
South Korea raises no objections to Japan’s naval deployments against the North.
East-West Divide on Full Display in East Asia
China and Russia share interests in a region where the democracies form an alliance.
United States Expanding Naval Presence Across Asia
Leon Panetta tells Singapore and Vietnam that the United States are “rebalancing” to Asia.
A Temporary Reprieve for the Philippines
Bilateral détente with China will be difficult to achieve and maintain despite an accord that relieves tension.
China’s Reformers Close Ranks, Bo’s Legacy Endures
President Hu Jintao insists that Bo Xilai’s ousting was an “isolated case,” but start ideological differences certainly remain.
A Precedent-Setting Sale in the Taiwan Straits
If lawmakers agree that Taiwan’s situation is dire, arms sales could bring its capabilities on par with China’s.
Careful Balancing Act for Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia seeks an American presence to balance against China but does not want to antagonize it either.
ASEAN Takes Step to Enhance Economic Integration
The countries of East and Southeast Asia try to shield their economies from the problems in the West.
Bo’s Purge an Opportunity for China’s Modernizers
The ouster of Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai gives Premier Wen Jiabao and his allies a chance to sideline hardliners.
Why There Can’t Be Quiet in the South China Sea
Lack of clarity on borders and disagreements within China make it difficult to cool things down.
North Korea Ready for Third Nuclear Test
Kim Jong-un failed to pay Beijing the reverence it has become accustomed to.
Vietnam Key to Japan’s Southeast Asia Policy
Relations between Japan and Vietnam are reaching the level of strategic partnership.
Japan’s Central Bank Tries More Quantitative Easing
Cheap lending is a temporary fix. The government needs to tackle long-term impediments to growth.
Vietnam, United States Announce Military Drills
Days after a Sino-Philippine standoff, Vietnam invites the United States for military exercises.