Activists in western Arakan state say at least 10 killed, including women and children
ASEAN
Burma Violence: Explosion Strikes Rangoon Hotel
An American woman is hurt as blast tears through a guestroom at the prestigious Traders Hotel in central Rangoon late on Monday night
Must-Reads from Around the World
The Mexican government targets the powerful teachers’ union for education reform, Japan has a serious shortage of day care centers and Egypt has grounded all hot air balloon flights in the wake of Tuesday’s deadly crash
Must-Reads from Around the World, August 1, 2012
Today’s picks include a regional dispute and the whaling industry.
China’s Newest City Raises Threat of Conflict in South China Sea
China has declared its establishment of a municipal settlement on a disputed island chain in the South China Sea. The move, combined with an earlier announcement about the islands’ militarization, further raises tensions in this …
Must-Reads from Around the World, July 10, 2012
Today’s picks: the stormy waters of the South China Sea, India faces the fallout from late monsoon rains and a controversial German writer and economist (not surprisingly) speaks his mind
As U.S. Pivots Toward Asia, China Looks to Strengthen Itself
The “pivot” to Asia, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the new U.S. focus on the region, has given China plenty of reasons to feel uncomfortable. During President Obama’s nine-day trip to Hawaii, Australia and Indonesia, he called on China to behave as a “grown-up” economy and abide by global trade rules. In Australia …
A Step Back From the Brink in the South China Sea
China and Vietnam, which traded accusations this summer over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea, signed an agreement Tuesday outlining basic measures to help settle their ongoing dispute. The agreement, reached during a visit to Beijing by Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong, calls for China and Vietnam to hold biannual …
Burma Announces a Mass Prisoner Amnesty— Is Real Reform Next?
Squeezed between booming India and equally booming China, Burma has long felt like a time capsule of repressive rule, economic mismanagement and military dominance. But is change finally coming to this strategic crossroads? On Oct. 11, in a state T.V. announcement emblazoned with a “breaking news” banner, the country’s …
China’s Security Chief Goes on Tour—How Is Asia Reacting?
Over the past week, as I’ve traveled across Asia, I’ve discovered an unlikely partner in my continental peregrinations: China’s security chief Zhou Yongkang. The senior Chinese envoy’s travels have taken him to Nepal, Laos, Cambodia and Tajikistan. The final stop is Mongolia, where Zhou is expected to head on Tuesday.
In …
Hillary Goes to Bali: Fear, Disputes and Not That Much Love
Fresh off a three-day tour of India, Hillary Clinton arrived on Bali Thursday to attend a regional forum hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Since her first visit in 2009, the United States has taken an increasingly active role in regional politics, signing treaties, strengthening ties and speaking out on …