The beaches of the island of Phuket off the northwestern coast of Thailand are often flooded with Western tourists eager for exotic experiences. And yet, the same tropical sunshine that gives these beachgoers their characteristically golden tans also shines upon the tumultuous Thai provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani. These southernmost provinces, all approximately 400 … Read more
Just over a week ago, two U.S. Navy sailors were found guilty of raping a woman on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The incident, which came to light in October of last year, incited a string of passionate anti-U.S. demonstrations within Japan. The anger resulted in the implementation of an unprecedented curfew, restricting the soldiers … Read more
Beijing has always been good at being ‘off the charts.’ Anyone who has observed China’s remarkable economic growth or watched the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics can attest to this fact. Recent air pollution readings coming out of Beijing keep in step with this tradition. At 8 p.m, on January 12th, Beijing’s Air Quality … Read more
Claims and Concerns The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint for regional rivalries and tensions. Subject to a range of competing territorial claims—including from Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, the South China Sea is at the nexus of competing and converging interests. Through these contested waters flows over one-third of world … Read more
In June 2012, TrustLaw, a Thompson Reuters Foundation Service organization, released a poll ranking the G20 countries in terms of their overall environment towards women. Canada, not surprisingly, ranked first, while India ranked last, even behind Saudi Arabia. Why the world’s largest democracy has failed to create a safe and supportive environment for women remains … Read more
Think of a country that maintains friendly relations with Israel, the United States, and Iran. No, this is not a reference to Switzerland. This nation is India. Ever since India’s independence in 1947, its foreign policy has been largely devoid of a grand strategy. This began with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s development of the Non-Aligned Movement, … Read more
Although President Obama’s description of his foreign policy as a “pivot” to Asia was intended to be neutral in tone, political discourse in the United States has largely focused on his vision’s military aspects. From the bolstering of U.S. positions in the South China Sea to the opening of new bases in Northern Australia, the … Read more
Last week, seven Tibetans set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule and political oppression. These self-immolations have increased in frequency immediately before and during the weeklong Communist Party’s 18th National Congress, during which party chairman and president Hu Jintao will cede his posts to his successor, Xi Jinping. A few statistics stand out when one … Read more
Thousands of rioters poured into the streets of the nation’s capital. They were tired of their government’s ineffectiveness in solving their country’s dire economic situation. They demanded political rights that had been stifled for decades. They were sick of the corruption that had seeped into the ruling party. They were ready for change. Their calls … Read more
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the culmination of a broader ‘pivot’ on trade policy that has at times brought President Obama into conflict with his supporters and key Democratic constituencies. Currently entering a delicate phase of negotiations, the TPP could usher in a new age of U.S. trade policy. Described by U.S. Trade Representative Ron … Read more