Expert Related Publication Feeds

Comparative Connections v.14 n.1 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

There was a brief period when a breakthrough seemed possible in the stalemate with North Korea when it pledged to freeze all nuclear and missile tests; then Pyongyang announced a planned satellite launch, pulling the rug out from under Washington (and itself) and business as usual returned to the Peninsula.

PacNet #18 - North Korea: Now What?

bMizuno — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Now what? Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the Six-Party Talks, the North Koreans pulled the rug out from under everyone, including themselves, by announcing a planned satellite launch to commemorate Great Leader Kim Il-Sung’s 100th birthday celebrations.

PacNet #14 - US-DPRK Agreement: Limited Progress, But No Breakthrough (Yet)

ellise — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The recent "food for freeze" agreement between the United States and North Korea has been described (accurately) by the State Department as reflecting "important, if limited, progress" and (inaccurately) by the media as constituting a "breakthrough" in the seemingly endless march toward Korean Peninsula denuclearization.

PacNet #7 - Return to Asia: It's Not (All) About China

ellise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"All right China, come out with your hands up; we've got you surrounded!" When one reads about the US "pivot" to Asia, it is almost always cast in terms of countering China's rise, as if it - and everything else that Washington does in Asia - is always all about China. Of course, Beijing thinks it's all about China . . .

PacNet #3 - Comparative Connections Summary

ellise — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It's been an Asia-centric four months. The US proclaimed America's "pivot" toward Asia, while North Korea faced a pivotal moment following the death of Kim Jong Il.

Comparative Connections v.13 n.3 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It’s been an Asia-centric four months. The US proclaimed America’s “pivot” toward Asia, while North Korea faced a pivotal moment following the death of Kim Jong Il.

PacNet #70 - The Kim is Dead! Long Live the Kim?

bMizuno — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Kim Jong-il is dead. This we pretty much know for sure. This, plus the revelation, which should have come as a surprise to no one, that the North Korean people are being called upon to “faithfully revere respectable comrade Kim Jong-un,” his third son and chosen “great successor.” Beyond this, we’re mostly guessing. Some guesses are pretty safe bets.

Comparative Connections v.13 n.2 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A few dim rays of light pierced what has been the darkness of the Six-Party Talks since their suspension in December 2008, raising hopes that we would see a resumption of dialogue in the next few months (even though prospects for actual Korean Peninsula denuclearization remain low).

PacNet #39 - US Nuclear Weapons to South Korea?

bMizuno — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Support for the US-ROK alliance has never seemed stronger in South Korea. Our two countries appear to be in lock step when it comes to dealing with the North and our two presidents seem to genuinely like and respect one another, thus permitting an unprecedented level of trust and cooperation. That’s the good news.

Comparative Connections v.13 n.1 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The biggest headlines during the first four months of 2011 were generated by the triple tragedy in Japan, which left Tokyo (and much of the rest of the world) shaking, especially over nuclear safety.

PacNet #7A - Responses to PacNet #7 -- Can Mubarak Follow South Korea’s Path?

bMizuno — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Peter Beck:

Comparative Connections v.12 n.4 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The US profile in Asia continued rising as China’s image continued falling, while more questions arose about change in North Korea. President Obama made a high-profile, four-country visit to Asia, while Secretary of State Clinton gave a major address in Honolulu (co-hosted by the Pacific Forum CSIS) before her sixth trip to Asia, making eight stops.

Comparative Connections v.12 n.3 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The US profile in Asia appears to be on the rise following Secretary of State Clinton’s highly publicized presentation at the ASEAN Regional Forum ministerial in Hanoi in July and President Obama’s New York meeting with ASEAN leaders at quarter’s end.

PacNet #37 - China’s Expanding 'Coastal Waters'

bMizuno — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Would someone please provide China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) spokesmen with a map!

Comparative Connections v.12 n.2 - Regional Overview

bMizuno — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Hopes for a resumption of Six-Party Talks were torpedoed when an international investigation team concluded that the ROK Navy ship Cheonan was attacked by a North Korean submarine.

PacNet #21 - Cheonan Incident: Choosing an Appropriate Response

bMizuno — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

As it becomes more and more obvious that the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan was sunk on March 26 by a North Korean torpedo, more and more voices are calling for cooler heads to prevail.

Comparative Connections v.12 n.1 - Regional Overview

dfernandez — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Last quarter we focused on remarks by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proclaiming that “America is back in Asia,” an obvious dig at real and perceived neglect of Asia by the previous administration.

Issues & Insights Vol. 10 - No. 10

dfernandez — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

This paper addresses the place of Northeast Asia regionalism in US foreign policy and defines how much (or little) importance the task of building a regional security architecture is to the United States in its overall East Asia foreign policy agenda.

PacNet #17 - The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review: Moving Toward ‘No First Use'

dfernandez — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I have attended a number of discussions in recent years about US nuclear weapons strategy and policy. All invariably begin with a presentation by a US official or expert who proclaims that the United States, in the past decade, has significantly reduced the role and importance of nuclear weapons in its national security strategy and will continue to do so.

PacNet #4A - US-China Relations on a Downward Slide

dfernandez — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

When President Obama wrapped up his first trip to China in mid-November of last year, US-China relations seemed as good or better than they had been in years. It’s been all downhill ever since! And it looks like things are going to get even worse.

PacNet #5 - Obama's East Asia Policy: So Far, So Good

dfernandez — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

With one important exception, US relations with the countries of East Asia are as good or better today than when the Obama administration took office just over one year ago. This is no small accomplishment since, again with one (different) exception, relations were already quite good – the Bush administration left Asia in pretty good shape.

Comparative Connections v.11 n.4 - Regional Overview

dfernandez — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The US is back in Asia! This was the central theme of President Obama’s major Asia policy speech, delivered in Tokyo on the first leg of a four-country swing through Asia this past quarter. North Korean "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il also hinted that Pyongyang might come back to the Six-Party Talks after a visit to the North Korean capital by Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth.

Building Trust Across the Taiwan Strait

ian — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

In the 18 months since Ma Ying-jeou’s inauguration, Taiwan’s relations with mainland China have improved at a rapid pace. The resumption of quasi-official talks between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait has led to a series of landmark agreements.

PacNet #75 - Obama Visit to Seoul: Building a Better Vision

dfernandez — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The “Joint Vision Statement” signed during South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to Washington in June 2009 has set the stage for what promises to be a highly successful visit to Seoul by President Barack Obama later this week.

PacNet #71 - Question for Tokyo: Remember ANZUS?

dfernandez — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The headlines associated with Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ recent visit to Japan notwithstanding, relations between Washington and Tokyo are not as strained as they may appear . . . at least not yet. But there is no question that improper handling of a number of sensitive issues before, or worse yet during President Obama’s scheduled Nov.

Comparative Connections v.11 n.3 - Regional Overview

dfernandez — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton kept her promise and showed up at the first ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting to take place on her watch and, also as promised, signed ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) on behalf of the United States.

PacNet #54 - U.S.-ROK relations: a Joint Vision – and concerns about commitment

dfernandez — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

After a decade in the wilderness, the return to power of South Korea’s conservative Grand National Party brings with it an increased willingness both to partner with the United States and to participate more fully in shaping the regional (and global) security environment.

Comparative Connections v.11 n.2 - Regional Overview

dfernandez — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Pyongyang reverted to form this quarter, reminding everyone that old challenges would not be easily or quickly negotiated away. Its attention-getting devices included a failed “satellite launch” and an apparently successful nuclear test, along with a promise to never return to the Six-Party Talks.

PacNet #44 - Lee-Obama Summit: Solidifying a Joint Approach toward Pyongyang

dfernandez — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The upcoming Washington summit meeting between ROK President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barrack Obama provides a golden opportunity for the two allies to send an important message to North Korea, to their other Six-Party Talks interlocutors, and to domestic constituencies in both countries regarding how best to deal with the ongoing North Korean nuclear crisis.

PacNet #41B - Dealing with North Korea

dfernandez — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

What is North Korea up to? Is it trying to undermine the Six-Party Talks in order to force Washington to deal with Pyongyang directly, as some experts claim?

Issues & Insights Vol. 09 - No. 08

dfernandez — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Can the Six-Party Talks be saved? Should they be saved? Or, has Pyongyang already made the strategic decision to keep its nuclear weapons arsenal at all costs and under all conceivable circumstances?

PacNet #35 - Burma: Time for a New Approach

dfernandez — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Burma and Aung Sang Suu Kyi are once again in the headlines, for all the wrong reasons. We may never really know why some foolish American, identified as John Yettaw from Missouri, put himself and Daw Suu Kyi in jeopardy by intruding uninvited into the compound where she has been kept under house arrest for years.

PacNet #28A - North Korea: Time for a New Approach

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ho-hum! Another United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pronouncement "demanding" that North Korea cease and desist all missile activities and verifiably give up its nuclear weapons program.

PacNet #29 - Global Nuclear Disarmament: Too Much, Too Soon?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

There is no country on earth more committed to global nuclear disarmament than Japan. Ever since experiencing first hand the horrors of nuclear weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese government and people have been steadfast in calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons from the planet.

Comparative Connections v.11 n.1 - Regional Overview

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s choice of Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China for her first official trip overseas helped shine a spotlight on Asia as a high priority region this quarter, as did North Korean Dear Leader Kim Jong-il’s announcement that he intended to conduct a satellite launch in early April.

PacNet #24 - North Korea: Here We Go Again!

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

North Korean "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il is a hard person to like; he is even a harder person to ignore. At a time when the rest of the world would prefer to focus its attention elsewhere, the North Korean leader is trying his best to shine the spotlight on the one area of the world where the global financial crisis matters little, his own already failed state.

PacNet #20 - Needed: A New Asia-Pacific Strategy Report

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Choosing Asia as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first overseas trip has gotten the Obama administration off on the right foot in dealing with this vitally important region. What’s needed now is a clearly articulated vision of America’s future role in Asia and a well thought out strategy for getting us from here to there.

PacNet #18 - Continuity and Change: U.S. Asia Policy

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent trip to Asia underscored elements of continuity and change in the Obama administration’s Asia policy. Generally speaking, her visits in Northeast Asia – to Japan, Korea, and China – represented continuity; her trip to Indonesia signaled change.

PacNet #10 - Reassuring Allies: Secretary Clinton's Most Important Mission

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

We welcome the news that Hillary Clinton’s first overseas trip as Secretary of State will be to Japan, Korea, and China (appropriately in that order). While her visit to Beijing will likely garner the lion’s share of attention, her visits to Tokyo and Seoul are equally if not more important.

Issues & Insights Vol. 09 - No. 01

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ongoing shifts in geopolitical power from West to East make the Asia-Pacific region more important to the United States today than ever before. The region is already an engine of the global economy, and major Asian countries are becoming global economic and political actors. Yet, as Asia’s importance has grown over the last decade, Washington has often been focused elsewhere.

Comparative Connections v.10 n.4 - Regional Overview

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Things generally went from bad to worse in the Asia-Pacific this past quarter. The Six-Party Talks began on a low note and went steadily downhill from there as Pyongyang stonewalled against even a moderately intrusive verification regime.

PacNet #59 - (Unsolicited) Advice on Asia Policy for President-elect Obama

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Foreign policy bloggers and pundits are already gushing forth with advice for President-elect Obama. Allow me to add some of my own, at least as far as Asia policy is concerned.

PacNet #53 - North Korea: Settling for Half a Loaf

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The conventional wisdom is that the Bush administration, in its never-ending face-off with North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, has once again been the first to blink. President Bush has been severely criticized for removing North Korea from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List prior to actual verification of North Korea’s June 26 "complete and correct" nuclear declaration.

Comparative Connections v.10 n.3 - Regional Overview

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Hopes of progress in the Six-Party Talks evident in the closing days of the previous quarter were quickly dashed as disagreements over verification of North Korea’s nuclear declaration created a stalemate still in evidence at quarter’s end. The only movement was backward, as "action for action" was replaced by inaction and worse.

Comparative Connections v.10 n.2 - Regional Overview

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

PacNet #35 - North Korea's Nuclear Delcaration: What to Expect Next

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

U.S.

PacNet #31 - Gates "Reassures" Asia

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The United States is a "resident" power in Asia that has been and will remain fully engaged in the region and both supportive of and involved in the development of any regional security architecture. This was the central message delivered by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this past weekend.

PacNet #30 - Time to Seize the Cross-Strait Opportunity

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

TAIPEI.

Comparative Connections v.10 n.1 - Regional Overview

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

“It is always darkest just before the dawn of a new day” goes the old saying. Well, it looks pretty dark when it comes to U.S.-DPRK relations and the prospects for the Six-Party Talks, with no significant progress reported.

PacNet #12 - ROK-U.S. Relations: Revitalizing the Alliance

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Feb. 25 inauguration of Lee Myung-bak as the Republic of Korea’s new president opens the door for a revitalization of the ROK-U.S. alliance, a relationship that has been severely tested and strained in recent years as a result of policy differences and more fundamental “vision” differences between Washington and Seoul.