Expert Related Publication Feeds

Comparative Connections v.14 n.1

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

Regional Overview: At a Time of Uncertainty, Count on North Korea, by Ralph A. Cossa and Brad Glosserman
US-Japan Relations: Back to Normal? by Michael J. Green and Nicholas Szechenyi
US-China Relations: Xi Visit Steadies Ties; Dissident Creates Tension, by Bonnie Glaser and Brittany Billingsley

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 #27 - Concert or Cacophony? Searching for the Foundations of a New International Order

ellise — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The sinews of the global order are creaking. The most recent sign of age and obsolescence is the BRICS summit that just convened in New Delhi. The BRICS as a group - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - won't reorder global politics; as much divides them as unites them. But their determination to articulate the grievances of emerging states shouldn't be ignored.

PacNet #25 - Frustration Defines the South Korean Electorate

bMizuno — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

For outsiders, ROK President Lee Myung-bak has had a good run. During his four and a half years in office, the South Korean economy weathered the Great Recession and rebounded to mark impressive growth. Seoul seized the international spotlight, hosting several global summits.

PacNet #16 - Asia's Real "America Problem"

ellise — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

A week of discussions in February with the United States'; Northeast Asian allies sent one very important message: there are no doubts about the credibility of the US extended deterrent in that region of the world.

PacNet #8 - A Moment for Action for the Life Sciences

ellise — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

An important research finding in the life sciences has galvanized and divided the international scientific and security communities.

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

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

Edited by Carl Baker and Brad Glosserman

January 2012, Vol. 13, No. 3 – (September–December 2011)

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 #67 - The Australian Canary

bMizuno — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

“No, thanks.”

That, in summary, is the response of Hugh White to the recent announcement that the US would be sending marines on permanent rotation to Darwin, along with naval and air forces that would have increased access to facilities in northern Australia.

Issues & Insights Vol. 11 - No. 11

bMizuno — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) and the Pacific Forum CSIS were pleased and honored to again co-host the 17th annual Japan-US Security Seminar on March 25-26, 2011. This year’s seminar convened under trying circumstances.

PacNet #58 - We’re all Taiwanese Now

bMizuno — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

TAIPEI: A series of meetings in Taiwan gave me the opportunity to assess the mood on the island – and it’s much as expected. Cross-strait relations are perhaps the best they’ve ever been, but there is mounting concern about the future, with both short- and long-term worries. Short-term questions are in large part the product of approaching elections on the island.

PacNet #52 - Comparative Connections Summaries

bMizuno — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Regional Overview: Rays of Hope?
US-Japan Relations: Kicking the Kan down the Road
US-China Relations: Friction and Cooperation Co-exist Uneasily
US-Korea Relations: A Return to Dialogue
US-Southeast Asia Relations: Deep in South China Sea Diplomacy

Comparative Connections v.13 n.2

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

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 #48 - 'Safe Choice' May Be the Wrong Choice

bMizuno — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Former Finance Minister Noda Yoshihiko is the new prime minister of Japan. Noda is something of an anomaly: one of those self-deprecating politicians – he likens himself to a “loach,” a scavenger that is kin to the catfish – who commands respect for having a steady hand and even temperament.

PacNet #31 - China Policy: Avoiding a Cold War Redux

bMizuno — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

One popular narrative credits the end of the Cold War to a US strategy to bankrupt the Soviet Union. Well aware of the advantage conferred by its superior economic performance, Washington pushed Moscow into a military competition that drained the USSR of its resources.

Comparative Connections v.13 n.1

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

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 #12 - Asia’s Rise, Western Anxiety: Leadership in a Tripolar World

bMizuno — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This is an age of anxiety for the West. Economic insecurity and an accelerating pace of change have contributed to mounting uncertainty and a sense of increasing instability. But these are manifestations of another, more deeply rooted unease among Westerners: a feeling – a fear -- that they are losing control.

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.

Issues & Insights Vol. 10 - No. 15

bMizuno — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) and the Pacific Forum CSIS were pleased and honored to again co-host the 16th annual Japan-U.S. Security Seminar on January 15-16, 2010. It was a timely and important discussion; our meeting was originally intended to launch celebrations that would mark the 50th anniversary of the Japan-US security alliance.

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 #31 - China's Cheonan Problem

bMizuno — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Historians may well look back at the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan in March 2010 as a turning point in China’s relations with Asia and the wider world. Beijing’s response to the tragedy has been characterized by a conspicuous reluctance to engage. Instead, it has preferred to keep silent and, when obliged to respond, to counsel patience and calm by all participants.

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.

PacNet #19 - Breaking Point for the Alliance?

dfernandez — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Now I’m worried. In November, amateurism and confusion from the new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) government were to be expected. The first opposition party win in 50 years was bound to produce a messy transition. But five months later, those initial glitches should have been worked out – or at least identified and minimized.

PacNet #5A - A Reality Check in Asia

dfernandez — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The hearts of Asia-Pacific strategists are all a flutter. The desire of Japan’s new government to “rebalance” its foreign policy between East and West and the tensions between Tokyo and Washington that have followed in its wake are seen as portents of a shift in the regional balance of power.

PacNet #2 - Economic Realities Limit Japan's Security Options

dfernandez — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Since the inauguration of the Hatoyama administration in Tokyo last September, US-Japan relations have resembled a slow-motion train wreck.

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.

PacNet #74 - Not Too Fast with China

dfernandez — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

BEIJING – With President Barack Obama making his first trip to China, it is vital that the two countries have a clear understanding of what they expect from each other. Failure to reconcile expectations could derail a partnership that is increasingly critical to the management of pressing global issues.

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 #62 - Don't Forget Asia

dfernandez — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The United States has scaled back plans to deploy a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. While that decision reflects a new assessment of the Iranian threat to Europe, most attention is being paid to its impact on relations with Russia. But the decision has equally important implications for Asia.

PacNet #60 - Back to Earth with the DPJ

dfernandez — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The wave of hysteria that greeted the victory of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in parliamentary elections last month has receded. The win doesn’t signal the end of the U.S.-Japan alliance, nor does it even necessarily imply a rough patch for the bilateral relationship.

Issues & Insights Vol. 09 - No. 14

dfernandez — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The 15th annual Japan-U.S. Security Seminar convened amidst a ringing of alarm bells. A global economic crisis challenged the capability of states to sustain growth and prosperity and the philosophy that has dominated the postwar economic order.

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.

PacNet #51 - Asia's Rise: Cooling on the Conventional Wisdom

dfernandez — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

SEOUL – According to conventional wisdom, the global economic crisis is accelerating the transfer of power and influence from the West to Asia. The United States has been particularly hard hit by the downturn and America’s loss is China’s gain. This shift is transforming international economic decisionmaking. The G8, the traditional locus of power, has been fatally wounded.

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 #45 - The Guillotine: demographics and Japan’s security options

dfernandez — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The next few months will be critical for Japan’s defense and security policies. The National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG) that outline the framework for national security policy are due by year’s end. This in turn provides the foundation for the Mid-Term Defense Program, which translates that outline into specific programs and purchases.

Issues & Insights Vol. 09 - No. 09

dfernandez — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The core components of the U.S.-Japan security alliance – power projection, control of the seas, and deterrence – are intrinsically related to sea power.

Issues & Insights Vol. 09 - No. 10

dfernandez — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Japan is in the midst of a demographic transformation. The country’s population has started to decline and is projected to shrink nearly 30 percent by 2055. The fertility rate has fallen well below replacement. The elderly share (age 65 and above) of the population is 21.5 percent, and will reach 38.9 percent by 2050, making Japan the grayest nation in the world.

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 #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 #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 #58 - Another Step toward Better Cross-Strait Ties

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Chinese and Taiwanese are holding their breaths this week as Chen Yulin makes a five- day visit to Taipei.

PacNet #57 - From Kinetic to Comprehensive: New Thinking in the U.S. Military

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A quiet transformation is underway in the United States military that has significant implications for U.S. foreign policy, and relations with Asia in particular. Strategists increasingly recognize that military options must go beyond combat operations.