Asia

Though the national and strategic interests of the two nations can be very different, participants at the latest U.S.-China Strategic Dialogue pursued the same goal, with the same motivations.

In the wake of the global financial crisis much has been written about the extent to which the United States can continue to play its role as the world’s predominant economic power and whether the emerging BRIC economies, particularly China, are poised to challenge the current financial and economic architecture. In recent months, speculation has focused on the future of the U.S.

President Obama is headed to Asia in a week.  It is imperative that he begin to lay the groundwork for passage of the KORUS FTA.  The agreement signed by the Bush administration in June 2007, still awaits passage of implementing legislation by the Congress.  The administration has not supported the agreement because of concerns over trade issues regarding beef and automobiles.&nb

When the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), led by Hatoyama Yukio, scored a landslide victory over the long-ruling Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), many U.S. observers saw potential for a very productive synergy with the Obama administration.

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.

The U.S.-Japan security alliance is an integral part of U.S. engagement with Asia, especially in the face of new and diffuse threats, and both Japan and the U.S. state the alliance is central to their national security. However, doubts continue to plague the alliance with each side questioning the other’s commitment.

President Obama makes his first trip to Asia to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Singapore this month. The president will begin his trip in Tokyo on November 12 and 13 and then travel to Singapore for the APEC meeting that runs from the 13th to 15th. From Singapore he will travel to China from the 15th to the 18th and finally visit Seoul on the 18th and 19th.

Pakistan is at an economic crossroads. The global financial crisis and the terrorist insurgency, coupled with long-term underfunding of the social sectors, reduced Pakistan's economic growth to 2 percent in 2008-2009. Rising food prices and electricity shortages have made economic problems a major focus for popular discontent. U.S.