ASIA & THE PACIFIC ARCHIVE :

Please note : Most publications move older stories into their archives which may require a fee to view the full story. Some stories listed below may no longer be available online.

See also archives for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Wall Street Journal, 10 Dec 09, by Yuka Hayashi
Japan Slows Relocation of U.S. Base in Okinawa
'The Japanese government warned that a sweeping plan to start reorganizing U.S. troops in Japan next year could be delayed, as disagreements over the realignment raise tensions in the trans-Pacific alliance.'

Reuters, 10 Dec 09, by Linda Sieg
Scenarios-Japan PM's options in U.S. base feud
'Japan's prime minister said on Thursday he wants to decide his stance by year-end on a feud over a U.S. airbase on Okinawa island that threatens to fray the alliance.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Nov 09, by Donald Kirk
Was clash of North, South Korean navies timed to Obama visit?
'South Korea accused North Korea of entering its waters and ignoring warning shots, charges the North denies.'

Washington Post, 12 Nov 09, by Blaine Harden
North Korea says naval skirmish was 'planned provocation' by South
'North Korea, which took a beating in a naval skirmish this week, claimed Thursday the clash was a "provocation" by South Korea to derail recent progress in regional diplomacy.'

Washington Post, 10 Nov 09, by Scott Wilson
Obama will send top diplomat to North Korea for direct talks
'Goal is to reengage nation on its nuclear program'

Washington Post, 11 Nov 09
Timeline: U.S.-China relations
[interactive] 'As Obama prepares to go to Asia, check out major developments in relations since 1972.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Nov 09, by Huma Yusuf
North Korea announces reprocessing of more nuclear weapons fuel
'North Korea's announcement that it had processed more nuclear weapons fuel for use in another atomic weapon is seen as an attempt to reinforce its demand that the US engage in bilaterial disarmament talks.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Nov 09, by Peter Grier
North Korea can now build one more nuclear bomb
'North Korea said Tuesday that it has reprocessed 8,000 nuclear fuel rods – perhaps enough to build another nuclear bomb. US officials say this was a violation of North Korea's commitments to nuclear disarmament talks.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Nov 09
A Rebel Stronghold in Myanmar on Alert
'The region held by the Wa ethnic group is a piece of unfinished business for Myanmar’s military government.'

BBC News, 04 Nov 09
Japan 'has no time' to meet US
'Plans for a Washington meeting this week between Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been dropped.'

Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct 09, by Peter Ford
US, China militaries talk more: Does that make world safer?
'After a long spell of barely disguised animosity, American and Chinese military chiefs are seeking to put their relations on a more cordial footing, in line with ties between their civilian bosses.'

Washington Post, 22 Oct 09, by John Pomfret and Blaine Harden
U.S. pressures Japan on military package
'Worried about a new direction in Japan's foreign policy, the Obama administration warned the Tokyo government Wednesday of serious consequences if it reneges on a military realignment plan formulated to deal with a rising China.'

Washington Post, 21 Oct 09, by Blaine Harden
In Japan, Gates talks tough on base relocation
'Playing hardball with its closest ally in Asia, the Obama administration warned Japan on Wednesday of serious consequences if it backs out of a commitment to allow the relocation of a U.S. airbase on Okinawa.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct 09, by Peter Ford
Rivals China, India in escalating war of words
'China offered to help India's archrival, Pakistan, develop a territory claimed by India. India invited the Dalai Lama, a top irritant to China, to visit a state claimed by China.'

Reuters, 12 Oct 09, by Jon Herskovitz
Analysis-North Korea thaw hides hard nuclear realities
'China has likely persuaded North Korea to return to nuclear talks but may have also given ruler Kim Jong-il enough backing for him to keep vexing the world with his pursuit of atomic weapons.'

Washington Post, 15 Oct 09, by Blaine Harden
What's Gotten Into N. Korea?
'A Recent Spate of Friendly Gestures May Signal New Priorities'

Reuters, 12 Oct 09, by Ben Blanchard
Security summit ends in China with little to show
'A security summit between China, Russia and their Central Asian neighbours wrapped up in Beijing on Wednesday with vague promises to deepen economic cooperation but no public mention of regional flashpoints like Afghanistan.'

Asia Times, 15 Oct 09, by Sudha Ramachandran
India takes off against 'Red Taliban'
'The Indian Air Force has requested government permission to fire in self-defense should its helicopters or crew operating in Maoist areas come under attack, marking a significant change in India's counter-insurgency strategy against what are now being called the "Red Taliban".'

BBC News, 08 Oct 09, by Soutik Biswas
India: Afghanistan's influential ally
'India believes its embassy was the target of a bomb attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul. If confirmed, it would be the second attack on the embassy in just over a year. The BBC ... examines why India, one of Afghanistan's closest allies, might be chosen as a target.'

Washington Post, 08 Oct 09, by Blaine Harden
N. Korea Visit Stirs Optimism
'During three days of talks in Pyongyang that ended Tuesday, North Korea's leader and China's prime minister raised expectations that the North might return to nuclear disarmament talks that it abandoned in the spring.'

New York Times, 05 Oct 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea May Be Open to Talks
'The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, told the visiting prime minister of China that his government was ready to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons program if it sees progress in bilateral talks with the United States ...'

New York Times, 29 Sep 09, by Michael Wines
China’s Ties With Iran Complicate Diplomacy
'Leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee swept into Beijing last month to meet with Chinese officials, carrying a plea from Washington: if Iran were to be kept from developing nuclear weapons, China would have to throw more diplomatic weight behind the cause.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Sep 09, by Ben Arnoldy
Growing number of China incursions into India lead to a strategy change
'Along the disputed border near Ladakh, India has long neglected infrastructure to discourage a Chinese invasion. But the strategic landscape is shifting.'

New York Times, 29 Sep 09, by Lydia Polgreen and Souad Mekhennet
Network of Militants Is Robust After Mumbai Siege
'Ten months after the devastating attacks in Mumbai by Pakistan-based militants, the group behind the assault remains largely intact and determined to strike India again, according to current and former members of the group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and intelligence officials.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Sep 09, by Jonathan Adams
US pulls troops from Philippines town after US soldiers killed
'Phillipines Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group may be stepping up its attacks.'

Asia Times, 01 Oct 09, by Cristian Segura and Wu Zhong
China's military struts its stuff
'Some advanced hardware developed and made in China and which has been kept secret, such as the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) airborne early warning and control aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, were on display during the parade [marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China] ...'

Asia Times, 01 Oct 09, by M K Bhadrakumar
China maps an end to the Afghan war
'A senior Chinese official has publicly put forward an unusually forthright and timely view on the Afghanistan conflict, proposing concrete steps to be taken towards unlocking the stalemate there. This, he argues, is an Afghan issue, while al-Qaeda is not a big factor. Not the least important: US troops should go home.'

Asia Times, 01 Oct 09, by Larry Jagan
China warily watches US-Myanmar detente
'Ongoing concern in Bejing over unrest near the China-Myanmar border, which led to a mass influx of refugees into southern China, has been heightened by diplomatic overtures by the junta to the United States. China's leaders are suspicious of any US attempt to counter its influence in the region.'

Asia Times, 29 Sep 09, by Brian McCartan
US takes a radical turn on Myanmar
'The Barack Obama administration has broken ranks with its recent predecessors in announcing its intention to engage Myanmar's ruling generals while also maintaining economic and financial sanctions against the military regime.'

Financial Times, 24 Sep 09, by Tim Johnston
US to pursue greater engagement with Burma
'The United States is set to abandon its long-held policy of isolating the Burmese government in favour of greater engagement, but Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has said that its sanctions regime will remain in place.'

New York Times, 24 Sep 09, by Seth Mydans
Burmese Opposition Supports New U.S. Approach
'The shift in policy was the result of a review that was first announced by Mrs. Clinton in February when she said neither the sanctions imposed by Western countries nor the “constructive engagement” of Myanmar’s neighbors had succeeded in affecting the regime’s behavior.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Sep 09, by Simon Montlake
Thailand's democracy in turmoil
'Last weekend 6,000 protestors demonstrated on the third anniversary of the military coup. US concern about democracy is reflected in USAID's return to boost the nation's once-vibrant civil society.'

Washington Post, 17 Sep 09, by Blaine Harden
Japan's New Leader Seeks Revision of Relations With U.S.
'Hours after he became prime minister Wednesday, Yukio Hatoyama said he wants to change Japan's "somewhat passive" relationship with the United States and review the large American military presence here.'

New York Times, 15 Sep 09, by Mark McDonald
China Trains Afghans and Iraqis in Mine Clearing
'The training of foreign mine-clearing specialists appears to serve the dual purpose of assisting in China’s steadily expanding search abroad for oil and gas, including projects in Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Angola and Ethiopia, and of burnishing China’s image in the world.'

Reuters, 17 Sep 09
Q+A: Noordin Mohammad Top and Islamic militancy in Indonesia
'Most Indonesian Muslims follow a moderate form of Islam, but an increasingly vocal radical fringe has grown in recent years in Indonesia's young democracy.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Sep 09, by Peter Ford
US brushes off North Korea's overtures
'Many see Pyongyang's recent friendly gestures as a tactical move. The US moved Tuesday to freeze the assets of two North Korean entities, while South Korea accused the North of unleashing a deadly flash flood.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Sep 09, by Peter Grier
N. Korea says it's close to enriching uranium. What is that?
'If the statement is true, it means the North Koreans will have developed a backup means of producing the fissile material that lies at the heart of atomic weapons.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Sep 09, by Donald Kirk
North Korea seeks international attention with uranium claim
'The North, which wants one-on-one talks with the US, said it's open to dialogue and had entered the "completion phase" of developing highly enriched uranium.'

Asia Times, 10 Sep 09, by Siddharth Srivastava
India taps US for a security boost
'Anti-terror ties between India and the United States are deepening, with the prime minister's complex in New Delhi given a full security revamp by American experts and India's home minister visiting Washington to meet top officials. Dismayed with Islamabad's response to last year's Mumbai attack, India is also questioning Washington's continued military aid to Pakistan.'

Asia Times, 09 Sep 09, by Brian McCartan
China, Myanmar border on a conflict
'The Myanmar government's rout last week of ethnic Kokang insurgents on the Chinese border may have been a test of Beijing's resolve to back its Myanmar-based allies and the readiness of rebel groups to band together against the junta. As all sides prepare for the next round of fighting, it seems unlikely Myanmar's military will be able to control the ceasefire regions in time for the 2010 national elections.'

New York Times, 01 Sep 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea Opens Border; Again Calls for U.S. Treaty
'North Korea restored regular border crossings for traffic going to South Korean factories in the North on Tuesday, while its leader, Kim Jong-il, reiterated his government’s call for a peace treaty with the United States.'

New York Times, 03 Sep 09, by Martin Fackler
Japan’s New Leader Reassures U.S. on Alliance
'Working to mend fences with his country’s biggest ally, Yukio Hatoyama reassured President Obama that the U.S. alliance was the basis of Japanese foreign policy.'

AP, 01 Sep 09, by Eric Talmadge
Recovery, US troops priority of new Japan leader
'One of Yukio Hatoyama's first challenges will be with key ally Washington over a plan to move 8,000 U.S. Marines off the southern Japan island of Okinawa, a plan that could cost Japan as much as $10 billion. Some members of his Democratic Party of Japan have balked at that price tag.'

New York Times, 03 Sep 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
S. Korean President Shakes Up Cabinet
'President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea replaced his prime minister in a reshuffle that also removed the country’s defense minister, who had criticized Mr. Lee’s plans to curtail military spending.'

Washington Post, 24 Aug 09, by Blaine Harden
North Korea Calls for Better Ties with South
'Meeting Suggests "Paradigm Shift" Between the Two Countries'

Asia Times, 24 Aug 09, by Micah Springut
US agonizes over Taiwan arms sales
'United States lawmakers are pushing the Barack Obama administration to sell more advanced weapons to Taiwan. But the US's expanding ties with Beijing hang a question mark over such a move. Further, China's military has modernized so rapidly that new arms are unlikely to redress the imbalance across the strait.'

Washington Post, 22 Aug 09, by Emily Wax
Despite Promises to Bolster Defenses, India Remains Vulnerable
'Months After Terrorists Shocked Mumbai, Experts Cite Persistent Gaps in Security'

Washington Post, 18 Aug 09, by Blaine Harden
N. Korea Apparently Loosening Strategy
'In a shift from pugnacious confrontation to measured conciliation, North Korea appears to be recalibrating its relations with the United States, South Korea and the outside world.'

Washington Post, 20 Aug 09, by Mary Beth Sheridan
After Meeting, N.M. Governor Says N. Koreans Are Ready for 'Dialogue'
'In the latest in a string of conciliatory moves, the North Korean government sent a delegation to meet Wednesday with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who said the isolated country is "now prepared to have a dialogue with us" after months of aggressive nuclear testing that alarmed the international community.'

Washington Post, 18 Aug 09, by R. Jeffrey Smith and Stella Kim
S. Korean Launch Raises Questions
'South Korea on Wednesday plans to launch a satellite into space using technology capable, in theory, of eventually delivering nuclear warheads or other weapons of mass destruction.'

Asia Times, 17 Aug 09, by Kent Ewing
China's war games unnerve neighbors
'China has launched its largest-ever war games, apparently as a test run for a huge, rapid internal troop deployment. In the wake of ethnic unrest and last year's devastating earthquake, domestic concerns could well be the main motivation - but this does not ease regional, particularly Indian, fears.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug 09, by Jonathan Adams
Philippines: Are two militant groups joining forces?
'Philippines government alleges MILF involvement in a firefight last week with members of the militant Abu Sayyaf, calling into question a cease-fire with the rebel group.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug 09, by David Montero
Indonesia: How will it adapt counterterrorism strategy?
'A recent spate of attacks has shown lapses in the nation's ability to prevent terrorism. How it steps up its strategy will have consequences at home and abroad.'

Asia Times, 20 Aug 09, by Marwaan Macan-Markar
Thai rebels head for the hills
'Veterans of jungle warfare understand the task the Thai military faces as it battles shadowy Malay-Muslim militants in the southernmost tip of Thailand. For now, the military is turning to small well-armed patrols to track down militants hiding in the forests. The military claims it is making progress, but the enemy remains elusive.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug 09, by Patrick Winn
Sen. Jim Webb breaks the ice in Burma
'The reclusive regime in Burma (Myanmar) is touting its newfound openness, but skeptics wonder whether Webb's rare visit will bring any democratic reform.'

NPR, 12 Aug 09, by Michele Kelemen
U.S. Faces Policy Challenge On Myanmar
'The news out of Myanmar that opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Syu Kyi would be spending another 18 months under house detention was met with widespread condemnation around the world. But the question still remains: How can the U.S. and its partners influence the military junta in the country formerly known as Burma?'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 09, by Dan Murphy
India wary as China conducts biggest “long-range” war games
'Less than a week after India and China held what they described as fruitful talks on a long-standing border dispute, China embarked on a massive war-game designed to improve its ability to dispatch troops over long distances.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 09, by Simon Montlake
For China, far west is rife with terror plots
'... China's eagerness to label any opposition group in the traditionally Muslim province as separatists or terrorists – the words are used interchangeably – has muddied the picture. Foreign experts are doubtful that ETIM or other groups are capable of mounting terror attacks and argue that most antigovernment violence is haphazard.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Aug 09, by Simon Montlake
Clinton's North Korea trip spurs hope – and unease – in Asia
'Bill Clinton's successful rescue mission to North Korea has stirred relief, hope, and a measure of unease in Asian capitals that are grappling with the risk posed by an unpredictable nuclear-armed neighbor.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Aug 09, by Simon Montlake
Chinese Army opens (small) window on operations
'The PLA gave foreign reporters a rare tour of a base outside Beijing this week and announced a bilingual website slated to debut Aug.1, the Army's 82nd birthday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jul 09, by Ben Arnoldy
India's PM too soft on Pakistan? Opposition says yes.
'India's recent extension of an olive branch – more of a twig, really – to Pakistan is stirring strong political opposition at home and doing little to nudge Pakistan's military away from its focus on India as its primary security threat.'

New York Times, 04 Aug 09, by Lydia Polgreen
Hints of Cooperation Put Leaders of Pakistan and India on the Defensive at Home
'When the prime ministers of India and Pakistan met recently on the sidelines of a regional summit meeting in Egypt, they hammered out a joint statement that seemed to point toward greater cooperation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.'

Asia Times, 06 Aug 09, by Peter J Brown
India and US build stronger ties in space
'"Negotiations on a possible Indo-US TSA [Technology Safeguards Agreement] have been underway for the last few years. The US has been insisting on restrictive movement of the payload, constant overseeing and monitoring by the US, and solid firewalls separating civil and military payloads." [Rajeswari Rajagopalan, senior fellow in security studies at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation]'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Jul 09, by David Montero
Islamic militancy in Bangladesh shows new signs of life
'Despite crackdowns, terrorist groups are showing a persistence and resilience that worries authorities.'

Washington Post, 22 Jul 09, by Glenn Kessler
Clinton: N. Korea, Burma May Be Sharing Nuclear Technology
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said explicitly Wednesday that the United States is concerned North Korea will transfer nuclear equipment and know-how to the reclusive junta that rules Burma.'

New York Times, 22 Jul 09, by Norimitsu Onishi
Extremist Ideas Survive Crackdown in Indonesia
'... as a clearer picture has begun emerging of Friday’s coordinated suicide bombings at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels here, terrorism experts and some Indonesian officials are focusing on what they describe as weaknesses in Indonesia’s antiterrorism campaign.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Jul 09, by Howard LaFranchi
US, India agree on nuclear and defense deals
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton paved a path to expanding relations with India during her three-day visit there, announcing accords that secure multibillion-dollar contracts for US nuclear power-plant builders and that open the door to billions of dollars in sales for American defense contractors.'

Washington Post/Reuters, 20 Jul 09, by Arshad Mohammed and C. Bryson Hull, Reuters
U.S., India expected to sign defense pact
'The United States and India said Monday they had agreed on a defense pact that takes a major step toward allowing the sale of sophisticated U.S. arms to the South Asian nation as it modernizes its military.'

New York Times, 18 Jul 09, by Lydia Polgreen
Justifying a Costly War in Sri Lanka
'History will decide whether Mr. Rajapaksa will be remembered as a nationalist avenger or a unifying peacemaker.'

New York Times, 17 Jul 09, by Norimitsu Onishi
Indonesia Bombings Signal Militants’ Resilience
'The nearly simultaneous suicide bomb attacks at two American hotels on Friday suggested that Islamic terrorist groups, though significantly weakened in Indonesia in recent years, still had the means to mount deadly assaults in one of the most heavily secured areas here in Indonesia’s capital.'

Asia Times, 16 Jul 09, by Walid Phares
China stalls on the AfPak road
'Chinese strategic options in Central and Southern Asia can complicate and mitigate US, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and allied efforts against terrorism, or they can bring additional strength to the international campaign against dangerous radical forces in the region. Chinese strategic behavior regarding the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan can also have an impact on China's internal national security and territorial integrity in the longer term.'

Washington Post/AP, 13 Jul 09, by Hyung-Jin Kim, AP
Korean armies face off but repeat of war unlikely
'North Korea's barrage of missile tests and a recent underground nuclear blast have unnerved many South Koreans. Yet for all the scaremongering on the Korean peninsula, an all-out attack by either side is unlikely.'

Washington Post, 16 Jul 09, by Andrew Higgins
Who Will Succeed Kim Jong Il?
'U.S. and Asian intelligence services are scrambling to figure out who will lead nuclear-armed North Korea -- and where to -- once its gravely ill leader passes away.'

Christian Science Monitor, 14 Jul 09, by Ritt Goldstein
Is China spying on Uighurs abroad?
'Sweden arrested Uighur exile Babur Mehsut last month on charges of 'refugee espionage.'

Bloomberg, 15 Jul 09, by Indira A.R. Lakshmanan and Gopal Ratnam
India May Approve Nuclear Sites, U.S. Defense Accord
'India may make two announcements next week paving the way for more than $20 billion in contracts for U.S. companies building nuclear-power plants and selling defense technology, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said.'

Asia Times, 16 Jul 09, by Stephen Kurczy
War of words for Cambodia, Thailand
'Thailand and Cambodia remain entrenched in a military standoff over the ancient Preah Vihear temple, despite a recent flurry of bilateral diplomatic overtures.'

Asia Times, 14 Jul 09, by Sudha Ramachandran
Power before peace in Sri Lanka
'Sri Lankans believed that with the end of the war their freedoms would return. Instead, with the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, President Mahinda Rajapakse has abandoned any tolerance for dissent, criticism or international interference. Authoritarianism disguised in the garb of democracy looms over the island.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Jul 09, by Matthew Shaer
North Korean hackers blamed for sweeping cyber attack on US networks
'The attacks, which targeted the White House, the Pentagon, and the Washington Post, among other high-level institutions, are raising concerns that the long-simmering conflict with North Korea is expanding into a dangerous new theater.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Jul 09, by Donald Kirk
What's behind cyber attacks on South Korea, US?
'North Korea is blamed, but what's Kim Jong-il's strategy?'

New York Times, 08 Jul 09, by Alan Cowell
Ethnic Strife Continues as Hu Returns to China
'President Hu Jintao of China cut short a trip to Italy on Wednesday to fly home after the deadly ethnic clashes in the northwestern Xinjiang region, abandoning plans to attend the Group of Eight summit meeting as news reports spoke of continued unrest.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jul 09, by Peter Ford
What China is doing to quell Uighur-Han unrest
'Police established a curfew Tuesday, as 20,000 security forces roamed the streets. Internet connections have also been cut to prevent the violence from "spreading."'

Asia Times, 08 Jul 09, by Peter J Brown
Mixed signals over Chinese missiles
'As defense analysts and experts in the United States, Japan and India digest the recent "Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat" report by the US Air Force (USAF) National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) - particularly any elements pertaining to China - important gaps or omissions are surfacing.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jul 09, by Huma Yusuf
Bombings in the Philippines jeopardize peace talks
'No group has claimed responsibility for the surge of violence in the island chain where a separatist organization and Al Qaeda-linked militant groups are active.'

Washington Post, 27 Jun 09, by Blaine Harden
China Trade Helps Shield N. Korea
'By funneling hard currency to the military, Chinese enterprises seem to be insulating the confrontational core of Kim's government from the international consequences of its behavior.'

New York Times, 30 Jun 09, by David E. Sanger
Second Thoughts on North Korea’s Inscrutable Ship
'Pentagon officials are clearly not eager to confront the Kang Nam 1. The intelligence about what is on board is typically murky. Some say they suspect small arms, which are banned by the United Nations resolution but hardly a major threat.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jun 09, by Mian Ridge
Leader of Kashmir: new hope for a troubled state?
'Omar Abdullah has fresh ideas for Kashmir's revival. But while violence has dropped, protests still roil the Muslim-majority state, where most want to be free of Indian rule.'

New York Times, 24 Jun 09, by Andrew Jacobs
U.S.-China Military Talks Resume
'Chinese and American officials on Wednesday gave a positive assessment of their military talks aimed at addressing the growing nuclear threat from North Korea and a series of naval skirmishes that have marred relations between the countries.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jun 09, by Mian Ridge
India's longtime battle with Maoist rebels heats up
'The government warned of more attacks Monday after Naxalites called a two-day strike to protest an offensive in Lalgarh, West Bengal.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jun 09, by Donald Kirk
N. Korea threatens strike after US-S. Korea summit
'In South, decisive tone of "joint vision" is seen as sending a strong message to the North.'

The Guardian, 17 Jun 09, by Justin McCurry
North Korea threatens merciless attack if it is provoked
'Pyongyang sends defiant message after Obama condemns its nuclear programme'

Radio Australia, 18 Jun 09
Similarities between N Korea crisis and Cuban missile crisis
'As the world moves towards tougher sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, the International Crisis Group has appealed for a diplomatic push by the United States to resolve the situation. But an Australian think-tank says after 16 years, hope for diplomacy is all-but dead and the path ahead looks a lot like the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jun 09, by Gordon Lubold
If US Navy confronts North Korean ships on high seas, what next?
'The US Navy will lead an international effort to confront North Korea's ships on the high seas in an attempt to block shipment of nuclear materials. But just how far the US will go is unclear, and the move may be more political than militarily muscular.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jun 09, by Howard LaFranchi
US, S. Korea pledge solidarity against nuclear North
'The international community will not back down in the face of North Korea's threats, the US president says at a White House meeting Tuesday.'

Washington Post, 17 Jun 09, by Scott Wilson
As North Korea Resists Sanctions, Obama Reassures South
'As new sanctions against North Korea take effect, President Obama said yesterday that he does not believe it is inevitable that the isolated communist nation "will or should be" designated a nuclear power.'

New York Times, 16 Jun 09, by Lydia Polgreen And Somini Sengupta
Hint of a Thaw for India and Pakistan
'Former senior diplomats close to the foreign policy establishment here say that back-channel negotiations on Kashmir — the contested border territory that is the central dispute between the nations — are set to begin again, something the United States has quietly urged.'

Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jun 09, by Huma Yusuf
Tamil Tiger leader announces 'new government' to pursue autonomy
'One of the few leaders remaining after the rebel group's defeat in Sri Lanka last month says the diaspora should continue the struggle peacefully with a "transnational government."'

Wall Street Journal, 12 Jun 09, by Peter Wonacott
Sri Lanka Begins Painful Reconciliation
'To defeat the rebels, the governement revved up a war machine to match the ruthlessness of its foe. It is now confronting the fallout from that fight, as it challenges allegations of human-rights abuses and seeks to ease the fears and distrust that remain among ethnic Tamils after a war that has lasted three decades.'

New York Times, 10 Jun 09, by Neil MacFarquhar
North Korea Could Face New Round of Sanctions
'The Security Council's five permanent members agreed on Wednesday on a draft resolution that would ratchet up sanctions against North Korea by concentrating on its financial transactions and its arms industry, including allowing for inspections of its cargo vessels on the high seas.'

New York Times, 09 Jun 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
Seoul Imposes Sanctions on N. Korea
'South Korea imposed its first financial sanctions on North Korean companies, officials said Tuesday, taking a symbolic action that could anger the Communist regime while bolstering a joint front with the United States as the allies seek to punish the North for its recent nuclear test.'

Christian Science Monitor, 09 Jun 09, by Donald Kirk
US weighs options to free journalists in North Korea
'A tougher stance toward Pyongyang may complicate efforts to negotiate the release of the two women, who were sentenced Monday to 12 years of hard labor.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Jun 09, by Howard LaFranchi
Jailed journalists complicate Obama's approach to N. Korea
'The administration wants to keep the journalists' plight separate from any discussion of the North's rogue nuclear program. But that will be difficult.'

Washington Post, 10 Jun 09, by Blaine Harden
N. Korea's Belligerence Seen as Succession Drama
'The top defense official in South Korea told troops this week that North Korea is launching missiles, testing nuclear devices and whipping up global tension so that its ailing leader, Kim Jong Il, can create conditions for a "hereditary transfer of power."'

BBC News, 10 Jun 09, by Jonathan Head
Thai army reinforces Burma border
'Thailand has sent heavily-armed troops to reinforce positions along the Burma border after an influx of ethnic Karen refugees fleeing an army offensive.'

Washington Post/AP, 04 Jun 09, by Christopher Bodeen, AP
Tiananmen 20th anniversary brings new repression
'Chinese police aggressively deterred dissent on Thursday's 20th anniversary of the crackdown on democracy activists in Tiananmen Square, amid calls by Hillary Clinton and even Taiwan's China-friendly president for Beijing to face up to the 1989 violence.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Jun 09, by Peter Ford
Tianamen's legacy of boldness
'Citizens have grown more vocal about their rights, even though China's political outlook hasn't changed much since 1989.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Jun 09, by Donald Kirk
Kim Jong Un: North Korea's next leader?
'North Korea is giving no hints about succession, but the rapid-fire moves to show off the North's military strength, notably the underground test of a nuclear device on May 25, are believed to be timed to demonstrate Kim Jong Il's power despite his physical weakness.'

Washington Post, 04 Jun 09, by Blaine Harden
N. Korea Follows Nuclear Test With a Favor for Captive Americans
'... the case of the two journalists could be used by the North as a way to walk back from confrontation and perhaps reopen dialogue with the U.S. government.'

Washington Post, 30 May 09, by Emily Wax
Fresh Reports, Imagery Contradict Sri Lanka on Civilian No-Fire Zone
'... evidence contradicts government assertions that areas of heavy civilian populations were no-fire zones that were deliberately spared during the final weeks of military assault that ended this island nation's quarter-century of civil war.'

Washington Post, 28 May 09, by Blaine Harden
North Korea Threatens to Attack South
'North Korea vowed Wednesday to attack South Korea if ships from the North are searched as part a U.S.-led effort to stop vessels suspected of carrying missiles or weapons of mass destruction. It also declared that the truce that ended the Korean War in 1953 was no longer valid.'

New York Times, 27 May 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
South Korea and U.S. Raise Alert Level
'One day after North Korea warned of a possible attack against the South, the United States and South Korea ordered their forces here to their highest alert for three years, increasing surveillance flights and satellite reconnaissance to counter what officials termed a "grave threat."'

Washington Post, 28 May 09, by Ariana Eunjung Cha and Glenn Kessler
Anger May Help Bring New U.N. Sanctions
'China's leaders have shown their anger over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests this week through unusually critical statements and harsh coverage in China's state media. Now, U.S. officials hope the sharp rhetoric will translate into support in the U.N. Security Council for new sanctions on North Korea.'

Washington Post, 27 May 09, by Blaine Harden
More Repercussions From N. Korean Blast
'Diplomatic aftershocks from North Korea's latest nuclear test are jangling nerves and changing policies across northeast Asia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 May 09, by Donald Kirk
North Korea lashes out at global effort to contain its nuclear program
'Pyongyang attacked South Korea's decision to join a partnership meant to block shipments of nuclear materiel.'

New York Times, 27 May 09, by Martin Fackler
S. Koreans Express Fatigue With a Recalcitrant North
'After years of hope that relations with the North would thaw if the South tried to coax it into engagement, regional experts and others speak of growing disenchantment.'

Christian Science Monitor, 26 May 09, by Donald Kirk
Death of former South Korean leader prompts deeper look at reconciliation with North
'President Lee has reversed the softer approach of his predecessor, Roh Moo Hyun, who committed suicide over the weekend.'

NPR, 22 May 09
Sri Lankan Officials Kill Rebel Leader, End Civil War
[audio] 'Sri Lanka's civil war appears to have ended. Earlier this week the Sri Lankan government announced it had killed the leader of the rebel group the Tamil Tigers. This ended their decades-long pursuit of an independent nation for the country's Tamil population.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 May 09, by Simon Montlake
Sri Lankan civilians trapped by Tamil Tigers 'last stand'
'As the fighting has shrunk to a three-square mile strip of rebel-held land, Sri Lanka's military has framed its offensive as the world's "largest hostage rescue mission."'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 May 09, by Bikash Sangraula
Nepal's Maoists lose support over Army chief's sacking
'Prime Minister Prachanda resigned Monday after coalition partners and the president opposed the move.'

New York Times, 29 Apr 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
N. Korea Issues Threat on Uranium
'North Korea said Wednesday that it would start a uranium enrichment program, declaring for the first time that it intended to pursue a second project unless the United Nations lifted sanctions.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr 09, by Simon Montlake
Sri Lanka rejects growing calls for cease-fire
'French and British envoys Wednesday urged a halt to fighting as concerns deepen about 50,000 trapped civilians.'

New York Times, 29 Apr 09, by Thomas Fuller
Europeans Fail to Get Sri Lanka Truce
'One of the highest-level European delegations to visit this war-torn country in years failed Wednesday to persuade the Sri Lankan government to declare a temporary truce with ethnic Tamil rebels.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Apr 09, by Mian Ridge
How will Sri Lanka reconcile after a bitter war?
'The campaign against the Tamil Tigers appears to be ending. But deep ethnic divides behind the conflict remain.'

Asia Times, 30 Apr 09, by Brian McCartan
Insurgents defy Thai military surge
'A new wave of deadly violence has swept through Thailand's restive south, with arson attacks, roadside bombs and ambushes on military patrols killing some 12 soldiers and civilians. A coordinated offensive, the attacks ... come just as the army was claiming a troop surge had "dramatically improved" the situation.'

New York Times, 23 Apr 09, by Somini Sengupta and Mark McDonald
Sri Lanka Says Rebels Continue to Fight
'Sri Lanka said Thursday that its soldiers were running into "dwindling but constant resistance" from Tamil Tiger rebels, one day after the United States accused the government of causing "untold suffering" among civilians in its final push to win a 25-year-old conflict with Tamil separatists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Apr 09, by Tom A. Peter
Sri Lanka: Is this the 'endgame' for the conflict with Tamil Tigers?
'The government says the war is in its last stages, as thousands of civilians remain trapped in the conflict zone.'

New York Times, 21 Apr 09, by Edward Wong
Naval Show to Feature Submarines From China
'A senior Chinese naval officer said that China would unveil its nuclear submarines to the public on Thursday as part of an international review of the country's naval fleet "aimed at promoting understanding about China's military development," according to a report by Xinhua, the state news agency.'

Reuters, 15 Apr 09, by Chris Buckley
Analysis: China plays guarded hand against North Korea threats
'China's muted response to North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship reflects the dilemmas dogging Beijing as it seeks to coax Pyongyang back to disarmament talks while fearing for the health of Kim Jong-il and his regime.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Apr 09, by Simon Montlake
Thai turmoil escalates as troops hit streets
'Security forces were mobilized for the first time since 2006 and a state of emergency declared in Bangkok after protesters disrupted a weekend Asian summit.'

Washington Post, 15 Apr 09, by Blaine Harden
N. Korea's Defiant Tone Masks Problems Restarting Nuclear Program
'Despite its defiant vow to restart a plant that makes plutonium, North Korea's capacity to add to its small nuclear arsenal is limited by aging technology and by machinery that was disabled as part of a disarmament deal.'

Asia Times, 16 Apr 09, by Jian Junbo
China wary of US-Myanmar 'detente'
'Attempts by the United States to regain influence in Myanmar will inevitably pose a threat to China, which has taken advantage of past US hostility to the isolationist state to cultivate deep economic and political ties. The power balance in Southeast Asia could also be upset, leading to conflict reminiscent of darker days.'

Asia Times, 15 Apr 09, by Donald Kirk
Seoul strikes back at Pyongyang
'South Korea has responded to the North's provocative decision to resume fabricating nuclear weapons by joining the international initiative to stop nations from dealing in weapons of mass destruction. This gives Seoul the right to interdict North Korean vessels on the high seas - a move that would inevitably provoke a flare-up.'

Asia Times, 14 Apr 09, by Shawn W Crispin
A battle won in Thailand's 'war'
'The red-shirted supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship have been driven from the streets of Bangkok after several days of chaos in which they brought the capital to a standstill. The threat remains, though, of their "final showdown" with the forces of the aristocracy and the establishment, with serious implications for Thailand's battered and bruised democracy.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Apr 09, by Donald Kirk
North Korea used dummy satellite, South Korean experts say
'Their assertion boosts US view that Pyongyang used Sunday's launch to develop long-range missile technology, not to explore space.'

Wall Street Journal, 05 Apr 09, by John Murphy and Yumiko Ono
Japanese Pacifism Is Put to the Test
'The threat posed by North Korea's advances in rocket technology, as demonstrated by its missile launch Sunday, could strengthen the case for Japan to increase its military capabilities.'

New York Times, 05 Apr 09, by William J. Broad
North Korean Missile Launch Was a Failure, Experts Say
'North Korea failed in its highly vaunted effort to fire a satellite into orbit, military and private experts said Sunday after reviewing detailed tracking data that showed the missile and payload fell into the sea. Some said the failure undercut the North Korean campaign to come across as a fearsome adversary able to hurl deadly warheads halfway around the globe.'

New York Times, 06 Apr 09, by Choe Sang-Hun, Helene Cooper and David E. Sanger
North Korea Seeks Political Gain from Rocket Launch
'Officials and analysts in Seoul said the North's rocket, identified by American officials as a Taepodong-2, flew at least 2,000 miles, doubling the range of an earlier rocket it tested in 1998 and boosting its potential to fire a long-range missile.'

New York Times, 06 Apr 09, by Mark McDonald
Fighting Intensifies in Sri Lanka
'The government of Sri Lanka and ethnic Tamil fighters ignored a call by the secretary general of the United Nations for a cease-fire in their ongoing war Monday as soldiers battled guerrillas in hand-to-hand fighting inside a so-called safety zone that had been set up as a haven for civilians.'

New York Times, 08 Apr 09, by Somini Sengupta
In India, U.S. Envoy Cites 'Common Threat'
'A senior American envoy sought Wednesday to forge common cause among India, Pakistan and the United States — three countries with a long legacy of ambivalence and animosity among them — saying that their national security interests were endangered by the intensifying threat of the Taliban and other extremist groups.'

New York Times, 08 Apr 09, by Peter Gelling
Democracy in Indonesia: The Next Test
'... in the northernmost province of Aceh, ... attacks on supporters of the leading local party and mutual suspicion between former independence fighters and the military are threatening a still fragile peace.'

BBC News, 02 Apr 09
N Korea warned over rocket launch
'US President Barack Obama and his South Korean counterpart have agreed a "stern, united response" must follow any rocket launch by North Korea.'

New York Times, 01 Apr 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea Threatens to Down U.S. Surveillance Planes
'Escalating its anti-foreign vitriol, North Korea threatened on Wednesday to shoot down American military planes it said were spying on the site of its impending rocket launching.'

New York Times, 27 Mar 09, by Hiroko Tabuchi
Japan Readies Missile Interceptors
'Japan, South Korea and the United States suspect the [North Korean] launching is a cover for a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the Taepodong-2. In response, Japan will deploy missile interceptors and dispatch two warships to the waters between it and the Korean Peninsula, said the Japanese defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada.'

Washington Post, 02 Apr 09, by Tim Johnston
Thai Administration Reaches Out to Foe
'Protesters Force Government's Hand'

New York Times, 30 Mar 09, by Thom Shanker and Choe Sang-Hun
No U.S. Plans to Stop Korea on Missile Test
'The United States has no plans for military action to pre-empt the launching of a long-range missile by North Korea and would act only if the missile or its parts appeared to be headed toward American territory, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Sunday.'

Washington Post/AP, 26 Mar 09, by Tini Tran, AP
China criticizes new US report on its military
'A U.S. Defense Department report released in Washington - the first under the Obama administration - said Beijing's rapidly growing military strength is shifting the military balance in the region and could be used to enforce its claim in disputed territories.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Mar 09, by Thom Shanker
U.S. sees Chinese military rise, and a need for more contact
'China is seeking technology and weapons to disrupt the traditional advantages of American forces, and secrecy surrounding its military creates the potential for miscalculation on both sides, according to a Pentagon study released Wednesday.'

International Herald Tribune, 25 Mar 09, by Peter Gelling
Unease in Papua over leader's return
'Tensions in Indonesia's last remaining flash point of separatist politics have been stoked by the return of Nicolas Jouwe, the founder of the resource-rich area's independence movement.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Mar 09, by Choe SangHun
Pyongyang warns U.S. against sanctions for launch
'North Korea said Tuesday that if the United States pushed for U.N. sanctions in response to its planned rocket launch, it would quit the stalled six-nation talks on ending its nuclear weapons program.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Mar 09, by Eric Talmadge, AP
Cautiously, Japanese military extends its reach
'The political leadership and military planners — with the blessing of the United States, their nation's closest ally — are cautiously moving the military away from its longtime role as a stay-at-home force, thanks largely to a pacifist Constitution written by U.S. occupiers to keep Japan from rearming after World War II. The new stance, while still centered on national defense, allows troops to be sent all over the world for a broad range of operations.'

International Herald Tribune, 19 Mar 09, by Seth Mydans
Fate of Tamil chief at center as Sri Lanka seeks victory
'Will his soldiers continue to fight with the same savage determination, and will the insurgency regroup and revert to hit-and-run terrorism once its main force is destroyed? Without Prabhakaran, some analysts say, his rebellion may collapse. Or perhaps he might be seen as a martyr and rallying cry for further insurgency.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar 09, by Simon Montlake
Sri Lanka: dispute over how to help civilians in war zone
'Caution is guiding the international response as fighting intensifies between the government and the rebels.'

Federation of American Scientists, 10 Mar 09, by Hans M. Kristensen
US-Chinese Anti-Submarine Cat and Mouse Game in South China Sea
'The incident that unfolded in the South China Sea Sunday, where the U.S. Navy says five Chinese ships harassed the U.S. submarine surveillance vessel USNS Impeccable, appears to be part of a wider and dangerous cat and mouse game between U.S. and Chinese submarines and their hunters.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Mar 09, by Mark Mcdonald
U.S. navy provoked South China Sea incident, China says
'China lashed out Tuesday at the United States, accusing a U.S. Navy ship of violating international law during a tense confrontation near a secret Chinese submarine base. The Pentagon said five Chinese vessels blocked and surrounded a U.S. surveillance ship, the Impeccable, in international waters on Sunday.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Mar 09, by Thom Shanker
China harassed U.S. ship, Pentagon says
'The United States has lodged a formal protest with the government in Beijing. saying five Chinese ships harassed an American surveillance vessel in international waters, in actions the Pentagon described as illegal, unprofessional and dangerous.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Mar 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
As war games begin, North Korea issues threat
'As thousands of U.S. Marines poured into South Korea on Monday to open an annual joint military exercise, North Korea warned that it would attack the United States, Japan and South Korea if they tried to shoot down a satellite it says it plans to launch.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Mar 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea indicates April satellite launch
'North Korea told international aviation authorities that it would launch a satellite in early April, firing a rocket that can also be used to deliver a warhead as far as the American mainland, according to the North's official media.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Mar 09, by Edward Wong
Dalai Lama assails China one year after uprising
'The Chinese government, fearing civil unrest among six million Tibetans, has locked down the vast area, which encompasses up to a quarter of China, by sending in thousands of troops over the last few weeks and cutting off cellphone and Internet services in some locations. An unofficial state of martial law now exists, with soldiers and police officers operating checkpoints, marching through streets and checking people for identification cards.'

Christian Science Monitor, 06 Mar 09, by Simon Montlake
How US 'war on terror' emboldened Sri Lanka's
'After a massive buildup of troops and equipment, Sri Lanka appears on the verge of victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. If successful, It will have succeeded where others in the region, such as India and Pakistan, have failed in putting down an armed rebellion by force.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 05 Mar 09, by Ben Blanchard
China says ready to talk peace with Taiwan
'China Premier Wen Jiabao made a new overture to Taiwan on Thursday, saying Beijing was ready to create the conditions needed to reach a peace agreement with the neighbouring self-ruled island China claims as its own. China was also willing to hold talks with Taiwan on military issues, Wen said in the text of a speech given to parliament.'

BBC News, 05 Mar 09
N Korea threatens civilian planes
'North Korea has said it cannot ensure the safety of South Korean civilian flights passing near its airspace over the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The comment comes ahead of a joint South Korean-US military exercise, which Pyongyang says is preparation for an invasion of the communist state. Washington and Seoul say the annual drill is for purely defence purposes.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Mar 09, by Edward Wong
50 years after revolt, clampdown on Tibetans
'... the authorities have imposed an unofficial state of martial law on the vast highlands where ethnic Tibetans live, with thousands of troops occupying areas they fear could erupt in renewed rioting on a momentous anniversary next week. And Beijing is determined to keep foreigners from seeing the mass deployment.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Mar 09, by Simon Montlake
Sri Lanka: If war ends, can a divided nation heal?
'Many see the Army's all-out fight as the only way to defeat Tamil rebels. But ending a cycle of ethnic conflict in the country may prove harder than a military victory.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Mar 09, by David Montero
Bangladesh: mutiny dealt serious blow to country's security
'Prime Minister Hasina revoked an amnesty for rebel soldiers as the Army announced Sunday that it was deploying across the country to apprehend fugitives.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Feb 09, by Julfikar Ali Manik and Somini Sengupta
Mutiny spreads across Bangladesh
'A mutiny by paramilitary guards spread from the heart of this congested capital to towns across Bangladesh on Thursday as the prime minister pleaded for citizens to remain calm.'

Washington Post, 26 Feb 09, by Emily Wax
Violence Breaks Out Along Bangladesh's Frontiers
'Gunfire reported a day after border guards mutinied in capital, surrendered in exchange for amnesty.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Feb 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea says it will put satellite into orbit
'North Korea announced on Tuesday that it was preparing to shoot a satellite into orbit, in a launching that U.S. and South Korean officials have said would be a provocative test of the North's longest-range missile.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Feb 09, by Mark McDonald
Sri Lankan rebels offer conditional truce
'With their guerrilla fighters pinned down by Sri Lankan troops in a small patch of jungle, ethnic Tamil separatists announced Monday that they were willing to accept an internationally brokered cease-fire, although they said they would not surrender their weapons as part of any truce.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Feb 09, by Mark Landler
Clinton warns North Korea on missiles
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in her first full day on a weeklong tour of Asia, warned North Korea on Tuesday not to undertake a test of a long-range missile, as it has threatened.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Feb 09, by Dune Lawrence, Bloomberg News
China pushes 'soft power'
'Hu's "peaceful development" strategy - the pillar of foreign policy since he took power in 2003 - reflects an attempt to overcome lingering image problems created by the Tiananmen Square crackdown on student demonstrators in 1989. It's also meant to neutralize perceptions of China as a military threat, spurred by territorial aggression in the South China Sea in the 1990s and defense spending that rose an average of 15.9 percent a year between 1998 and 2007, according to the Chinese government.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Feb 09, by Mark Landler
New U.S. approach to China not just economic
'With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton scheduled to visit Beijing next week as part of her first foreign trip as secretary of state, the administration is said to believe that a broader relationship with the Chinese could create opportunities for collaboration, not only on a response to the global economic crisis, but also on the environment and on security issues like the North Korean and Iranian nuclear programs.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Feb 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea stirs missile worries
'North Korea has launched missiles in the past to win political or economic concessions. In recent weeks, it has said that its military had assumed an "all-out confrontational posture" and that it had scrapped all nonaggression pacts with South Korea.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 04 Feb 09
New sanctions prolong Bush arms policy
'The United States said it had imposed sanctions on companies in North Korea, China and Iran for violating U.S. law aimed at stopping the spread of missiles and other weapons technology.'

Washington Post, 05 Feb 09, by Emily Wax
Sri Lankan Leader Says Tamil Rebels Nearly Defeated
'Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa proclaimed Wednesday that the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam would be "completely defeated in a few days," potentially signaling an end to a 25-year insurgency that is one of the world's longest ongoing conflicts.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan 09, by Simon Montlake
Sri Lanka nears victory in long war with Tamil Tigers
'The Army has squeezed the rebels into a small patch of jungle since seizing their last major stronghold Sunday. But they could still mount a messy counterinsurgency.'

International Herald Tribune, 20 Jan 09, by Edward Wong
China hardens rhetoric on Tibet, Taiwan and U.S.
'The Chinese government announced Tuesday that the nation faced important threats in the form of independence movements related to Taiwan, Tibet and the western desert region of Xinjiang, and that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan continued to jeopardize stability in Asia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan 09, by Simon Montlake
Fighting threatens Sri Lankan civilians
'Humanitarian concerns are mounting as government forces bear down on rebel areas.'

Wall Street Journal, 13 Jan 09, by Krishna Pokharel
Attacks Stir Another India-Pakistan Border Dispute
'In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, India has canceled talks aimed at solving a long-running border dispute with Pakistan -- not in Kashmir, but in the teeming fishing waters of Sir Creek, which divides the two South Asian nations in the Arabian Sea.'

International Herald Tribune, 15 Jan 09, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea maintains its tough stance
'In what appears to be its first official message to the incoming Obama administration, North Korea has demanded that the United States normalize relations with it before the North abandons nuclear weapons.'

BBC News, 08 Jan 09
India-US 'missile shield talks'
'India has been holding initial talks with the US over the possible purchase of a missile defence shield system, the UK's Financial Times has reported.'

2008 Asia and the Pacific archive
2007 Asia and the Pacific archive