ASIA & THE PACIFIC ARCHIVE :

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BBC News, 31 Dec 08
China suggests talks with Taiwan
'President Hu Jintao of China has called for talks with Taiwanese leaders to ease military and security tensions.'

Christian Science Monitor, 31 Dec 08, by Anuj Chopra
Hasina (and democracy) return to Bangladesh
'This week's election ended two years of rule by a military-backed caretaker government.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec 08, by
Why Al Qaeda isn't gaining a foothold in Cambodia
'The post-Khmer Rouge nation is a portrait of tolerance for Muslims, but the US worries that this could change.'

International Herald Tribune, 29 Dec 08, by Somini Sengupta
No easy Indian response to Pakistan's troop shift
'Pakistan's redeployment of troops late last week to its border with India, from its tribal areas in the northwest, raised fears. ... Fear of a conflict in South Asia is unlikely to pass quickly, as Pakistan has resisted a broad crackdown on the militants India says were behind the Mumbai assault.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Dec 08, by Edward Wong
China signals further interest in aircraft carrier
'In the clearest indication yet that China could soon begin building its first aircraft carrier, a military Ministry spokesman said Tuesday that the country was seriously considering "relevant issues" in making its decision about whether to move ahead with the project, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.'

BBC News, 11 Dec 08
India announces security overhaul
'The Indian government has announced a number of steps to strengthen internal security after the Mumbai attacks.'

International Herald Tribune, 30 Nov 08, by Mark Mazzetti and Peter Baker
Can U.S. prevent an Indian military response to Mumbai attacks?
'As evidence mounts that the Mumbai attacks may have originated on Pakistani soil, U.S. officials' aggressive campaign to strike at militants in Pakistan may complicate their efforts to prevent an Indian military response, which could lead to all-out war between the nuclear-armed enemies.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 02 Dec 08
Fear grows in Kashmir in aftermath of Mumbai attacks
'When India blamed "elements" in Pakistan for the attacks in Mumbai last week, fear gripped Kashmir, the region that has been the front line of the two countries's rivalry and strife for over 60 years. There has been no unusual activity or heightened troop movement in recent days along the Line of Control that divides the disputed region between the nuclear-armed rivals. But Pakistan has said it may move forces from operations on the Afghan border, where it is fighting Al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents, to the Indian border if relations worsen.'

Haaretz/Reuters, 02 Dec 08
Indian navy: 'Systemic failure' led to Mumbai terror attacks
'The Indian navy said a "systemic failure" of security and intelligence services led to the Islamist militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 183 people, PTI news agency reported on Tuesday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov 08, by Arthur Bright
India: Who are the militants who attacked Mumbai?
'As Indian commandos finish their operations against the gunmen who killed at least 143 people, focus turns to the assailants' identity.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Dec 08, by Simon Montlake
Airport clash grounds Thailand
The tug of war is stranding tourists and raising fears of escalating violence. The military denies rumors of an imminent coup, while the king remains silent.

Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov 08, by Mark Sappenfield
Signs of thaw in bitter South Asian dispute
'Renewed trade across Kashmir's so-called Line of Control (LoC) – the 450-mile ribbon of Himalayan frontier that splits Kashmir and is lined on either side by nearly 1 million troops – is the most dramatic example of a gradual strengthening of economic ties between India and Pakistan. It is part of a broader trend.'

International Herald Tribune, 20 Nov 08, by Choe Sang-Hun
Latest threats may mean North Korea wants to talk
'All in all, the North's actions seemed to point not only to the end of the sunshine policy but also to a dangerous disintegration of relations. But longtime North Korea watchers see it much differently, saying that the moves fit a familiar and consistent pattern, and that they may even signal an upturn in relations with the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 18 Nov 08, by Andrew Jacobs
General hints China's navy may add carrier
'A high-ranking Chinese military official has hinted that China's fast-growing navy is seeking to acquire an aircraft carrier, a move that would surely stoke tensions with the United States military and its allies in Asia.'

The New York Post, 12 Nov 08, by Peter Brookes
China's Cyber Spies
'China's hacker army is also targeting American industry for espionage, especially the defense industry, where new weapons systems and top-of-the-line defense technology are at the center of the bull's eye.'

The Washington Post, 07 Nov 08, by Jane Rickards
In Milestone, Taiwan's President Meets Key Chinese Envoy
'The historic meeting was a sign of detente in one of Asia's longest-running disputes. Military tensions have run high since 1949, when the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek lost the Chinese civil war and fled to Taiwan. Beijing has since insisted that Taiwan is a renegade province, to be brought under Chinese control by military force if necessary.'

International Herald Tribune, 28 Oct 08, by Peter Gelling
Reform keeps Indonesian military in check
'By all accounts, the Indonesian military of today looks very different from the one presided over by Suharto, Indonesia's former ruler, who used it during his 32 years in power to quell dissent and extend control throughout this sprawling archipelago.'

Reuters, 21 Oct 08
Sri Lanka pushes war ahead despite Indian pressure
'Sri Lankan troops advanced deeper into areas held by the rebel Tamil Tigers ... And with diplomatic pressure mounting from New Delhi since last week, officials said Sri Lanka's government was planning trips to India and Pakistan to shore up support for a war it is increasingly certain it can win.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Oct 08, by Sabrina Tavernise
Azerbaijan finds itself in a geopolitical pinch
'This oil-rich country on the Caspian Sea has balanced the interests of Russia and the United States since the 1990s. But the Russo-Georgian war has changed the playing field.'

International Herald Tribune, 23 Oct 08, by Anand Giridharadas
Want to be heard in India? You'd better form a militia
'Political theorists define sovereignty simply. What separates Jordan from Lebanon is a state monopoly on force. In sovereign countries, militias do not decide who drives taxis and doesn't, who is fired and isn't. If this is the definition, it is difficult to call India wholly sovereign today.'

Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct 08, by Donald Kirk
North Korea allows back nuclear inspectors
'North Korea has agreed to allow United Nations inspectors back into its main nuclear complex at Yongbyon, in response to the United States' decision to remove the North from its list of states sponsoring terrorism.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 07 Oct 08
China rebuffs United States over Taiwan arms deal
'China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned multibillion-dollar U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, American officials said.'

Washington Post, 10 Oct 08, by Tim Johnston
Clashes in Thailand Further Divide Nation
'When Thailand's political stalemate erupted into open conflict this week, government opponents had hoped for a decisive battle. But the country is now even more divided and further than ever from a solution.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Oct 08, by Helene Cooper
North Korea presses U.S. on nuclear deal
'North Korea on Thursday increased pressure on the Bush administration to conclude a deal on dismantling the country's plutonium program, barring international inspectors from the entirety of its Yongbyon nuclear complex and announcing that it was preparing to restart the facility.'

International Herald Tribune, 08 Oct 08, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea reportedly tests short-range missiles
'North Korea fired short-range missiles off the country's western coast this week, South Korean media reported Wednesday, a move that comes amid tensions raised by its efforts to reassemble part of its nuclear facilities.'

International Herald Tribune, 08 Oct 08, by Thomas Fuller
Malaysia's leader to step down as party loses clout
'Malaysia's prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said Wednesday that he would step down in March, paving the way for his anointed successor to take control of a governing party that is losing its grip after five decades in power.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Oct 08, by Choe Sang-Hun
Hill returns to North Korea to salvage nuclear deal
'Washington's chief nuclear negotiator arrived in North Korea on Wednesday to try to keep the regime from reactivating its nuclear weapons program, while a news report said Pyongyang might be restoring a nuclear test site as well.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Sep 08, by Jonathan Adams
Sri Lanka claims it's closing in on Tamil Tiger stronghold
'Amid fierce fighting in recent days, the military says it will soon take the rebel base and, within months, end one of Asia's longest-running conflicts.'

BBC News, 23 Sep 08
Asean delivers rare Burma rebuke
'South East Asian nations have issued their strongest rebuke ever to Burma's military rulers, as their annual meeting opens in Singapore. ... the organisation called for Burma's generals to hold "meaningful dialogue" with opposition figures. Burma's rulers have shown few signs of opening up since joining Asean in 1997.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep 08, by Anand Gopal
Burma's Secret Schools of Dissent
'Monks teach children critical thinking and human rights, to groom the next generation of activists.' (Part 3 of three.)

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International Herald Tribune, 06 Aug 08, by Jim Yardley
China's leaders are resilient in face of change
'As Beijing was starting construction on its main Olympic stadiums four years ago, China's vice president and leading political fixer, Zeng Qinghong, warned the 70 million members of the ruling Communist Party that the party itself could use some reconstruction.'

Asia Times, 07 Aug 08, by Shawn W Crispin
US, Thailand: A conflicted alliance
'President George W Bush's farewell address to Asia was made symbolically in Thailand, where he heaped praise on the kingdom as his country's oldest Asian ally. Unaddressed was speculation from supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that Washington has backed the Thai military and put strategic interests before commitment to democracy.'

International Herald Tribune, 06 Aug 08, by Edward Wong
Town in China returns to normal a day after attack kills 16
'China portrayed the ambush of a military police unit as an act of terrorism and said the culprits were members of a group they contend has links to Al Qaeda.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Aug 08, by Simon Montlake
Philippines' peace accord blocked
'The Supreme Court prevented the signing of a territorial accord between the state and MILF, a rebel group, Monday. Opponents had called the deal unconstitutional.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Aug 08, by Edward Wong
China eases tensions with Japan and Taiwan
'... when the Japanese Navy made its first Chinese port call since World War II and a Chinese charter plane ferried mainland tourists to neighboring Taiwan this summer, they were symbols not of China's dangerous rivalries, but of the diplomacy that President Hu Jintao has used to defuse them.'

International Herald Tribune, 06 Aug 08, by Seth Mydans
Exiles to ask Bush to engage Myanmar's generals
'Friday is the anniversary of a huge popular uprising, on Aug. 8, 1988, that was crushed by soldiers at the cost of some 3,000 lives, leaving the country in the grip of a military junta and setting the course of Myanmar's history ever since - and very likely well into the future.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Jul 08, by Jonathan Adams
Delay in U.S. arms sale to Taiwan stirs concerns
Taiwanese officials maintain the postponement is motivated by a US desire to secure China's cooperation in tackling North Korea and Iran.

International Herald Tribune/AP, 10 Jul 08
US welcomes India-IAEA nuclear oversight agreement; critics warn that India put in loopholes
'The draft notes that India "may take corrective measures to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear reactors in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies." The phrasing appears to open the door for India to end IAEA oversight of some facilities, potentially using the plants to manufacture not fuel but fissile weapons material.'

New York Times, 09 Jul 08, by Somini Sengupta
India's Nuclear Pact With U.S. Near Completion
'A day after India’s prime minister left for the Group of 8 summit meeting in Japan with his government intact and enough political strength to seal a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, his Communist backers announced Tuesday that they would withdraw their support of his government, ending months of political strain and allowing the government to advance its negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.'

Xinhua, 10 Jul 08
China concerned over Iranian missile tests
'China was concerned over Iran's missile tests and hoped relevant parties would take measures "conducive" to the situation in the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.'

Asia Times, 10 Jul 08, by Ian Storey
Thai massage for China's military muscle
'Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's four-day visit to China last week was another indication of the cozy Sino-Thai military-security relationship. But Bangkok is still trying to balance the interests and influence of two superpowers; keeping its military alliance with the US well lubricated while at the same time expanding defense ties with China.'

Reuters, 08 Jul 08
New round and old questions for N. Korea nuclear talks
'Five regional powers will hold talks with North Korea from Thursday on ending its atomic weapons plans and verifying an account the secretive state gave in June of its nuclear programmes, officials said on Tuesday.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Jul 08, by Jim Yardley
Tibet talks resume, but with few hopes for breakthrough
'Chinese officials and senior envoys of the Dalai Lama opened their latest round of negotiations over Tibet on Tuesday amid international pressure for a breakthrough less than six weeks before Beijing is host to the Olympic Games.'

New York Times, 01 Jul 08, by Somini Sengupta
India Leader Struggles to Complete Nuclear Deal
'The Indian government is desperately trying to salvage a landmark nuclear deal with the United States that has emerged not only as a personal test for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but also as a symbol of the difficulties of enacting policy in India’s system of coalition politics.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Jul 08, by Jake Hooker
Unearthed in quake: Flaws in Chinese military capability
'... China's broadest deployment of its armed forces since it fought a border war with Vietnam in 1979 ... offered analysts the best chance since the nation's rising economy starting pumping tens of billions of dollars into the military to assess the Chinese military's performance in a crisis. The army got good marks for public relations domestically, but left some veteran PLA-watchers underwhelmed.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Jul 08, by Simon Montlake
Trouble brews in two Asian democracies
'Newly elected leaders in Thailand and Malaysia face mounting domestic discontent.'

Bloomberg, 26 Jun 08, by William Sim and Janine Zacharia
North Korea Submits Nuclear List Required by Accord
'The Bush administration will now move to remove Kim Jong Il's regime from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, and will lift measures taken against North Korea under the Trading with the Enemy Act, which restricts U.S. trade and financial transactions, officials said.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Jun 08, by Heather Timmons
Impasse in India on nuclear pact with the U.S.
'India's governing party and its communist allies failed again to agree on the terms of a nuclear agreement with the United States on Wednesday, dimming prospects for the deal.'

The Hindu, 23 Jun 08, by P.S. Suryanarayana
Australia willing to 'consider' India's civil nuclear agreement with the U.S.
'India and Australia on Monday reaffirmed their "strong support" for non-proliferation, while Canberra expressed its willingness to "consider," if and when needed, New Delhi's civil nuclear energy accord with the United States.'

New York Times, 13 Jun 08, by Ed Wong and Alan Cowell
Taiwan and China Hold Formal Talks
'For the first time in nine years, representatives of China and Taiwan met formally Thursday in what Chinese officials depicted as a "glorious mission" to overcome hostilities dating to the break between them in 1949.'

Asia Times, 09 Jun 08, by Sudha Ramachandran
Fighting dirty in Sri Lanka
'The spike in violence in Sri Lanka indicates increasing desperation for both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the government forces trying to eradicate them. Colombo, unable to steer the outcome of events on the battlefield in its favor, is opting for the next best thing: silencing the messenger.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Jun 08, by Simon Montlake
Thailand faces revived protests
'Weeklong antigovernment rallies have raised concerns of a second coup in two years.'

New York Times, 04 Jun 08, by Jeff Z. Klein
The Starting Line: The Tiananmen Square Protests, 19 Years Later
'Today is the 19th anniversary of the crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests.'

International Herald Tribune, 29 May 08, by Somini Sengupta
Nepal reborn as a republic
'Nepal was reborn as a republic as a newly elected assembly voted to abolish the monarchy of King Gyanendra, the world's last Hindu monarch.'

Asia Times, 28 May 08, by Drew Thompson
China's army looks beyond its shores
'The United States, India and Japan have softened perceptions of their might by making humanitarian assistance abroad a central role for their military forces in the Asia-Pacific region. China's People's Liberation Army has been much more circumspect in this regard. But that could change as Beijing weighs up the positives of foreign intervention.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 08, by Christopher Johnson
How hard will neighbors push Burma (Myanmar)?
'With Western naval ships loaded with aid waiting at their door, and visiting UN diplomats demanding faster rescue and relief, Burma (Myanmar) agreed to accept more foreign aid from its neighbors at Monday's emergency meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 21 May 08
China a growing threat in space and cyberspace, U.S. military says
'The U.S. military said that China poses a growing threat to the United States and others in space and cyberspace. China is "aggressively" honing its ability to shoot down satellites, along with other space and counter-space capabilities, Brigadier General Jeffrey Horne of the U.S. Strategic Command said Tuesday.'

International Herald Tribune, 22 May 08, by Elisabeth Rosenthal
In ravaging China, quake pushes Tibet to the sidelines
'Tibetan opponents of Beijing are struggling to compete with China's growing diplomatic and economic clout worldwide.'

BBC News, 22 May 08
China looks to closer Taiwan ties
'China and Taiwan are working to resume dialogue and have a rare opportunity to improve relations, a senior Chinese official has said.'

International Herald Tribune, 13 May 08, by Andrew Jacobs
China's quake response is unusually open
'With images of the calamitous cyclone in Myanmar still fresh - and the authoritarian government's lackadasical response earning it international scorn - Wen and his fellow Communist Party leaders are keenly aware that their approach to the earthquake will be closely watched, at home and abroad.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 08, by Christopher Johnson
Burma's neighbors step in
'The junta ruling Burma appears more open to Asian aid than to Western.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 May 08
Junta is stealing aid, relief groups assert
'... the directors of several relief organizations in Myanmar said Wednesday that some of the international aid coming into the country for the victims of Cyclone Nargis was being stolen, diverted or warehoused by the military.'

International Herald Tribune, 13 May 08
Myanmar aid trickles in, but generals uphold restrictions
'Aid continued to arrive in Myanmar on Tuesday - a darkly clouded and rainy day here and in the south - but international aid experts and diplomats in the capital expressed concern that the government was not up to the task of delivering the aid effectively.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 08, by Mian Ridge
Indian bombings fit pattern of efforts to foment interreligious strife
'Seven synchronized bombs exploded in the city of Jaipur Tuesday evening.'

New York Times, 08 May 08, by Seth Mydans
A Reclusive Government, Forced to Ask for Help
'In opening its doors to international disaster relief, Myanmar’s military government is breaching a wall of isolation it has built around itself over nearly half a century.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 May 08, by David Montero
Disaster may loosen junta's grip in Burma (Myanmar)
'A May 10 poll could underscore how unpopular the regime is, as it slowly opens to foreign aid.'

International Herald Tribune, 08 May 08, by Jonathan Adams
In battle with China for allies, Taiwan resorts to riskier tactics
'A scandal here over a bungled Taiwan attempt to forge official ties with Papua New Guinea has thrown a spotlight on the long-running, shadowy war between China and Taiwan for allies.'

New York Times, 08 May 08, by Martin Fackler
In His Visit to Japan, China Leader Seeks Amity
'The leaders of China and Japan pledged Wednesday to make their nations partners instead of rivals as the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, began a good-will mission to Tokyo aimed at improving often tense relations between the Asian powers.'

International Herald Tribune, 29 Apr 08, by Somini Sengupta and Heather Timmons
Iranian president's visit will test India
'The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ... brought the Indian government a strange boon: a chance to show that it is willing to buck pressure from the White House and shake hands with a man Washington reviles.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Apr 08, by David E. Sanger
Risk to Pyongyang deal seen in U.S. release of Syria nuclear evidence
'The timing of the administration's decision to declassify information about the Syrian project has raised widespread suspicions, especially in the State Department, that Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration hawks were hoping that releasing it might undermine a potential deal with North Korea that would take Pyongyang off a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.'

Washington Post, 20 Apr 08, by Dan Eggen
Bush, S. Korean President Suggest More Patience With Kim Jong Il
'President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged patience yesterday in nuclear talks with North Korea, arguing that recent concessions proposed by the United States could lead to tangible progress in stalled negotiations with Pyongyang.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr 08, by Mian Ridge
India: How will Maoist gains in Nepal shape two countries' ties?
'The Maoist party had a surprisingly strong showing in recent elections. India is worried about the impact on its own Maoist rebel movement, the Naxalites.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr 08, by Peter Ford
Amid human rights protests, a look at China's record
'Freedoms have improved tremendously in the past 25 years, but Chinese people today face plenty of red lines.'

BBC News, 03 Apr 08
Spat between two Koreas escalates
'North Korea has reportedly threatened "countermeasures" against South Korea, in a growing row between the nations.'

StrategyPage, 03 Apr 08
The Mauling At Mannar
'Sri Lanka remains the bloodiest conflict in the region, killing more people each week than the fighting in Pakistan or Afghanistan.'

Washington Post, 27 Mar 08, by Josh White and Glenn Kessler
Nuclear Parts To Taiwan : U.S. Initially Unconcerned About Erroneous Shipment
'After Taiwanese officials reported in early 2007 that four packages they had received from the U.S. military did not contain the helicopter batteries they had expected, U.S. officials suggested that Taiwan simply dispose of the incorrect items -- which turned out to be parts for U.S. nuclear missiles.'

Washington Post, 05 Mar 08, by Jill Drew
China's Military Budget Reported at $59 Billion
'Disclosure of plans for a $59 billion outlay in 2008 followed a Pentagon report Monday that raised questions about China's rapidly increasing military budget, and came less than three weeks before a presidential election in Taiwan, the self-governed island over which China claims sovereignty.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Mar 08, by David Lague
Russia and China rethink arms deals
'For almost two decades, it was close to the perfect match of buyer and seller. Denied weapons and defense technology from the West, China was almost totally reliant on Russia for the hardware it needed to jump-start an ambitious military buildup. And while the Russian economy teetered in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, huge orders from China helped keep a once-mighty defense industry afloat.'

International Herald Tribune, 28 Feb 08, by Mark Mazzetti and Somini Sengupta
U.S. and India to strengthen security ties
'With a landmark nuclear energy pact between the United States and India stalled, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that the nations would nonetheless strengthen their security ties as India looked to embark on a closer — and still contentious — level of military cooperation with the United States.'

International Herald Tribune, 25 Feb 08, by Mark Mazzetti
U.S. defense chief pledges to aid Indonesian military
'Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday pledged arms upgrades and other Pentagon support for Indonesia, as the Bush administration forges closer ties to a country's military still viewed skeptically by some in Congress for past human rights abuses.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Feb 08, by Simon Montlake
Thai leaders spar over autonomy for south
'The interior minister says it could calm the insurgency-racked south. Opponents see a step toward secession.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 Feb 08, by David Lague
China denies U.S. spying charges
'China denied Thursday that it was conducting espionage operations in the United States after the U.S. Justice Department accused four people this week of passing military secrets to the Chinese government.'

International Herald Tribune, 13 Feb 08, by Donald Greenlees
East Timor's road ahead is clouded by uncertainty
'The international military force in East Timor and the government there, along with UN officials, are facing questions about how the country's two top leaders were exposed to attack.'

Washington Post/AP, 14 Feb 08, by Oliver Teves, AP
Philippine President Said Target of Plot
'Authorities have uncovered alleged plots by al-Qaida-linked militants to assassinate the Philippine president and bomb foreign embassies, officials said Thursday.'

BBC News, 07 Feb 08
US resumes Thailand military aid
'The US has announced a resumption of military aid to Thailand, hours after a new democratically elected government was sworn in there.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Feb 08, by C.J. Chivers
U.S. policy shifts in Central Asia
'Democracy promotion is not gone. But it has taken its place in a wider portfolio of interests.'

International Herald Tribune, 29 Jan 08, by Eric Talmadge, AP
Japan and U.S. erect missile shield
'In a multibillion-dollar experiment, Japan and the United States are erecting the world's most complex ballistic missile defense shield, a project that is changing the security balance in Asia and has deep implications for Washington's efforts to pursue a similar strategy in Europe, where the idea has been stalled by the lack of willing partners.'

International Herald Tribune, 15 Jan 08, by Jim Yardley
China urged to explain military buildup
'China must be more transparent about its rapid military buildup and should expand military exchanges with the United States to develop greater mutual trust so that misunderstandings and confrontation can be prevented, the U.S. commander in the Pacific said Tuesday.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Jan 08, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea disputes arms accusations
'Rejecting Washington's demand for a more thorough account on whether it has tried to enrich uranium for atomic weapons, North Korea said Friday that it had already explained enough to the United States about its nuclear programs.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 03 Jan 08
Sri Lanka insists rebels disarm before further peace talks
'The Sri Lankan government said Thursday that the Tamil Tiger rebels must disarm before any future peace talks, a day after the authorities decided to withdraw from an internationally brokered cease-fire with the insurgents.'

International Herald Tribune, 02 Jan 08, by Steven R. Weisman
Doubts raised on sales of U.S. high-tech equipment to China
'Six months ago, the Bush administration quietly eased some restrictions on the export of politically delicate technologies to China. The new approach was intended to help U.S. companies increase sales of high-tech equipment to China despite tight curbs on sharing technology that might have military applications. But today the administration is facing questions from weapons experts about whether some equipment - newly authorized for export to Chinese companies deemed trustworthy by Washington - could instead end up helping China modernize its military.'

2007 Asia and the Pacific archive