ASIA & THE PACIFIC :

See also Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Donald Kirk
US-Vietnam ties strengthen with military exercises, to China's chagrin
'This week, the USS John McCain is engaged in military exercises in the South China Sea - setting a new threshold in US-Vietnam ties.'

Washington Post, 09 Aug 10, by John Pomfret
Concerned about China's rise, Southeast Asian nations build up militaries
'The nations of Southeast Asia are building up their militaries, buying submarines and jet fighters at a record pace and edging closer strategically to the United States as a hedge against China's rise and its claims to all of the South China Sea.'

Washington Post, 09 Aug 10, by Chico Harlan
Amid tensions with S. Korea, N. Korea fires artillery into the sea
'North Korea on Monday fired roughly 110 rounds of artillery into the sea off its west coast -- the latest fist-shaking response by leaders in Pyongyang to South Korea's massive military exercises.'

Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jul 10, by Donald Kirk
North Korea's threats over US-South Korea war games: Another bluff?
'US-South Korea war games got under way in the Sea of Japan today as a flotilla of 20 US and South Korean ships conducted the first of four days of military exercises as North Korea threatened nuclear deterrence.'

New York Times, 26 Jul 10, by Andrew Jacobs
China Warns U.S. to Stay Out of Islands Dispute
'The Chinese government reacted angrily on Monday to an announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that Washington might step into a long-simmering territorial dispute between China and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea.'

Christian Science Monitor, 14 Jul 10, by David Montero
Bangladesh arrests are opening act of war crimes tribunal
'Two leading Islamist politicians were arrested as Bangladesh prepares to hold a war crimes tribunal for those charged with committing mass murder during the country's liberation war from Pakistan in 1971. Observers worry this might incite violence.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Jul 10, by Donald Kirk
Why North Korea Cheonan sinking gets wrist slap from UN
'North Korea agreed to its first talks with the US in a year, and is signaling interest in restarting the six-party talks about nuclear disarmament.'

Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jul 10, by Ben Arnoldy
Kashmir intifada? New view of India, Pakistan territory dispute.
'Street violence gripping Kashmir is becoming known as the Kashmir intifada, in a nod to the earlier uprisings of Palestinian stone-throwing youths against Israeli forces.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Jun 10, by Donald Kirk, Correspondent
Why did South Korea's rocket launch fail?
'South Korean officials said they did not know where to pin blame, but noted the explosion occurred in the Russian-made first-stage of the rocket rather than in the Korean-made second stage. The failure of the South Korea rocket launch was an embarrassing setback.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Jun 10, by Simon Montlake
Sri Lanka, UN duel over wartime investigations
'A UN panel is set to monitor how Sri Lanka responds to allegations of violating human rights during the end of its civil war with the Tamil Tigers. But Sri Lanka has resisted this and other outside attempts at accountability.'

New York Times, 04 Jun 10, by Aubrey Belford
South Korea Asks U.N. Council to Act Against North Korea
'It was not clear what action President Lee Myung-bak is seeking from the Security Council, but he made clear that the South planned no military response this time.'

Korea Times, 02 Jun 10, by Kang Hyun-kyung
Is Seoul softening stance on Pyongyang?
'Seoul appeared to have made a strategic choice regarding inter-Korean relations as it considered the international headlines on the catastrophic security state on the Korean Peninsula no help for the economy.'

Asia Times, 02 Jun 10, by Peter Lee
The Cheonan sinking ... and Korea rising
'Seoul has grasped the Cheonan sinking as a chance to draw closer to the United States and strengthen that alliance as a counter to China's regional clout. The Lee Myung-bak government can now justify an arms build-up and capitalize on Japan's political malaise, positioning itself as a rising world power primed to take over a united, pro-US Korea.'

Washington Post, 04 Jun 10, by Craig Whitlock
China's political and military leaders split over ties to Washington, Gates says
'Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates accused China's military on Thursday of impeding relations with the Pentagon ... Gates told reporters that there is a clear split between China's political leaders, who he said want a stronger military connection with Washington, and the People's Liberation Army, which he said does not.'

Washington Post, 04 Jun 10, by Joby Warrick
Report says Burma is taking steps toward nuclear weapons program
'Burma has begun secretly acquiring key components for a nuclear weapons program, including specialized equipment used to make uranium metal for nuclear bombs, according to a report that cites documents and photos from a Burmese army officer who recently fled the country.'

Washington Post, 27 May 10, by Glenn Kessler
Analysis: North Korea tests U.S. policy of 'strategic patience'
'Obama administration officials have dubbed their policy toward North Korea "strategic patience" -- a resolve that Pyongyang has to make the first move to reengage and that it won't be granted any concessions. Now that patience is going to be tested.'

New York Times, 27 May 10, by Choe Sang-Hun
North Korea to Suspend Naval Hotline With South
'Cutting the hotline, installed after earlier skirmishes, raises the chances of an armed clash in tense waters.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 10, by Donald Kirk
How will North Korea respond to South Korea's threats?
'A third nuclear test and naval confrontations in the Yellow Sea are likely, say analysts, in response to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's announcement Monday of retaliatory measures against North Korea for torpedoing the navy ship Cheonan.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 10, by Donald Kirk
Clinton condemns North Korea as South Korea weighs response
'North Korea and South Korea have been careful to avoid explicit calls for war, but both nations have implied that military action is possible if their diplomatic standoff continues.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 10, by Howard LaFranchi
UN will investigate North Korea sinking of South Korean ship
'North Korea faces new pressures in the torpedo attack on a South Korean ship that killed 46 sailors. Secretary of State Clinton is in China, where she will discuss reinforced sanctions on North Korea.'

New York Times, 23 May 10, by Martin Fackler
Japan Relents on U.S. Base on Okinawa
'[Prime Minister] Hatoyama said that since taking office, he had learned to appreciate the role that the Marines play as a deterrent in the region, and that Okinawa was the most strategic location for them.'

Asia Times, 26 May 10, by Sudha Ramachandran
India's war on Maoists under attack
'Violence in central and eastern India is surging as a military offensive against Maoists gathers pace.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 May 10, by Howard LaFranchi
Signs of a growing US-Japan split in Okinawa base dispute?
'The Pentagon has agreed to shrink the size of its forces, but the Japanese prime minister vowed to get an unpopular Okinawa base moved entirely. Officials will try to resolve the US-Japan dispute Wednesday.'

Asia Times, 13 May 10, by LisaLinda Natividad and Gwyn Kirk
Fortress Guam resists US military buildup
'As President Barack Obama prepares for a June visit to the United States territory of Guam, the former backwater is emerging as a key hub for US armed forces in the Pacific. Pressure is building for US troops to relocate there from Okinawa in Japan.'

Washington Post, 13 May 10, by Andrew Higgins
Indonesia steps up pressure on Islamist militants
'Over the past six months, Indonesian security forces have killed or arrested a host of key figures in an Islamist network that once looked as if it might tip the world's most populous Muslim nation into chaos.'

New York Times, 28 Apr 10, by Choe Sang-Hun
China Gains Influence in Korean Affairs as North and South Warily Seek Its Help
'“China’s influence has become so important that we can almost say that it can now claim the first and last piece of the apple on the Korean Peninsula,” said Lee Byong-chul, a senior fellow at the Institute for Peace and Cooperation in Seoul ...'

Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr 10, by Tom A. Peter
North Korea seizes South-owned resort as warship tensions grow
'Tensions between North and South Korea escalated further on Friday, as the North confiscated five South Korean-owned hotels in a jointly operated mountain resort area. Pyongyang officials also warned that the two nations are on the brink of war after a South Korean ship mysteriously sank last month.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr 10, by Donald Kirk
South Korea raises sunken warship amid questions about retaliation
'The South Korea raised the sunken warship Cheonan Thursday. Across South Korea, the view is growing that North Korea is responsible for a blast that killed 46 sailors.'

Washington Post, 10 Apr 10, by John Pomfret
Private efforts help resolve public tensions between U.S. and China
'After almost three months of bickering over Google, arms sales to Taiwan, China's currency, the Dalai Lama and Iran, both sides had concluded that it was time to move on.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Apr 10, by Ben Hancock
Impatience deepens in South Korea over Cheonan ship sinking
'High-ranking military officials ... dismissed as "unfounded" a claim by the head of parliament's defense committee that four North Korean semi-submersibles had crossed into South Korean territory.'

Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar 10, by Hannah Armstrong
Niger coup: Can Africa use military power for good?
'Niger's junta flexed its political and military power in ousting a strongman who overstayed his electoral mandate. Secretly, many locals are happy with the Niger coup.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Mar 10, by Ben Hancock
South Korea Cheonan warship sinking ...
'So far the government has remained cautious in making its theories public, but it recently put forth the possibility that a mine floated over from North Korea.'

Christian Science Monitor, 30 Mar 10, by Taylor Barnes
India adds world's hottest chili pepper to its anti-terrorism arsenal
'India's newest biological weapon, the world's hottest chili pepper, or bhut jolokia, is 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce, and just a touch on the tongue burns, as our correspondent found. India’s Army plans to use the chili in tear gas.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar 10, by Bikash Sangraula
Koirala death deals new blow to fragile Nepal government
'Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's death could undermine the fragile Nepal government, which has until May 28 to write a new constitution. Mr. Koirala loomed large in Nepal's transition from monarchy to republic after a long civil war with Maoists.'

New York Times, 17 Mar 10, by Thomas Fuller
Thai Protests Continue but Scale Is Diminishing
'On the fourth day of mass demonstrations aimed at bringing down the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva, analysts questioned how long the Red Shirts, as the protesters are known, could sustain their presence in Bangkok.'

Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar 10, by Mark Magnier
India embraces Russia arms
'New Delhi signs five deals, buying fighter jets, an aircraft carrier and nuclear reactors.'

New York Times, 07 Mar 10, by Michael Wines
China Blames U.S. for Strained Relations
'[China's foreign minister] Yang Jiechi, said at a news conference that the administration of President Obama had seriously disrupted the relationship by announcing the sale of weapons to Taiwan and holding a White House meeting with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, in a three-week period this year.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 Mar 10, by Kristen Chick
China's military spending slows, on paper
'After more than two decades of double-digit annual growth in defense spending, Beijing announced its budget would grow 7.5 percent in 2010. But analysts say China's military spending is only slowing on paper.'

New York Times, 09 Mar 10, by Martin Fackler
Japan Says It Allowed U.S. Nuclear Ships to Port
'Japan ended decades of denials on Tuesday by confirming the existence of secret cold war-era agreements with Washington that, among other things, had allowed American nuclear-armed warships to sail into Japanese ports in violation of Japan’s non-nuclear policies.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Mar 10, by Peter Ford
Japan stymied on US base in Okinawa as deadline nears
'Japan may try again to relocate the Futenma US base in Okinawa to the fishing village of Henoko, ahead of a May deadline to resolve the issue. But both antibase activists and the US have voiced objections to that plan.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Mar 10, by Peter Ford
Why some in Japan support US bases in Okinawa
'Japan is host to more than a dozen US bases in Okinawa. Some residents of the island's small port of Henoko, where the US wants to build a controversial military base, say they could use the boost to business.'

Washington Post, 02 Mar 10, by John Pomfret
White House wary of growing military ties between Burma, N. Korea
'The Obama administration is concerned that Burma is expanding its military relationship with North Korea and has launched an aggressive campaign to convince Burma's junta to stop buying North Korean military technology, U.S. officials said.'

Washington Post, 03 Mar 10, by John Pomfret
U.S. floats plan to lift ban on training Indonesia's Kopassus unit
'As President Obama prepares to travel to Indonesia, his administration is seeking to reverse a 12-year-old ban on training an elite unit of the Indonesian military whose members have been convicted of beatings, kidnappings and other abuses.'

Christian Science Monitor, 01 Mar 10, by Simon Montlake
Why Thailand still uses discredited bomb detectors
'The governments of Thailand and Britain have deemed the GT200 bomb detector unreliable, but the Thai military continues to use it to make arrests in the Muslim south.'

See Asia and the Pacific archive for past stories.

"Hunt for the Somali Pirates" airs soon on the National Geographic Channel.
When Somali pirates hijack the Maersk Alabama -- and international headlines -- Navy SEALs launch a sneak attack to rescue the ship's American captain. Pirate Hunters recounts the harrowing five days from hijack to final fatal shots, and reveals sophisticated Navy SEAL training methods that prepare the world's most elite reconnaissance teams for daring missions with no second chances.