COLUMNIST: LI KAISHENG
Free Talk
Li Kaisheng, born in 1976, teaches international relations at Xiangtan University in Xiangtan city, Hunan province, China. He gained his Master’s degree in international relations at Xiangtan University in 2004 and joined the faculty after graduation. He obtained a doctorate in law with a focus on international relations from the Graduate School at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing in 2008.
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November 30, 2009Xiangtan, China — A prominent principle in Chinese diplomacy nowadays is the policy of nonalignment. But in fact, China has a military alliance with North Korea that it has failed to fully implement. If the Sino-North Korean alliance were strong, North Korea would not feel the need for nuclear weapons.
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November 20, 2009Xiangtan, China — Obama’s first visit to China has elicited many positive remarks and expectations of improved Sino-U.S. relations. But can we say relations have entered a new phase of strategic opportunity and will remain stable in the long term? It might be too early to draw such a conclusion.
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November 09, 2009Xiangtan, China — Despite its rapid rise in the region, China is embarrassed by the stance taken by many of its neighbors. While interacting with China more in terms of trade and other economic and civil exchanges, they keep a wary eye on China and keep encouraging the United States to balance its influence.
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October 26, 2009Xiangtan, China — U.S. policy will rise or fall based on what happens in Afghanistan. If the Taliban continue to cause casualties among U.S. troops, domestic pressure on Obama will rise. In the end the United States is very likely to act as it did in Iran or Vietnam, finally losing the war, with no choice but to withdraw.
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October 08, 2009Xiangtan, China — Outwardly, the purpose of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to North Korea was to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. More importantly, it was to persuade North Korea to return to negotiations on the nuclear issue. Indications are that China’s efforts have achieved some result.
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September 28, 2009Xiangtan, China — The China-Japan relationship is one of the most troublesome, for historical and psychological reasons as well as rivalry over regional leadership. A realistic framework is required that can embrace the strengths of both nations and allow them to cooperate. That framework is the Northeast Asian Community.
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September 11, 2009Xiangtan, China — This year marks the 60th anniversary of official ties between China and North Korea, but neither side has shown much interest in celebrating. The two sides have moved further and further apart; their “socialist alliance” is no longer useful. It is time for them to redefine their relationship.
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July 13, 2009Xiangtan, China — The July 5 outbreak of violence in Urumqi, capital of China’s northwest region of Xinjiang, was astonishing, especially when the death toll reached 184, with more than 1,680 injured. The worry lies in handling the ongoing relationship between the Han people and the Uighur minority.
