COLUMNIST: ZHANG QUANYI
Global Survey
Dr. Zhang Quanyi is currently an associate professor of political science at Zhejiang Wanli University. He obtained his doctorate degree in law from Shanghai International Studies University, He received his master's degree from the School of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Birmingham in Britain. He spent eight months doing field research at Yonsei University in South Korea in 2007, under a grant from the Korea Foundation, and was a visiting scholar at the Institute of Global Conflict and Cooperation at California University in San Diego, and at Ohio State University in 2006. Dr. Zhang has published numerous articles on international relations and political psychology; his articles have been widely reprinted or quoted by world media and journals, particularly by think tanks such as the U.S. Nautilus Institute and Global Politics Magazine in the United Kingdom. His research interest revolves around generation of a world state.
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February 05, 2010Ningbo, China — A Chinese TV series called “Stories of Judge Bao,” which depicts the life of an upright 11th century judge, is gaining wide acclaim in China. One reason is that corruption has extended to all corners of life in China. People long for a wise and just man who can remedy the situation.
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January 28, 2010Ningbo, China — Last year was a fruitful one for relations across the Taiwan Strait, due to the efforts of both sides to find common ground. Whether this momentum will continue depends largely upon initiatives taken by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou and his Kuomintang administration and the mainland’s reactions.
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January 21, 2010Ningbo, China — China’s top nine leaders attended a farewell ceremony Wednesday for eight Chinese peacekeepers who died in the earthquake that hit the island nation of Haiti last week, to express the country’s respect for their sacrifice. China is ready to shoulder more responsibility in the field of peacekeeping.
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January 15, 2010Ningbo, China — As the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year draws near – the year of the tiger – Sino-U.S. relations are facing certain strains. Some analysts are wondering if this year will bring confrontation between the two tiger-like nations, China and the United States.
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January 07, 2010Ningbo, China — China’s execution last week of British national Akmal Shaikh, convicted of carrying more than 4 kilograms of heroin into China, was inappropriately condemned by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This act sends a signal that regardless of nationality, China will uphold its laws against criminal behavior.
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December 31, 2009Ningbo, China — On Jan. 1, an agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will go into effect, establishing a free trade area that will liberalize trade and investments between China and the 10 ASEAN countries. This is a positive step that promises many advantages to all countries involved.
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December 17, 2009Ningbo, China — There is dim hope that an agreement will be reached during the summit on global warming currently under way in Copenhagen, Denmark. Unfortunately debates and quarrels persist in the face of an urgent need for global consensus for the sake of humanity and the security of our planet.
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December 10, 2009Ningbo, China — U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, along with his wife and 10-year-old Chinese daughter Yang Leyi, visited the Yangzhou Children's Welfare Home on Dec. 3 in what was described as a visit to let the adopted child find her roots. The family is an example of how adoptions can bridge cultures.
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December 03, 2009Ningbo, China — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in China Wednesday on a four-day visit, his first visit since his inauguration in 2006. Both sides hope that the visit will warm up ties that have grown chilly due to a number of disagreements in recent years.
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November 26, 2009Ningbo, China — When U.S. President Barrack Obama met Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing last week, he promised to pursue a “positive, cooperative and comprehensive” relationship with China. But can these two countries really work together on global problems when a basic mistrust still remains between them?
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November 19, 2009Columbus, OH, United States — The United States is currently trying to adjust its healthcare system so that all the country’s citizens will have health insurance. This is controversial because U.S. citizens do not traditionally rely on the government to take care of them. Instead there are many community services to meet people’s needs.
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November 05, 2009Washington, DC, United States — Whether their approach is realist or idealist, U.S. political parties share the aim of maintaining the U.S. role as a global leader. But the world trend is toward globalization, and new powers like China, India, Russia and Brazil are emerging. Can the United States maintain its role under changing circumstances?
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October 22, 2009Ningbo, China — The announcement that U.S. President Barrack Obama won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was met with surprise by many, including Obama himself. The prize was not for his accomplishments, but for his idealism. Without idealists human beings would have made little progress in improving our world.
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October 19, 2009Ningbo, China — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin returned from his visit to China last week with a package of signed contracts worth US$5.5 billion in energy, mining and infrastructure projects. But will these agreements really materialize? Too often Sino-Russian deals have gone unfulfilled.
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October 09, 2009Ningbo, China — North Korea has expressed its willingness to return to the negotiation table in the wake of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Pyongyang. This shows once again that China’s policy of engagement with North Korea has proved effective, and that the use of “soft power” can bring results.
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October 01, 2009Ningbo, China — A grand ceremony at Tiananmen Square marked the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing Thursday. The venue is a symbol of Chinese power and politics, and the events a sparkling tribute to the country’s history. Yet China faces many challenges if it hopes to stay on the path to greatness.
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September 24, 2009Beijing, China — Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barrack Obama had a friendly talk in New York Tuesday, in which they emphasized the interconnectedness of their countries and the need to coordinate their responses to global issues. Amid ups and downs in China-U.S. relations, this attitude is important.
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September 17, 2009Ningbo, China — Chinese President Hu Jintao will be in the United States next week for the U.N. General Assembly and the G20 meeting, where he is expected to meet U.S. President Barack Obama. But the U.S. imposition of special duties on Chinese tires has threatened to spoil the spirit of cooperation between these two powers.
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September 10, 2009Ningbo, China — In a welcome sign that cross-strait relations remain strong, mainland China’s reaction to last week’s visit to Taiwan of the Dalai Lama was much more restrained than expected. While Beijing made several statements and downgraded some planned activities to express its displeasure, its reaction was unusually mild.
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July 23, 2009Shanghai, China — A five-day joint military exercise between China and Russia will take place from July 22 in the Russian Far East and in northeast China. According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, these exercises are intended to show the ability of both sides to combat terrorists, separatists and extremists.
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July 17, 2009Ningbo, China — China’s northwest region of Xinjiang has seen its biggest-ever unrest this month, involving a protest and police crackdown on July 5 and clashes between ethnic Uighur people and Han Chinese. Turkey’s prime minister accused China of committing genocide, but China has dismissed the comment as making no sense.
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July 06, 2009Ningbo, China — Last week the United States initiated its troop withdrawal from Iraq, as the Obama administration transfers its antiterrorism battle to Afghanistan and Pakistan. But changing the battleground will not solve the problem. Capturing Osama bin Laden will not kill the spirit of terrorism, rooted in resentment.
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June 25, 2009Ningbo, China — Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is in China for a four-day visit, his first trip to the country since taking office. In the midst of the global financial crisis, he hopes to strengthen bilateral ties and economic cooperation with China.
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June 18, 2009Ningbo, China — The summit of the so-called BRIC states – Brazil, Russia, India and China – concluded Tuesday in Yekaterinburg, Russia, with a joint declaration that called for more clout for emerging economies in global financial institutions. This is not likely to be attained quickly or easily, however.
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June 11, 2009Ningbo, China — Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou announced on Wednesday that he will seek the chairmanship of his party, the Kuomintang, in party elections next month. This indicates that Ma hopes to consolidate executive and party power to more aggressively advance relations with mainland China.
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June 04, 2009Seoul, South Korea — North Korea’s second nuclear test last week and the missile tests that followed have raised tensions to their highest point since the six-party talks were initiated in August 2003. U.N. sanctions alone won’t solve this issue; an engagement policy is still needed if North Korea is to change its mindset.
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May 28, 2009Shanghai, China — China celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival on Thursday; China has applied to UNESCO to have the festival listed as its Intangible Cultural Heritage, after South Korea did the same some years ago. Many Chinese have lamented this fact, calling the South Korean move “cultural robbery.”
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May 21, 2009Ningbo, China — U.S. President Barack Obama finally announced his choice for U.S. ambassador to China – the governor of the state of Utah, Jon Huntsman Jr. The decision comes very late, but seems to be a wise one. Huntsman speaks Chinese and has a strong interest in China, which will serve him well in his new post.
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May 14, 2009Ningbo, China — Next month U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Egypt where, hopefully, he will announce a concrete plan to implement his eagerly awaited policy of “change.” Obama said in Turkey that the United States is not at war with Islam. But can it bring peace in the Middle East?
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May 07, 2009Hong Kong, China — The marvels of the Internet have transformed our world; it lets us share information, find resources and express opinions. Since we invest so much time and attention in the Internet, and rely on it so heavily, we should be sure that what we find there is serving us in a proper and healthy manner.
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April 30, 2009Ningbo, China — China has announced it will provide Mexico with relief aid worth US$5 million to help the nation deal with the outbreak of swine flu that has killed over 150 people. In this globalized era such a pandemic is a threat to everyone; therefore all nations should work together to combat swine flu.
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April 23, 2009Ningbo, China — The annual Boao Forum for Asia, which focused on energizing the Asian economy in the midst of the global crisis, concluded last Sunday in China’s southern province of Hainan. In contrast to the recently canceled ASEAN summit in Thailand, the forum was a great success.
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April 16, 2009Ningbo, China — It is difficult to see what was gained by Thailand’s Red Shirt protesters in sabotaging the ASEAN summit last weekend. On the other hand, it is easy to see what Thailand lost in terms of national prestige, and what ASEAN lost in delaying talks aimed at dealing with the global financial crisis.
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April 09, 2009Shanghai, China — The Chinese government has unveiled a long-awaited roadmap for reforming the country’s healthcare system, with a budget of US$124 billion to upgrade medical services. Initially the government will invest in building new hospitals and clinics in rural areas and training medical staff to work in them.
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April 02, 2009Ningbo, China — The curtain goes up Thursday on the G20 meeting of world leaders in London, expected to come up with a prescription for the ailing world economy. Outside, thousands of protesters are angry at a world financial system that puts profits ahead of people. The two groups reflect a diversified and uneven world.
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March 26, 2009Ningbo, China — Next week the leaders of 20 nations will gather at the G20 summit in London to attempt to save the world from the current crippling economic situation. Their success depends on whether or not participating nations can set aside their immediate interests for the sake of the whole world.
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March 19, 2009Ningbo, China — Ahead of the G20 summit in London next month there are concerns over protectionist measures that have already been introduced in 17 of the G20 countries, despite their pledges to avoid this approach at their last meeting in November. A more global vision is needed to resolve the crisis.
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March 13, 2009Shanghai, China — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso most likely will visit China soon. Aso’s recent rhetoric concerning Japan’s sovereignty in the East China Sea has angered China. Yet there are many reasons for the two countries to sit down and set their relations back on a healthier track.
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March 05, 2009Shanghai, China — Recent moves by the Philippines and Japan to claim sovereignty over islands that are also claimed by China have alerted the Chinese government and angered Chinese citizens, threatening to throw off track diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflicts.
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February 26, 2009Ningbo, China — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made Beijing her last stop on her whirlwind Asia trip. Before leaving, Clinton said she was "encouraged by the possibilities of what a stronger relationship can mean for the Chinese and American people." But will this positivity last?
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February 19, 2009Macau, China — Chinese President Hu Jintao completed his visit to four African nations on Tuesday. This was his first overseas trip in 2009 and his sixth visit to Africa. Obviously China is sending a strong message that it intends to expand and develop its relations with the continent.
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February 12, 2009Ningbo, China — China is experiencing its most serious drought in 50 years, on top of the difficulties created by the worldwide financial crisis. The drought raises fears of a strain on the global grain market if China’s crops fail; but such fears are unnecessary.
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February 05, 2009Ningbo, China — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s speech at Cambridge University in Britain on Monday was briefly interrupted by a protester who threw his shoe at Wen. Such an act is both rude and foolish. The shoe thrower, who called Wen a “dictator,” is also apparently ignorant of Wen’s popularity among Chinese people.
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January 29, 2009Ningbo, China — People in China are now celebrating their most important traditional festival, the Lunar New Year. Unlike people abroad, the Chinese people do not seem to have reduced their festival spending or to fear the global downturn. This can largely be ascribed to the particular Chinese habit of saving.
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January 22, 2009Ningbo, China — During his inauguration in Washington Tuesday U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to bring change in both domestic and international affairs. In light of China’s rising influence, the choice of U.S. ambassador to China will be an important decision for the new president.
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January 15, 2009Beijing, China — Chinese President Hu Jintao offered six proposals to promote the peaceful development of cross-straits relations in a speech on the eve of the New Year. Hu’s speech symbolized a significant policy adjustment toward Taiwan, based on the theme of "peaceful development" rather than unification.
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January 08, 2009Beijing, China — On Dec. 31 China and Vietnam completed the demarcation of their land border. This signified that China has settled its land borders with 12 of its neighbors. China has sought peaceful resolution of these issues, but its sea disputes may prove more challenging.
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January 01, 2009Ningbo, China — For China, 2008 was an unforgettable year. It contained both tragedy and happiness, yet perhaps most significant was China’s cool-headed response to both social upheavals and natural disasters, indicating a growing maturity and sophistication among the Chinese leadership.
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December 26, 2008Ningbo, China — China is sending two navy destroyers and a support vessel to fight rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia, departing Friday. It is China’s first overseas naval mission in 600 years, and represents the country’s growing sense of global responsibility.
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December 18, 2008Ningbo, China — Sino-French relations grew chilly this month due to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland on Dec. 6. China responded by cancelling a China-EU summit, and could take further action over what it sees as France’s uncooperative behavior.
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December 11, 2008Nanjing, China — Sun Yat-sen, the founder of modern China, remains a contemporary figure in the collective memory of the Chinese people, even though he passed away more than 80 years ago. In a sense, he is the only legitimate bridge between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
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December 04, 2008Ningbo, China — Last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai should not be considered an act of war, according to terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman of Georgetown University. He means to argue against a military response. But in a sense, all terrorist attacks can be regarded as war against all human beings.
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November 27, 2008Shanghai, China — At a panel on the impact of the recent U.S. election on Sino-U.S. relations held this week in Shanghai, U.S. and Chinese scholars and diplomats expressed optimism about future relations between the two countries. Most expect the relationship to prosper under a future U.S. President Barack Obama.
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November 20, 2008Ningbo, China — The G20 world leaders assembled in Washington last weekend to look for solutions to the current global financial crisis. The conference venue itself symbolizes the fact that Washington must continue to play an essential role in upholding the world financial system.
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November 13, 2008Seoul, South Korea — A panel of Korea experts and scholars met in Seoul, South Korea, last week to discuss the way forward to bring peace and stability to the Korean peninsula. Discussion on the necessity of the U.S.-South Korea military alliance exposed great differences in views.
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November 06, 2008Seoul, South Korea — North Korea released photos Wednesday showing its leader Kim Jong Il visiting military bases, in an apparent attempt to curb suspicion that he is in poor health. Uncertainty has raised many questions. If North Korea were to collapse, would China support South Korea stepping in to fill the vacuum?
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October 30, 2008Ningbo, China — The ongoing U.S. election campaign has attracted considerable attention in China. The new U.S. president to be elected next week will undoubtedly make his mark on his country and the world. The Chinese are keen to discover whether he will view China as a “competitor” or a “stakeholder.”
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October 23, 2008Ningbo, China — China and Russia held a border-marking ceremony last week on an island at the juncture of two rivers that separate northeast China from Siberia. This quiet event marks a significant change in the relationship between the two countries, as well as a shift in Chinese strategic thinking about its own security.
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October 16, 2008Ningbo, China — The Chinese Communist Party has announced plans to stimulate and transform the country’s rural economy in an effort to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas. A plan announced Sunday will give farmers more rights, responsibility and flexibility in their use of the land.
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October 13, 2008Ningbo, China — The leadership of the Chinese Communist Party concluded a crucial meeting on Sunday, at which it put forth a roadmap for rural reform which, like the reform policy of 1978, is likely to shape rural development for years to come.
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October 09, 2008Ningbo, China — U.S. President George W. Bush signed the long-expected nuclear deal with India into law on Wednesday. It is a bold decision for Bush to ignore international regimes by allowing India to flout the NPT. It sets a precedent that other would-be nuclear states may be all too ready to follow.
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October 02, 2008Ningbo, China — The general debate at the 63rd U.N. General Assembly concluded this week in New York. Despite growing criticism over its inability to solve global problems, the United Nations is still important as the only place where the nations of the world are seeking common solutions to global issues.
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September 25, 2008Ningbo, China — U.S. President George W. Bush said in a nationally televised address Wednesday night that the United States was facing a serious financial crisis that could lead to a long-term recession. Will this U.S. crisis bring another global economic depression, political turmoil or even trigger a global war?
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September 22, 2008Ningbo, China — With the situation in Georgia still unsettled, Russia and Venezuela declared they would hold joint military exercises in November in Venezuela. Russia’s military move will definitely worsen already tense relations with the United States, and increase worries around the world.
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September 11, 2008Ningbo, China — The popular Chinese Moon Festival is traditionally a holiday designed for family reunions and harvest celebrations. China has earmarked it as a public holiday to promote its national heritage. However, the festival has changed significantly in both its content and meaning. The act of family reunion has become more symbolic in modern times.
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September 04, 2008Ningbo, China — Russian and U.S. relations have gone from bad to worse, as the United States has said it is committed to bringing Georgia into the NATO alliance, and Russia has recognized two breakaway regions of Georgia as independent countries. But the situation is not likely to bring about another Cold War.
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August 28, 2008Shanghai, China — In the just-finished Beijing Olympic Games China won 100 medals, topping the world with its 51 gold. There is no doubt that China’s success can be attributed to its advantage as the host country, but what benefitted China most was its collective culture.
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August 21, 2008Shanghai, China — The Olympic Games provide a great opportunity for athletes to show off their skills and compete for world championships. At the same time, they provide a unique diplomatic opportunity for the host nation. This has been true in the past, and this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Beijing are no exception.
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August 14, 2008Shanghai, China — Through the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, China made an effort to promote its concept of building a harmonious world. It showed not only China’s long and colorful history, but also its hoped-for future – a world of peace and harmony. The theme “One World, One Dream” also expresses this concept.
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August 01, 2008Xian, China — China’s economic policies have caused modern and luxurious cities to emerge, some with infrastructure and facilities that surpass those in Western metropolitan cities. However, an agricultural mindset continues to hold back much of the country.
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June 30, 2008Shanghai, China — North Korea’s explosion last Friday of the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear plant, and the U.S. decision to remove the country from its terrorism list, indicate a more cooperative relationship developing between these two adversaries. But will it last?
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June 24, 2008Shanghai, China — Sino-Japanese relations have always been a hot topic for those interested in security issues and international relations, due to these countries’ history of conflict. Chinese scholars advocate “new thinking” toward Japan, but there are several interpretations as to what this means.
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June 05, 2008Shanghai, China — The magnitude of 8 earthquake erupted in Chinese Sichuan province at the time of this writing have caused the death of 69016 people, around 18830 people are still missing, and those affected have reached around 45.55.2965 millions. The Chinese government as well as the international society are still trying their utmost with the reconstruction of work, which will unlikely be finished in the short time. However through such tremendous natural disaster, some conclusions are drawn for reflections.
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May 26, 2008Shanghai, China — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid a two-day visit to China over the weekend, on his first foreign trip abroad since taking office. Analysts see Medvedev’s choice to travel east rather than west as a strong indication of the new president’s foreign policy orientation.
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May 20, 2008Shanghai, China — The whole of China went into mourning Monday afternoon at 2:28 p.m., exactly one week after a disastrous earthquake hit Sichuan province. People in every corner of the country bowed their heads for three minutes while horns honked and sirens wailed, in an outpouring of grief for the quake’s victims.
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May 12, 2008Shanghai, China — Dmitry Medvedev, inaugurated May 7 as Russia’s new president, was chosen by former President Vladimir Putin. The very next day Putin was installed as prime minister. Many analysts conclude that Medvedev will adhere faithfully to Putin’s policies, but this could be only half right.
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May 06, 2008Shanghai, China — On May 20 Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan's Kuomintang party will be inaugurated as the island's new leader. This is expected to usher in a new era in Taiwanese politics, at least for the next four years, including closer relations between the island and mainland China.
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April 30, 2008Shanghai, China — As Northeast Asia welcomes the spring, it seems that Sino-Japan relations are also entering a warming period. Chinese President Hu Jintao, who will visit Japan next week, has promised to push forward China's strategic relationship with Japan, which also appears ready to upgrade ties.
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April 24, 2008Shanghai, China — China is experiencing a wave of anti-China protests from Tibet activists and their supporters. Feeling their country under attack, many overseas Chinese have rallied to support the passage of the Olympic Torch around the world. Inside China, calls to boycott Western shops and companies are widespread.
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April 21, 2008Shanghai, China — Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was treated as a real star on his recent visit to China. His smiling face beamed out from various Chinese media, as he addressed students and leaders alike in fluent Chinese. Not since Henry Kissinger has a foreigner been so popular in China.
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April 12, 2008Shanghai, China — China is facing a major challenge from within and without the country in the wake of last month's Tibetan riots. International criticism over its crackdown on the Tibetan uprising and protests that have disrupted the Olympic torch relay have been met with anger and a strong wave of Chinese nationalism.
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April 04, 2008Shanghai, China — The victory of Taiwan's Kuomintang party in the March 22 election reflects the strong backing of the people for the party's return to power. However, it should not be seen as a failure or disgrace for the Democratic Progressive Party. A number of factors contributed to this result.
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March 27, 2008Shanghai, China — Cuba has smoothly transferred its presidency from Fidel Castro to his brother Raul, who seems to want to implement some reforms. Cuba's situation somewhat resembles China's when it began to move toward a market economy in 1978. Will Raul Castro be the Deng Xiaoping of Cuba?
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March 14, 2008Shanghai, China — The shooting down of a U.S. satellite by U.S. navy forces last month raised concern from other satellite-owning countries, particularly China and Russia, despite the explanation that the move was to prevent the malfunctioning satellite from crashing and spreading toxic materials on the Earth.
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March 01, 2008Shanghai, China — Two weeks after Kosovo's declaration of independence on Feb. 17, Serbia refuses to accept the loss of its province. Russia and many states in Europe also refuse to recognize Kosovo. This lack of consensus could cause serious conflict and disrupt international order.
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February 15, 2008Shanghai, China — Chinese media in January reported an ambitious plan to link mainland China and Taiwan by high-speed railway. It is the latest in a series of proposals to physically link the island with the mainland. The plan does not address political obstacles -- presumably these will be dealt with on a parallel track.
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February 07, 2008Shanghai, China — An old Chinese saying goes that heavy snow predicts a good harvest next season. But China's current snow may mean just the opposite, as many crops have been destroyed in the country's worst snow in 50 years. The situation was improving somewhat as Lunar New Year dawned Thursday.
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February 01, 2008Shanghai, China — Germany and China have restored "normal" relations, the German foreign minister said last week in Berlin. Relations had cooled since September, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel met the Dalai Lama despite the protests of the Chinese government. Now things are back on track.
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January 25, 2008Shanghai, China — China's Ministry of Health says that life expectancy for Chinese citizens had risen to 73 by 2005 from 71.4 in 2000. This is good news for the Chinese people, who traditionally value long life. The Chinese people are also comparably much richer. But is this happiness?
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January 18, 2008Shanghai, China — Among the goals of his just-concluded Middle East trip, U.S. President George W. Bush assigned himself the task of strengthening a coalition against Iran's ambitions. Attempting to contain Iran's rise or isolate the country may not be the best approach, however.
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January 08, 2008Shanghai, China — The assassination of Benazir Bhutto has plunged Pakistan deeper into political crisis and triggered an orgy of violence that has killed more than 100 people and left hundreds of buildings torched. The country needs order before it can contemplate democracy.
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December 31, 2007Shanghai, China — Two weeks before the New Year, China's State Council declared a new policy on holidays. One of the nation's three "golden week" holidays is to be eliminated, and three traditional Chinese festivals are to be revived. Is this a move to restore Chinese culture?
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December 18, 2007Shanghai, China — For 10 years the United States has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on limiting greenhouse gas emissions, even though 175 countries have ratified it. Last week at the U.N. climate change conference in Bali, the United States had to be pressured into signing onto a roadmap toward a new agreement by 2009.
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December 12, 2007Shanghai, China — Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will very likely visit China this month or early next month, and China is also preparing for President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan next year. These planned top-level visits show that both China and Japan have realized the importance of developing a healthier relationship.
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December 04, 2007Seoul, South Korea — French President Nicolas Sarkozy's three-day visit to China last month seemed designed to show the French president's appreciation of culture. He arrived first in the former imperial city of Xian -- which was his predecessor Jacques Chirac's last stop on
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November 29, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Seven years have passed since the last serious effort by the United States to broker Middle East peace. Will it be any different this time, after representatives from more than 40 countries met Tuesday in the historic waterfront city of Annapolis, east of
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November 27, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Anyone who has visited South Korea will have been impressed by its integration of modernity and tradition. If Seoul is a symbol of modern Korea, Geyongju represents ancient Korea and mainstream traditional culture.Gyeongju, which lies in the eastern par
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November 20, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Chinese President Hu Jintao extended an olive branch to Taiwan in his speech at the 17th Communist Party Congress last month, adopting a far more conciliatory tone toward the island than he has used in the past. "On the basis of the one-China principle,
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November 16, 2007Seoul, South Korea — North Korean Premier Kim Yong II concluded his visit to South Korea Friday, after meeting his counterpart Han Duck-soo in the first meeting of top ministers of the two countries in 15 years. The two agreed to quickly implement economic cooperation measure
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November 13, 2007Seoul, South Korea — This has been a tough year for the Chinese government. "Made in China" products, ranging from shoes and toys to toothpaste and medical products, have been found to contain toxic substances or dangerous parts, seriously affected China's export industry.
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November 06, 2007Seoul, South Korea — U.S. President George W.
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October 30, 2007SEOUL, South Korea — The Chinese enclave of Macau is as beautiful as a saga about her. The name "Macau" seems to be derived from the Temple of A-Ma, or Ma Kok Temple in the local Chinese dialect.
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October 23, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Thousands of people swarmed to the Seoul City Square on Sunday to watch pop stars and other celebrities sporting the latest fall and winter fashions at the Hallyu Fall Fashion Festival. Among the star-crazed fans screaming and waving to their idols on sta
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October 16, 2007SEOUL, South Korea — Last month Japan successfully launched a lunar probe into space, which is now circling the moon. Japan also plans to send an astronaut to the moon around the year 2016.
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October 09, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Looking to the coming 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which begins next Monday, people who have an interest in China may be expecting the Party to take steps toward democratization or to announce some kind of political reform. This
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September 25, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Taiwan's recent move to join the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" and the demonstrations held across the island to promote this move toward independence have caused a stir in international society. "Taiwan independence" seems to be a hot topic, and
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September 18, 2007Seoul, South Korea — The coming summit meeting on the Korean peninsula signifies another step toward reconciliation between two long-time adversaries. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will meet in Pyongyang in early October.
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September 11, 2007Seoul, South Korea — The Cold War is not yet over in Asia, as evidenced by the tensions that persist on the still divided Korean peninsula. Yet before the old one is over, the curtain of a new Cold War appears to be descending in the region.
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September 04, 2007Seoul, South Korea — China has been making much progress in almost every field since 1979. Economically the Chinese people are much better off than in 1970s.
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August 28, 2007Seoul, South Korea — More than four years after the invasion of Iraq by U.S.-led forces, little progress has been made toward reconstructing the country. Daily suicide bomb attacks have become a routine topic; thousands of troops have lost their lives, with the Americans taki
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August 21, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Many Western politicians and scholars, as well as some famous Chinese experts, have predicted since 1989 that communist China would follow the former Soviet Union and come to the end of its history sooner or later. Yet this expectation has proved wrong.
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August 14, 2007Seoul, South Korea — At the end of this month, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will hold a summit in Pyongyang. Optimists hope it will bring some progress toward denuclearization in the North, an agreement on permanent peace on the peni
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August 09, 2007Seoul, South Korea — The Chinese Communist Party has been deeply unhappy over the moves of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party toward establishing a "Taiwan state." Yet, as the eight-year leadership of the DPP reflects, there has been a change in the Taiwanese attitude towa
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July 31, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Ignoring orders from the Iraqi government, celebratory gunfire resounded across Baghdad and revelers poured into the streets after Iraq beat Saudi Arabia in Jakarta, Indonesia, to clinch its first Asian Cup soccer championship Sunday night. It should ha
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July 18, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Nationalism can be considered the twin of the nation state; a unique national identity to accompany a strong national sovereignty. The inhabitants of the nation state not only live and work together, but share a common folklore, mythology, language and an
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July 11, 2007Seoul, South Korea — The Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, share a common challenge in the pursuit of Taiwanese independence by the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan. The CCP and the KMT have long been rivals, fighting and disgracing each
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June 20, 2007Seoul, South Korea — South Korea's Jeju Island, known as the "Island of the Gods," is an attractive vacation spot for both Koreans and foreign visitors. With its volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, it resembles the Hawaiian Islands in the United States.
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June 12, 2007Seoul, South Korea — U.S. President George W.
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June 05, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Multinational companies have exerted their influence as major players in world economics and politics since the 1960s. Their role in the petroleum crisis of the 1970s raised the alarm over their capability to shape world affairs and possibly create a geop
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May 29, 2007Seoul, South Korea — As the capital of South Korea, Seoul has witnessed the "Great Leap Forward" of Korean modernization -- its skyscraper 63 building, its TV tower at Namsan mountain, its convenient subways and its modern infrastructure all make Seoul a beautiful metropolita
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May 25, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Names help establish our identities -- they are given to define or differentiate us from others. In different countries parents name their children according to different customs and criteria.
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May 15, 2007SEOUL, South Korea — With the rising numbers of casualties of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, Americans, motivated particularly by Democrats, are expressing concern over the withdrawal of their troops from the country.
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May 08, 2007Seoul, South Korea — China is a major topic for everyone with an interest in today's world politics, whether one is discussing the "China threat," its role as a "stakeholder" or its "peaceful rise." China has puzzled a good many politicians and academicians -- Nixon, Kissinge
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May 03, 2007Seoul, South Korea — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has declared his country's withdrawal from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, claiming this move would guarantee its economic independence. Nothing could be more ridiculous than this assertion.The world
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May 01, 2007Seoul, South Korea — The trauma of the Virginia Tech shootings has not yet passed; those who lost loved ones still face incredible sadness, the victims' teachers and classmates still may have nightmares. Americans are in tears, the world is in mourning.
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April 25, 2007Seoul, South Korea — In initiating his campaign for the next Taiwan presidency, Ma Ying-jeou, the ambitious Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, killed two birds with one stone: he gained the backing of the KMT and the New Party, and he stirred Beijing's anticipation of his future pre
