April 11,2014 Open Forum

The Budget This Time: Taking the Measure of China’s Defense Spending

1Early last month, China announced its projected 2014 defense budget of 808 billion yuan (roughly USD 132 billion), a 12.2 percent increase over the previous year. This continues the double-digit spending increases in nominal terms since 1989 (2010 was the exception, most likely because of priorities adjusted in the wake of the global financial crisis). China’s rapid rise in national power acros..

Andrew Erickson ,
Defense budget , military capabilities , New Historic Missions , transparency
March 28,2014 Country Reports

Country Report: Russia (March 2014)

Russia's writings on Asia over the past two months included much on Russia's pivot toward the Asia-Pacific, its relations with Japan, and its approach toward the Korean Peninsula. Writings on China were detailed and mainly focused on China's domestic developments, as well as some celebratory remarks about the Olympics cooperation between the two nations. China features mainly in the analysis of Ru..

Editorial Staff (with the assistance of Olga Puzanova)
debate on DPRK , economic integration , priority of Southeast Asia , Russia's pivot , Russian Far East development and security , Southeast Asia , Southeast Asia US World domination , Ukraine
March 21,2014 Topics of the Month

Sino-US Relations – 3

Obama’s Trip to Asia—How to Deal with China in the “Gray Zone”   President Obama’s visit next month to four East Asian allies and partners almost certainly will feature conversations on how to deal with Chinese incremental territorial expansion at its neighbors’ expense. Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Malaysia are all disputants in recent territorial issues with Chin..

Robert Sutter
Anti-submarine warfare , gray zone , rebalance , salami slicing , Second Thomas Shoal , security integration , Southeast Asia
March 21,2014 Review Article

‘Sino-Japanese Relations after the Cold War: Two Tigers Sharing a Mountain’

Michael Yahuda, Sino-Japanese Relations after the Cold War: Two tigers Sharing a Mountain (London: Routledge: 2013) Bilateral relations between pairs of Northeast Asian countries—China, Japan, and South Korea-- are becoming increasingly intertwined, always under the shadow of the United States. As we scrutinize new literature devoted to each of these relationships, we should be questioning th..

Audrye Wong
Balancing , hedging , Security dilemma , triangularity
March 07,2014 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (March 2014)

Two themes have been in the forefront in Korean media coverage of international relations in the region: diplomacy related to reunification and ROK-Japan relations. The former was sparked by President Park’s New-Year Speech, saying “reunification is like hitting a jackpot (통일은 대박이다).” As two major powers also mentioned reunification (Secretary of State John Kerry touched on it ..

Editorial Staff (prepared by Han Minjeong)
Dokdo/Takeshima , Germany , Germany Reunification , reunions , textbooks , two-Korea policy , UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights
March 07,2014 Open Forum

Washington Insights: March 2014

The month of February was marked by a Japanese public relations blitz, to which DC audiences often responded, “where is South Korea in this strategy?” There was also a South Korean effort to fine tune and, presumably, rally support for a new strategy, which again drew the question, “how does Japan fit into the picture?” At a time when President Obama is preparing to visit Tokyo and Seoul a..

Editorial Staff
Abe's Nationalism , Alliance trilateralism , Balancing China , Japan-ROK relations , Northeast Asia Peace and Security Initiative , Obama's visit to Asia
February 21,2014 Topics of the Month

Sino-US Relations – 2

United States Pushes Back Against Chinese Assertiveness; Xi Urges Dialogue Carefully sequenced statements by Obama administration officials in late January and February pushed back against Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea and other maritime disputes, taking Sino-American competition to a new stage. America’s measured resolve adds to circumstances that work against overall success ..

Robert Sutter
ADIZ , domestic concerns , interdependence , Kerry , Medeiros , Philippines , Russel , South China Sea , Southeast Asia , Xi Jinping