Global Asia | A JOURNAL OF THE EAST ASIA FOUNDATION

Rupakjyoti Borah

China’s Bid to Rule the Waves in the South China Sea

05 Apr 2016 - China’s deployment of HQ-9 Surface-to-Air missiles (SAMs) to Woody Island in the disputed Paracel island chain in the South China Sea is a new, but not a surprising, development. Slowly, but surely, Beijing has been proceeding with the militarization of Woody Island, referred to as Yongxingdao in China and which has been under its control since 1956. This island is also claimed… Read full post

Pattharapong Rattanasevee

A New Threat to Southeast Asian Security: Insights on Tackling Transnational Terrorism

16 Mar 2016 - The terror attacks in Paris on the evening of Nov. 13 revealed a sense of vulnerability across Europe and represented a critical moment for European security. Until now, investigators and the public remain unclear about when, where and how the attacks were planned, why certain targets were selected and what the rationale was behind the attacks. However, given the magnitude and so… Read full post

Peter Hayes,Chung-in Moon

Should South Korea Go Nuclear, Redux?

18 Feb 2016 - Note: This essay is updated and revised from an East Asia Policy Debate essay published in July 2014. Summary The fourth nuclear test on January 6, 2016 followed by a rocket-satellite launch on February 17, 2016 has disquieted many in South Korea. It has evoked new calls for South Korea to consider acquiring its own nuclear weapons. It is therefore incumbent on policy makers to c… Read full post

Robert E. McCoy

Timing is Everything: Why Many North Korean Events Shouldn’t Surprise Anyone

04 Feb 2016 - Some of the recent writings about North Korea’s fourth nuclear detonation expressed surprise that the event occurred when it did. The gist of these pieces was that North Korea had been making nice with South Korea and likely would not jeopardize its relationship with China; hence, great surprise when it went off. One article even said that “neither Seoul nor Washington detected a… Read full post

Walter C. Clemens, Jr

What Happened to Yin and Yang?

26 Jan 2016 - Not by rice alone. Nor by GDP. How people live depends not only on material assets but also on intangibles. A full life requires a culture that gives reason to strive, love and cooperate. For thousands of years, Chinese have valued traditions that helped to balance and harmonize the Yin-Yang forces that permeate all life—night and day, fire and water, male and female. Balanced bu… Read full post