The shudder that relatively minor bad news from China sent through world markets last week was a warning that the halcyon days of Beijing’s economy are over. Indeed, reluctantly because of self-interest and wishful thinking, a universal consensus … [Read more...] about The [Chinese] emperor has no clothes
China
China’s Jihadists
On March 2, 2014, a train station in Kunming, in western China's Yunnan province, witnessed a horrific slashing attack by black-clad Uighurs wielding large knives and machetes. The attack left 29 dead and 143 wounded.At least 9 Uighurs,members of … [Read more...] about China’s Jihadists
East Asian Worries
Anonymous leaks from Chinese spokesmen along with mistaken translations of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s private remarks at the gathering of our lords and masters at Davos World Economic Forum are alarming. Bombastic comments from the … [Read more...] about East Asian Worries
What is Not Holding the World Together
In one of those misbegotten historical analogies, it’s fashionable these days to talk about the parallels between our current scene with the world of 1914. Most historical comparisons are faulty, but often made by people who should know … [Read more...] about What is Not Holding the World Together
The Asia Scrum
Rather suddenly there is a welter of developments turning Asia's dozen-odd countries into a cat's cradle of conflicting interests-some new-that could lead to war. Central, of course, is a "rising" China. The Chinese, themselves, have given up the … [Read more...] about The Asia Scrum
Hurtling Downhill
If recent events are any indication, the pace of U.S. withdrawal from the world and the extent of our fecklessness (and the West's generally) in the face of threats coming from Islamist terrorism, Russia, China, and Iran promises to pick up in 2014. … [Read more...] about Hurtling Downhill
In a World He Never Intended (To Make)
The Obama Administration’s foreign policy begins to look like that tightly wound ball of crocheting thread that the kitten has been playing with for several hours and is now finally completely unraveling. How innocent the kitty is may be a question … [Read more...] about In a World He Never Intended (To Make)
Japan’s Unseen Revolution
In a world of moldering journalism, nothing quite equals the inadequacies of Japan reporting. Despite this short shrift, Japan remains the United States' most important relationship in Asia -- especially as China is increasingly seen as an adversary … [Read more...] about Japan’s Unseen Revolution
Ghosts of East Asia
There is an eerie feeling of déjà vu about the drama in the East China Sea just now. Again an authoritarian government with a rapidly expanding politicized military is making more and more aggressive noises, in large part in pursuit of its voracious … [Read more...] about Ghosts of East Asia
Will China Make It?
Despite the ballyhoo, there is little prospect significant reforms will emerge from the current upper echelon Chinese Communist Party meeting. That's despite virtually all foreign observers and most Chinese experts agreeing major changes are … [Read more...] about Will China Make It?