COMMENTARIES
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China: Surge in Sex Scandals
Namrata Hasija · 19 Dec, 2012 · #3779 · Commentary
Corruption has been the dominant factor in Chinese politics this year; evident in the numerous corruption and sex scandals involving party officials that have been busted of late. There has been a surge in the revelations of officials involved in ...
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South China Sea: Has ASEAN lost its credibility?
Dhara Shah · 17 Dec, 2012 · #3778 · Commentary
The 21st ASEAN Summit (2012) at Cambodia emerged as a key convention in bringing about successful trade alliances and agreements. It was touted to be the summit that would help pour oil over troubled waters in the South China Sea (SCS); the meetin...
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Afghan Elections 2014: Will the Taliban Contest?
J Jeganaathan · 13 Dec, 2012 · #3777 · Commentary
On 31 October 2012, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of Afghanistan announced the timeline for Presidential and Provincial Councils Elections, which is scheduled to take place in April 2014. While releasing the Election Calendar during ...
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North Korea: After the Rocket Launch
Rajaram Panda · 13 Dec, 2012 · #3776 · Commentary
In defiance of international criticism and UN sanctions, and only days before South Korea’s presidential elections on 19 December 2012, North Korea unexpectedly fired a long-range rocket from a launch pad in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Pro...
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China: The Taiwan Strait or the China Seas?
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III · 12 Dec, 2012 · #3775 · Commentary
While tensions in the East and South China Seas had received much limelight in recent times, outgoing President Hu Jintao, in his just concluded report to the 18th Party Communist Party of China Congress, clearly identified where Beijing’s...
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Myanmar: Obama’s Visit and the US Pivot to Asia
Bibhu Prasad Routray · 05 Dec, 2012 · #3774 · Commentary
As Myanmar undergoes a process of positive transformation, two approaches have been prescribed with regards to dealing with such forces of change. The first approach, primarily propagated by the West, is proactive in its content. It advocates th...
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Maldives: Indian Investments vis-a-vis Chinese Footprints
N Manoharan · 05 Dec, 2012 · #3773 · Commentary
India was once again caught unawares on 27 November 2012 when Maldives announced the termination of a US$511 million project with the Indian infrastructure company GMR Infrastructure Limited (GIL). On 24 June 2010, the GIL-MAHB (Malaysia Airport...
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North Korea: Domestic and International Politics of Satellite/ Missile Launches
Radhakrishna Rao · 03 Dec, 2012 · #3772 · Commentary
North Korea, branded as a “rogue state,” seems to have perfected the art of making occasional announcements of missile and satellite launches that stir concern and controversy as well as draw hostile reactions from across the world. ...
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North Korea: Another Rocket Launch?
Rajaram Panda · 03 Dec, 2012 · #3771 · Commentary
Is North Korea preparing for another rocket launch? What does this mean, especially after a failed bid last April? Will this strain its relations with South Korea which is currently preparing for its Presidential elections?
A satellite imager...
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Af-Pak Diary: A Region-Led, Region-Owned Solution for Afghanistan
D Suba Chandran · 29 Nov, 2012 · #3770 · Commentary
Much emphasis has been put on the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution; but with the 2014 deadline approaching; will there be a stable Afghan government that would be able to stand on its own by 2015? Perhaps, instead of looking for alternatives...
