archive

The future of the South China Sea

Hai-Anh Dang (World Bank): Vietnam: A Widening Poverty Gap for Ethnic Minorities. Can East Timor dodge the “resource curse”? Despite oil and gas riches, signs of wealth remain scarce in the impoverished country. From The New York Times Magazine, Luke Mogelson on the Dream Boat: More than a thousand refugees have died trying to reach Christmas Island — but faced with unbearable conditions at home, they keep coming; and a game of shark and minnow: The shell of a forsaken ship has become a battleground in a struggle that will shape the future of the South China Sea and, to some extent, the rest of the world. Walter Lohman on the South China Sea and the lessons of history. Michael Auslin on the day America lost Asia. James Fallows on how to think about the Chinese air-defense news. Troubled skies over troubled waters: China announces a new air defence zone, causing neighbours to protest about the latest escalation of territorial disputes in the East China Sea (and more). Heather Timmons and Lily Kuo on how China’s air defense zone isn’t the only way the country is exercising its new military muscle. Joe Pappalardo on what a shooting war in the East China Sea might look like. Taiwan military: China able to invade by 2020. Economic experiments and the battle for East Asia: Ely Ratner on why the race for dominance in East Asia is about economic strength, not military power. Peter Gordon reviews Poverty in the Midst of Affluence: How Hong Kong Mismanaged Its Prosperity by Leo F. Goodstadt.