Asia’s shaky water and energy balancing act  

Much of central China along the Yangtze River is in the grip of its worst energy crisis in years. The electricity cuts for industry and households have been exacerbated by a five-month drought that has dried up rivers, reducing hydroelectric generating capacity and leaving many people and large swaths of farmland short of water. It is a symptom of a key challenge for China in the 21st century. The world's most populous nation and second-biggest economy must make difficult choices between two vital resources, energy and fresh water. (The Japan Times)

(click on the headline to continue)

Why the IMF needs an Asian leader   
   

It is doubtful that Washington politicians understand just how important the IMF leadership decision is. This decision is crucial because of a history that Americans have largely forgotten. During the Asian Crisis of 1997-8, the IMF made two decisions that continue to threaten the world’s ability to have a coherent financial crisis management policy based on a single institution. (East Asia Forum)

(click on the headline to continue)

Asia’s reticence costs it a shot at IMF power 
  

The world's power brokers lined up candidates to head the IMF while Asia held back, and its silence means it will probably have to wait five more years to break Europe's grip on the top spot. (Reuters)

(click on the headline to continue)

Eyes on East Asian future  

The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea (ROK) met in Tokyo on May 21-22 as scheduled, even though Japan is still recovering from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, demonstrating the three countries' consensus on regional responsibility. The leaders agreed to strengthen a future-oriented partnership aimed at constructing a nuclear power safety and disaster prevention system, and developing common food, energy and environmental security. (The China Daily)

(click on the headline to continue)

Indonesia needs reform to remain an attractive investment destination  
  

The feisty debate between the House of Representatives and the finance minister over purchasing a stake in miner Newmont Nusa Tenggara points to broader issues facing Indonesian investment laws. (The Jakarta Globe)

(click on the headline to continue)

Growth and democracy are dual tasks of ASEAN   
   

The political tsunami in Singapore in recent weeks serves as a sounding board for the future political landscape in Southeast Asia. The evolution from a tightly controlled society with the region's highest income per capita to a more open one — less government's surveillance and widen democratic space — is going to be an inevitable trend. Changes, albeit small and at a snail pace, as it may be in the island republic, sends a strong signal to similar kinds of governments in Asean that they either take up reform or soon be challenged by their own people. (The Brunei Times)

(click on the headline to continue)

Sino-Japanese relation: flirtation or long-term engagement?   
   

Both China and South Korea contributed significantly to Japan’s disaster response in the immediate aftermath of the crisis, providing emergency relief teams and the provision of material support. The large (and unprecedented) level of support that China offered, especially the prompt dispatch of a Chinese search and rescue team, has led some to posit that warming relationships between Japan, China and Korea may be the silver-lining to Japan’s national tragedy.             (East Asia Forum)

(click on the headline to continue)

ASEAN: Losing Its Way?  

The ASEAN Community is meant to usher in a ‘culture of peace’ among member states through the formation of a ‘political-security community’ (one of three pillars, the others being economic and socio-cultural). There’s nothing wrong with the aspiration. But as leaders attending the ASEAN summit found in Jakarta last weekend, it’s hard to talk seriously about a culture of peace when two of your members are trading artillery fire and massing troops at the border. (The Diplomat)

(click on the headline to continue)

Interview with the Singapore Ambassador to the U.S.