Backgrounder posted September 28, 2011 by Walter Lohman
Reinvigorating the U.S.–Thailand Alliance
Abstract: The United States and Thailand have a long history of close relations. After 9/11, the U.S. renewed its attention to the relationship, identifying shared interests and values. The military coup in 2006 weakened the relationship, but the return of a newly elected civilian…
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WebMemo posted August 5, 2011 by Walter Lohman
The U.S. Cannot Rely on ASEAN in the South China Sea
For weeks now, commentary has been flying about the “progress” made on the South China Sea dispute at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) annual foreign minister consultations in Bali. Because America’s approach to Southeast Asia, and to some extent East Asia broadly, is increasingly carried out…
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WebMemo posted June 20, 2011 by Walter Lohman
Sorting American Priorities in the South China Sea
The security situation in the South China Sea is deteriorating in a way unseen since the mid-1990s. And given the growth in China’s military power and global influence since then, it is a much bigger problem for the United States. China’s challenge in the South China Sea—its expansive extralegal claims…
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Backgrounder posted March 11, 2010 by Lisa Curtis
Taliban Reconciliation: Obama Administration Must Be Clear and Firm
Abstract: As 30,000 additional American soldiers are deployed to Afghanistan, the U.S. is also focusing on reintegrating Taliban insurgents into Afghan society. There has been speculation that this new focus is part of a quick-exit strategy for the U.S. While reintegrating as many local Taliban fighters as possible is a…
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WebMemo posted March 11, 2010 by Derek Scissors, Ph.D.
Is India's Economy Weakening?
The conventional wisdom concerning the Indian economy has two tenets: (1) India has weathered the financial crisis exceptionally well; and (2) India is still undergoing liberalizing reform. Both of those tenets, though, can reasonably be questioned.
Reported Indian GDP growth fell to 6.0 percent in the October-December quarter of 2009, lower…
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Backgrounder posted March 4, 2010 by Walter Lohman
U.S.-Indonesia Relations: Build for Endurance, Not Speed
Abstract:
The relationship between America and Indonesia can and should expand far beyond its current level. There are critical interests around which the two countries can build a strong, mutually beneficial partnership, such as trade, counterterrorism, military-to-military cooperation,…
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