Backgrounder posted April 7, 1999 by Richard D. Fisher
China Increases Its Missile Forces While Opposing U.S. Missile Defense
Revelations that China stole U.S. nuclear
warhead secrets highlight two strategic challenges to the United
States. First, China is building a range of new ballistic and
cruise missiles. New, small nuclear warheads--developed with the
help of the stolen information and other U.S. data--will allow
China to place multiple warheads on new intercontinental…
Backgrounder posted November 13, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher, Robert P. O'Quinn, Daryl Plunk
Clinton's Trip to Asia
As President Bill Clinton prepares to make his
second trip to Asia later this month, America's allies and friends
are expecting him to show strong U.S. leadership. Each destination
along his route--Malaysia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) forum, Japan, and South Korea--will present dilemmas
requiring tough recommendations and…
Executive Memorandum posted November 8, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher
Time To Stop North Korea's Missile Blackmail
North Korea's August 31 missile test that flew over
Japan highlights a growing missile threat to Japan, South Korea,
and the United States. This test follows North Korea's demands for
$500 million to halt its missile exports, as well as threats to
revive its nuclear weapons program if it does not get more money.
Such blatant extortion demonstrates the failure of U.S.…
Executive Memorandum posted October 15, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher
Malaysia After the Crackdown: A Poor Venue
Until September, former Deputy Prime
Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim--a friend of the United States
and a modern pro-market reformer--seemed destined to succeed Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamed, who has led Malaysia for 17 years. On
September 2, however, Mahathir sacked Anwar; then, on September 20,
he had Anwar arrested on spurious charges of sexual…
Backgrounder posted September 15, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher
Don't Railroad Cambodia's Democrats
Thousands of Cambodians protesting for democracy in
the capital of Phnom Penh are looking to the United States for
help. On September 8, 9, and 10, these peaceful protesters were
attacked and dispersed by the troops of Second Prime Minister Hun
Sen.
A
number of countries, however, are trying to railroad Cambodia's
democrats into forming a coalition government…
Executive Memorandum posted June 16, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher, John T. Dori
The Strategic Implications of China's Nuclear Aid to Pakistan
China's role in helping Pakistan to acquire nuclear
weapons has raised serious concerns about China's part in fostering
instability in South Asia. The disturbing strategic implications
spill over even to the Middle East. It is essential that
policymakers in the United States examine these implications
carefully in order to craft an effective response.
CHINA'S…
Backgrounder posted March 12, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher, Robert P. O'Quinn
The United States and Thailand: Helping a Friend in Need
The
visit of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to Washington, D.C., on March
12 offers the opportunity to reaffirm U.S. support for Thailand.
Once considered an economic "tiger," Thailand is seeking to recover
from an economic crisis that has ravaged economies across Asia. The
Thai economy, which had expanded at an average real gross domestic
product (GDP) growth rate of…
Executive Summary posted March 12, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher, Robert P. O'Quinn
BG1164es: The United States and Thailand: Helping a Friend in Need
Thailand seeks support from the United
States as it tries to recover from a serious economic crisis. The
March 12, 1998, visit of Thailand's Prime Minister, Chuan Leekpai,
offers the United States the opportunity to affirm its support for
an important U.S. ally. In addition to their long-standing military
alliance, Thailand and the United States share a concern…
Executive Summary posted March 11, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher
BG1163es:China's Arms Require Better U.S. Military Ties With Taiwan
The
traditional objective of the United States in the Taiwan Strait has
been to prevent conflict until the People's Republic of China (PRC)
and the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC) settle their differences
peacefully. To this end, under the provisions of the 1979 Taiwan
Relations Act, the United States has sold defensive weapons to
Taiwan to deter Chinese…
Backgrounder posted March 11, 1998 by Richard D. Fisher
China's Arms Require Better U.S. Military Ties With Taiwan
The
traditional objective of the United States in the Taiwan Strait has
been to prevent conflict until the People's Republic of China (PRC)
and the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan settle their differences
peacefully. To this end, under the provisions of the 1979 Taiwan
Relations Act (TRA), the United States has sold defensive weapons
to Taiwan to deter an attack…
Backgrounder posted November 5, 1997 by Richard D. Fisher
How America's Friends Are Building China's Military Power
The October 29 summit between President Bill
Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin took place amid growing
international expectations that China will become a major power in
the next century, both economically and militarily. Increasingly,
even though the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is largely an
obsolete force, Beijing is seeking to use China's growing wealth…
Backgrounder Update posted March 12, 1996 by Richard D. Fisher, Stephen Yates
China's Missile Diplomacy: A Test of American Resolve in Asia
(Archived document, may contain errors)
3/12/96 269 CHINA'S MISSILE DIPLOMACY: A TEST OF AMERICAN RESOLVE IN ASIA (Updating Asian Studies Center Backgrounder No. 139, "China's Threats to Taiwan Challenge U.S. Leadership in Asia," March 6, 1996) Early in the morning of March 8, China fired three nuclear-capable missiles into two areas close to the Republic of China on…
Asian Backgrounder posted March 6, 1996 by Richard D. Fisher
China's Threats to Taiwan Challenge U.S. Leadership in Asia
(Archived document, may contain errors) No. 139 March 6, 1996
CHINA'S THREATS TO TAIWAN CHALLENGE U.S. LEADERSHIP IN ASIA
INTRODUCTION Deterring conflict in the Taiwan Strait is among the most important challenges for American foreign policy in early 1996. Ever since Republic of China Preside nt Lee Teng- hui's private visit to the United States on June 7-10, 1995,…