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Economic Review

A key development during April 2009 was the release of statistics which indicated that the first stages of the government’s 4,000bn yuan fiscal stimulus package is indeed having a positive impact. In spite of the shortcomings in China’s official economic statistics, the implication is that the country is making a shift towards growth that is driven by domestic demand...

China Watch Monthly Review - May 2009 - free trial

Sri Lanka's next steps

In the final stages of the civil war, defeating the Tamil Tigers proved a straightforward task for Sri Lanka. Two issues now dominate the horizon: how to finance the reconstruction of an island devastated by 30 years of civil war; and what, if any, political concessions will be granted by the Buddhist, Sinhala-speaking majority to the mostly Hindu, Tamil-speaking minority.

AsiaInt South Asia Review - May 2009 - free trial

China begins international bargain hunt

China is gearing up for a major overseas spending spree. With the financial crisis bringing many Western companies to the verge of bankruptcy, China has spotted a prime opportunity to use its huge cash reserves in mergers, acquisitions, and equity buy-ups. If Beijing’s investment managers can overcome their own natural caution, the result could be a slew of Western companies falling under Chinese ownership. But the extent of that caution, along with the reluctance of Westerners to cede control to Chinese enterprises, should not be underestimated.

AsiaInt North Asia Review - March 2009 - free trial

China makes the case for SE Asian hedging

Southeast Asia Review’s sister publication, AsiaInt Weekly Alert, noted ahead of the 27 February-1 March Asean summit in Thailand that there had been a certain amount of negativity about the organization during the run-up to the summit, which was not altogether surprising given that the summit had had to be rescheduled from December because of unrest in Thailand. The recent cancellation of mid-April Asean partnership meetings for exactly the same reason was even more embarrassing. But the point we made in early March remains: Asean is important almost despite itself. This month we look at the effect that China’s newfound naval assertiveness is having on the countries of Southeast Asia.

AsiaInt Southeast Asia Review - May 2009 - free trial

Japan's opposition starts election rescue bid

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has a new man at the helm: Yukio Hatoyama. His predecessor, Ichiro Ozawa, succumbed to pressure this month and resigned, following his involvement in a political funding scandal which threatened to ruin the DPJ’s chances of election victory over the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Electoral success now depends on Hatoyama’s ability to maintain DPJ unity and to move out of Ozawa’s shadow, which, given the history of Japanese politics, is easier said than done.

AsiaInt North Asia Review - May 2009 - free trial