The World Today China, India and Japan: Friend and Foe China’s position in the world is drawing increasing comment. Will its growing economic strength be converted into military aspirations, or does it present a massive economic opportunity? Beijing’s relations with the two other Asian giants are changing too with a rapprochement between India and China and the worsening of relations between China and Japan.
The World Today British Nuclear Forces: The Decision that Dares not Speak its Name There are tough foreign policy choices ahead for the new British Government, to be elected this month. The dilemma over Europe is well known; almost unnoticed, especially in campaigning for votes, is the potentially explosive and expensive issue of replacing or updating the country’s nuclear deterrent. Ironically one of the first negotiations for new ministers will be the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference, also beginning this month.
The World Today Terrorism and World Politics: Beyond Armed Response The first anniversary of the Madrid train bombing has passed with ceremonies to commemorate the killing of over 190 people.
The World Today Terrorist Finance: On the Money Trail Anyone trying to open a new bank account comes face to face with regulations introduced to make it difficult for terrorists to finance their operations. But these new measures seem to be producing limited returns and creating their own difficulties.
The World Today Global Trade: Going for Global Growth This year the World Trade Organization has another chance to live up to its name. Power has shifted with a group of twenty developing nations demanding the right terms to trade themselves out of poverty. The rich trading nations need to pay attention.
The World Today Burma: Smouldering Volcano The international community is again debating policy towards Burma, prompted for example, by its scheduled chairmanship next year of the regional organisation ASEAN. This month provides plenty of reminders of the unsavoury nature of the regime: it is three years since opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released – she’s since been detained again – and fifteen years since her party won the last democratic elections, but was never allowed to form a government. The generals now in power are involved in an internal conflict that will do nothing for their country’s standing.
The World Today Britain and Europe - The Budget: Cashback Crisis Spending plans from the European Union could make Britain the biggest contributor to a growing budget in eight years’ time. The twenty-year-old cashback deal is at stake too as a potentially costly reverse for any government.