East-West Center in the News

(2012-08-29) While much of China's historic engagement with the region has been to counter diplomatic advances by its rival, Taiwan, it has now moved beyond that, said Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East West Center in Hawaii.

"It is now probably more accurate to see the growth of Chinese influence in the South Pacific as not necessarily part of a scripted and controlled plan by the Chinese government," Roy said.

"It has become broader, part of China's economic and government interests going abroad and seeking the room that comes with being an emerging power."

-- Also appears in: Chicago Tribune, GMA News Online, Himalayan Times, IT Business Net, Oman Tribune, 1044 Metro Plus, South Bend Tribune

(2012-09-03) Satu Limaye, director of the East-West Center in Washington, outlined four challenges for the US in its pivot toward Asia, including how to sustain attention in this region and make multilateralism work and stretch all the way to the Asian subcontinent.

Although it's widely believed countries in this region depend on the US mainly for security, the countries actually have complex ties to its economy, too, Limaye said.

Limaye noted that the US should keep balance in its foreign policy, including its relationship with China, which should be "not too hot, not too cold".

"If we don't have constructive US-China relations, we cannot have constructive relations with our allies and partners because our allies and partners depend on US-China stability," Limaye said.

-- Also appears in: China Business News, China.org.cn