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Taiwan-China Relations: Debates over the ECFA

By Michael Chang, BASC Research Assistant Since the ascension of the Kuomintang (KMT) and President Ma Ying-jeou into power in 2008, efforts to restore cross-strait relations in transportation, commerce and communications have been the subject of negotiations between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and […]

The Greek Question

By Ivy Ngo, BASC Research Assistant Photo courtesy of REUTERS/John Kolesidis Greece has never seemed so far removed from its prehistoric glory as the civilization that brought us Hercules, Aristotle and the origins of democracy. Already in dire straits due to a national debt that exceeds gross domestic product, the Greek government is now battling […]

Global Korea 2010: Is South Korea Emerging as a Global Leader?

By Do-Hee Jeong, BASC Research Assistant South Korea has been the subject of great international attention during the past few weeks. In addition to Yuna Kim’s momentous recording-breaking victory in figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics, South Korea took the lead in a joint research project with Japan and China to push for a […]

The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP): A Panglossian Endeavor

By Peter Volberding, BASC Research Assistant On December 14, 2009, President Barack Obama and USTR Ron Kirk officially notified Congress of the administration’s intention to enter into negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Currently, the TPP is a multilateral FTA composed of four members—Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, and Chile—and endeavors to have full free […]

50th Anniversary of the US-Japan Security Treaty comes amid strains in the bilateral relationship

Ren Yi Hooi, BASC Research Assistant The US-Japan security treaty turned 50 years old last month, but the bilateral relationship between these two countries currently faces a critical point as a result of several spats between the US and the new Hatoyama administration in Japan […]

Happy Holidays from the Berkeley APEC Study Center!

The Berkeley APEC Study Center would like to wish all of its friends and patrons a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We will be taking a break from our blog until January, but until then, please enjoy the Fall 2009 edition of BASC News, which is full of our latest announcements and […]

WTO Summit 2009: An End to Doha in sight?

Ren Yi Hooi, BASC Research Assistant The seventh official ministerial meeting of the WTO’s 153 nations was recently held in Geneva from November 30 to December 2, but it passed with barely a whisper in comparison to the furor that greeted the Seattle WTO summit ten years ago. Even the protests were considerably more subdued, […]

On the Sidelines of the 2009 APEC Summit

by Peter Volberding, BASC Research Assistant At the 2009 APEC Summit in Singapore, government leaders pledged increased economic cooperation and regional integration under the slogan “Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region.” Additionally, in the wake of the global financial crisis, leaders emphasized APEC’s […]

India: Next in Line for an FTA with EU?

By Michelle Chang, BASC Research Assistant On Oct. 15th this year, the European Union inked a free trade agreement with South Korea that has been in negotiations since 2007. The FTA caused much controversy among the European auto sector as auto makers expect the deal to asymmetrically benefit Korean auto makers. Nevertheless, trade officials on […]

2009 East Asian Summit

By Ivy Ngo, BASC Research Assistant This past weekend marked the fourth East Asian Summit, which followed on the heels of the 14th ASEAN Summit, in Hua Hin, Thailand. The key difference between the two summits is the more inclusive discourse of the East Asian Summit: participants include not only ASEAN but also China, Japan, […]

ASEAN Summit marred by controversy

Ren Yi Hooi, BASC Research Assistant With the first ever ASEAN-US summit confirmed to take place in conjunction with the annual APEC Meeting in Singapore next month, ASEAN’s importance as a region appears to have gained further recognition on the global platform. However, sticky disputes over human rights issues and friction between some member nations […]

Little Prospects for Japan’s Proposed “East Asian Community”

Peter Volberding, BASC Research Assistant Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s recent proposal for an East Asian Community is expected to raise eyebrows at Saturday’s trilateral summit in Beijing between the leaders of Japan, China, and South Korea. Inspired by the successes of the European Union, Hatoyama’s prosaic vision aims to foster economic growth and ensure […]