pacific forum History of Pacific Forum

PacNet #33 – A ‘Plan B’ for the WTO: how to rescue the Doha Round

On May 30, Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), set a deadline of June 30, 2006 for a long-delayed deal to conclude the Doha Round of global trade negotiations. This means members of the WTO would have to reach a broad-based agreement to cut farm subsidies and tariffs on agricultural and […]

PacNet #32 – DPRK Missile Launches: Multiple Tests, Multiple Failures?

The July 4th DPRK Taepodong-2 missile launch, along with the firing of half a dozen shorter-range missiles, represented more than just a test of Pyongyang’s ICBM capabilities. It is also a test of the policies and practices of all participants in the six-way talks, and of the international community as well.  Thus far, one sees […]

PacNet #31 – Preparing for the post-Koizumi-era: the pieces are in place

The “Sayonara Summit” went very well – as expected. Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro’s last visit to the U.S. as prime minister – a “summit-cum-road trip” with a 19-gun salute and visit to Graceland – set a new standard for intimacy on the diplomatic circuit. It was a fitting farewell to a remarkable five years in […]

PacNet #30 – Pax Asia Pacifica?

“Are the United States and East Asia ready for the creation of a ‘Pax Asia Pacifica’ as a logical successor to the ‘Pax Americana’ that has provided peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region for decades?” This question was foremost on former Philippine President Fidel Ramos’ mind when he lectured on U.S.-China and East Asia […]

PacNet #29 – Timor as a Failed State: A Slap in the Face for ASEAN?

Within days of the first-ever ASEAN defense ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur on May 9, 2006, Timor-Leste went into a freefall of violence and mayhem. This tiny state, situated just on ASEAN’s eastern doorstep, won its independence from Indonesia in 2002 following a UN-sponsored referendum in 1999. But it has been struggling to be a […]

Issues & Insights Vol. 06 – No. 09

On May 12, 2006, the Honorable Fidel V. Ramos, former president of the Republic of the Philippines, gave the inaugural “Ambassador L.W. ‘Bill’ and Jean Lane Lecture in Diplomacy” in Washington DC, hosted by the Pacific Forum.  He called for the creation of a “Pax Asia Pacifica” as a logical successor to the Pax Americana […]

PacNet #28 – North Korea Missile Test: Will They or Won’t They?

Will they or won’t they? That seems to be the big question dominating the news these days.  Will North Korea launch a Taepodong missile, either as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test or in an attempt to launch a satellite (as they claimed during their last launch in 1998)?  

PacNet #27 – Settling the Japan/Korea Dispute

The current period of quiescence in the dispute between South Koreaand Japan involving sovereignty over some islets in the Sea of Japan (East Sea in Korean) may well be only the proverbial lull before the storm. However, resolving the issue for the long term could help improve Japan­-South Korea, and indeed Japan-Asia, relations.

PacNet #26 – Troubling Signs in East Asia

Stability in East Asia rests in large part on relations among China, Japan, and the United States.  If these relations are managed well, there is no danger in East Asia that cannot be effectively addressed.  If they are managed badly, chances of destructive collision will be greatly enhanced.