Taiwan Elections Vindicate the Status Quo The KMT’s victory in the March 2008 presidential elections can be essentially attributed to the promises it made to improve economic ties with Mainland China and assure good governance. Ironically, these were partly the same promises that had brought the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) to power in the historic 2000 presidential election. There was no element of surprise to the election results in which Ma Ying-Jeou defeated his DPP counterpart Frank Hsieh. The KMT’s victory does not mean that Taiwan will begin supporting unification with the Mainland. Abanti Bhattacharya | April 26, 2008 | IDSA Comments
Interview of Dr. Shehriyar Khateri While WMD hold the centre stage of international politics, its victims often suffer from neglect and insensitivity. Dr. Shehriyar Khateri, a physician, works determinedly for the cause of chemical weapons… Continue reading Interview of Dr. Shehriyar Khateri Monalisa Joshi | April - June 2008 | CBW Magazine
Hamid Ansari’s Visit to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan Vice President Hamid Ansari’s visit to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan from April 4 to 10, 2008 opened up new vistas between India and the Central Asian Republics (CARs). During his visit, Ansari asserted that greater engagement between India and CAR would not only prove beneficial for both but will also help to enhance the strategic significance of the region. The Vice President’s visit has opened up new hopes for cooperation especially in the hydrocarbon sector, mainly with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Nivedita Das Kundu | April 24, 2008 | IDSA Comments
Is Bioterrorism Threat Credible? Even terrorists play pranks on WMD use these days! Late May 2008 a purported terrorist video caught media attention and some serious coverage. As per the reports, the Al Qaeda… Continue reading Is Bioterrorism Threat Credible? Animesh Roul | April - June 2008 | CBW Magazine
Remembering Sir Clarke and Prof. Lorenz Technology has its critical place in human society. With their new ideas and discoveries and writings, scientists and writers bridge the gap between the knowledge of science and its understanding… Continue reading Remembering Sir Clarke and Prof. Lorenz Arvind Mishra | April - June 2008 | CBW Magazine
Musharraf in China: Economic benefits of an “all weather friendship” Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent visit to China from April 10-16 revealed the depth and confidence that highlight Pakistan-China relations. The much repeated refrain of an “all-weather friendship” between the two countries is now transforming itself from the erstwhile “purely defensive and strategic” in nature to one of deep economic engagement. Raviprasad Narayanan | April 22, 2008 | IDSA Comments
Pakistan’s Impending Economic Crisis One of the biggest achievements of Musharraf’s rule, according to him, was that he turned around a tottering economy. Rescuing it from the verge of default, he brought it to a state where it was declared a success story by the International Financial Institutions. GDP was growing at a healthy rate of 6.5 to 7.5 per cent and even touched nine per cent in 2005. ADB projected a 6.5 per cent GDP growth for 2008 in its report released in December 2007. Alok Bansal | April 21, 2008 | IDSA Comments
Verification of the FMCT: Lessons from IAEA, OPCW and CTBTO The successful completion of a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT), some believe, would be an important step towards the ultimate goal of elimination of nuclear weapons. The FMCT will affect… Continue reading Verification of the FMCT: Lessons from IAEA, OPCW and CTBTO Arun Vishwanathan | April - June 2008 | CBW Magazine
Ma, KMT and the new Cross-strait Policy In a development that is expected to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwanese voted in favour of the Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party) candidate Ma Ying-jeou in the March 22 presidential election. Ma’s victory was unprecedented, as he captured 58 per cent of the total votes cast – a full 16 percentage points more than Frank Hsieh of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Jagannath P. Panda | April 16, 2008 | IDSA Comments
Sanctions Against Iran are Futile The United Nations Security Council imposed the third set of economic and trade sanctions against Iran on March 3, 2008 for refusing to halt its nuclear programme. Resolution 1803, sponsored by Britain, France and Germany, was backed by 14 of the Council’s 15 members; Indonesia abstained. The sanctions were targeted against 13 individuals and 12 companies with links to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. One of the 13 individuals targeted is Brig. Gen. M. Mahtab Alam Rizvi | April 16, 2008 | IDSA Comments
