The contemporary political history of the Asia-Pacific region

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Beijing vital to Asia-Pacific peace
The Straits Times, 12 July 2000. Rear Admiral Huang Jiang said the role of China's armed forces would be in line with China's pursuit of independence and peace in its foreign policy and national defence policy.
India emerging key player in Asia-Pacific region
By Amit Baruah, The Hindu, 23 July 2001. Slowly, but surely, India is being counted in the geo-politics of the region as an emerging power. The May 1998 nuclear tests focussed on New Delhi as never before. For some time, the focus of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained on criticising India for its actions, but gradually all that began to change.
North Korea—and US—under fire from Asia Pacific lawmakers
AFP, 13 January 2003. Both North Korea and the United States came under fire for endangering world peace at a conference of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) representing 24 Asia-Pacific countries. A US-led attack on Iraq would inflame Muslim anger and increase the number of recruits to international terrorism.
State of world not reassuring
Speech by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, The Straits Times, 14 January 2003. It is still a world of might is right, for legal independence and recognized borders does not necessarily imply true independence in a globalised world, a world without borders. In East Asia, a few have progressed but attacks on their currencies have pushed back their economies by almost two decades. We are told the way to develop is to embrace globalisation and a borderless world, to deregulate, to do away with protectionism, to be democratic and to be liberal.