Weekly News 22 - 29 November

22/11/2010

-(The Australian 27/11) China learns to deploy its soft power- far from being the new master of the universe, China is misunderstood by other nations and misunderstands them. It is burdened by nationalism, and needs space and time to develop into a team player - Wang Yuzhu, a top international affairs expert in Beijing. -(Ground Report 27/11) Global War in the China Sea - Regular wars are about land and resources; world wars are fought over the sea; (TheStar 27/11) Wars and rumours of wars - NORTH Korea's deadly artillery strike on South Korea's Yeonpyeong island earlier this week is a reminder that there are still forces in the world that could throw up an unpredictable risk to the global economic recovery. -(CNN 26/11) Islands, crabs and skirmishes: the Koreas' maritime mishaps - Across the seas and oceans of Asia, islands and the waters around them are frequently a source of dispute and even military confrontation -(The Jarkata Post 25/11) China ‘softens’ S. China Sea stance - ASEAN and China will meet in Kunming, China, next month to discuss code of conduct on maritime security cooperation, a move that experts say shows softer diplomacy by China. -(RiaNovosti 25/11) Left at the Crossroads: Asian ambiguities and the new Great Game - China is no more the gentle giant. The sweet mandarin warble of “mulin, anlin, fulin” -which could be translated as “be friendly, make them feel secure and help make them rich”- has been replaced by the bellicose growling of a regional bully.