China

The Associated Press (05/ 13) quotes Daniel Levy on the state of the Middle East peace process.
Foreign Policy in Focus (05/12) cites William Hartung on lessons learned in the Iraq War.
The New York Observer (05/12) mentions Parag Khanna in a discussion of the state of US hegemony.
World Politics Review (05/12) cites Flynt Leverett on China-US tensions.
US News (05/09) quotes Steve Clemons on Hillary Clinton's fading political future.

Today's news that Sichuan Province suffered an earthquake measuring 7.9 is not welcome news. Any region of the world would suffer significant loss of life after a tremblor of that degree and I fear the early numbers of casualties will only increase. Our sympathies go out to the Chinese victims and their families.

The strategic question is, what impact will the quake have on China going forward? Politically, the Chinese Government is under pressure to show they learned the lesson of this year's winter snowstorms that paralyzed the nation and demonstrated organizational weakness. If they don't demonstrate improved preparedness and effective rescue operations, the central government in Beijing will be weakened as the provincial governments adapt to deal with the anxiety of a massive population moving inexorably into closer, more interdependent quarters. New America Foundation out-going chairman, James Fallows, writing from Beijing, begins to examine the PR response of Beijing. I've attached it below.

World Politics Review (5/12) cites Flynt Leverett on China's rising influence in the Middle East.
Toronto Star (5/11) discusses Steve Coll's book and the West's obsession with Osama Bin Laden.
Democracy Arsenal (5/9) quotes Ghaith al-Omari on U.S. and Israeli options for engaging Hamas.
TPM Cafe (5/7) Daniel Levy writes about Israel's stubborn commitment to roadblocks and checkpoints.

Pacific Daily News (05/07) analyzes Parag Khanna's hypothesis of the decline of U.S. hegemony.
US News (05/06) quotes Sherle Schwenninger on the cost of doing business in the U.S.
AFP (05/06) cites Steve Clemons discussing the negative impact of Clinton's comments on Iran.
Hard News (05/06) discusses Peter Bergen's research on the link between education and terrorist recruitment.
The People's Daily (04/25) quotes Steve Clemons arguing against a boycott of the Beijing Games.

For the first part of 2008, the Chinese have increased the pace of yuan revaluation, but in doing so they may have augmented inflation, the very problem they are trying to prevent. Speculators poured funds into China (some believe as much as $200bn) during the first quarter of 2008 on the assumption that the undervalued yuan will appreciate further. The increased pace of appreciation during the first quarter only gave speculators more incentive to sneak cash in China's back door. The resulting growth in the monetary base has contributed to Chinese inflation. As a policy response some have argued China should do a one-off revaluation of the currency anywhere from fifteen to forty percent. Unsurprisingly, the Chinese authorities have not taken this risk.

Snapshot asks, what will be the pace of future yuan revaluation and will it stoke or reduce inflationary pressure?

The American Prospect (05/01) features Parag Khanna discussing the "second world's" growing influence.
The Project on Middle East Democracy (05/01) quotes Steve Clemons' critique of U.S. foreign policy.

Wired Magazine (04/28) cites Jeffrey Lewis' research on the Syrian Nuclear Program
The Week Daily (04/25) quotes Steve Clemons on the implications of Syria's Nuclear Program
The New Republic (04/25) responds to Steve Clemons' debate against a Beijing Boycott

Book TV (4/21) interviews Steve Coll about his new book, The Bin Ladens.
The Washington Post (4/20) asks Flynt Leverett's opinion of UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.
The Moderate Voice (4/19) quotes Daniel Levy on Israeli roadblocks as an obstacle to peace.
The Telegraph (4/19) reviews Parag Khanna's new book, The Second World.
The New Republic (4/18) follows Stephen Clemmons debate on the US response to the Beijing Olympics.
The Daily Yomiuri (04/17) features Steve Clemons analyzing Hillary’s Beijing boycott call.
PBS (4/17) speaks with Afshin Molavi about Iran's contemporary politics and culture.

On April 9^th, Senator Barack Obama joined a growing chorus of public figures demanding that President Bush boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. In a debate in The New Republic, American Strategy Director Steve Clemons and The New Republic Deputy Editor Richard Just debate the best action for the United States government to take vis-à-vis China's record of human rights violations. Clemons cites a potential nationalist backlash and the greater importance of geostrategic concerns. Just cites China's steadily worsening human rights abuses and the success of previous shaming attempts.

Economists concerned anout rising oil and food prices can add another item to their list of fears, Chinese wage growth. In 2007, unit labor costs increased for the sixth consecutive year while the price of Chinese imports to the U.S. surged by 4%. With a global economy that has become reliant upon inexpensive Chinese manufactures, the question of whether Chinese wage inflation is transitory or part of a long term structural change is of great importance.

Snapshot asks, will wage growth add to China's inflationary threat?

Bureau of Labor Statistics - U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes
New York Times - Asian Inflation Begins to Sting
China Daily - China's 'Demographic Dividend' to End in 2010
Goldman Sachs - Globalization and Disinflation: Can Anyone Else ' Do a China'?
Business Week - How Rising Wages are Changing the Game in China