By Edward Reed

In spite of their appropriately firm responses to North Korea over the sinking of the South’s naval vessel in March that left 46 dead, both the United States and South Korea have left open the door for humanitarian assistance to the North, especially aid to vulnerable populations. This is a positive signal in the midst of a dangerous crisis and escalating rhetoric. Continuation of aid, especially by South Korea, is justified both on humanitarian grounds and as a means of maintaining a channel for contact between opposing camps. History indicates that it is a safety valve that both the South and North have made effective use of in past crises.

In 2002 a serious naval clash took place between the South and North in the West Sea of Korea near the same place where the Cheonan was struck. A South Korean ship was destroyed and six South Korean sailors lost their lives. All official contact between South and North Korea was halted while tensions mounted.
Read more »

By John J. Brandon

For the past 23 years, May 31 has held significance that few are even aware of – World No Tobacco Day. Started in 1987 by the World Health Organization (WHO), World No Tobacco Day has for almost a quarter century encouraged 24 hours of abstinence from all forms of tobacco around the globe, in an attempt to shine a light on the negative health effects of tobacco use.  But smoking is on the rise in Asia – sharply – so clearly not everyone is heeding the message.

Of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco smokers, 700 million live in Asia. China, India, and Indonesia are the world’s largest consumers of tobacco. China’s 350 million smokers puff on 2 trillion cigarettes a year. Cigarette smoking in Indonesia has increased by 26 percent over the past 15 years. Increased smoking is having considerable public health consequences across the region. As life spans increase across Asia, diseases caused by smoking – cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and various forms of cancer – are overtaking infections as a leading cause of premature death. Of the 5.5 million people who die from smoking-related illnesses each year, half are in Asia. China and Indonesia alone account for 1.7 million smoking deaths. By 2050, researchers estimate that smoking deaths in Asia will be four times what they are today.
Read more »

By Kim N. B. Ninh

Vietnam has garnered international attention over the past two decades with its remarkable economic growth and strong poverty alleviation record. The adoption of the doi moi (renovation) policy in late 1986, marked by a shift to market-oriented development and international integration, has transformed this country of 86 million. Crucial legal reforms embodied in such laws as the Enterprise Law, the Land Law, and the Investment Law have further spurred economic development, encouraging the emergence and growth of market activities, the private sector, and foreign investment in a country long governed by central planning. The private sector in particular is playing an increasingly significant role in the economy. According to the World Bank, in 2007 the domestic private sector contributed 46 percent of the GDP, and private sector investment in the economy grew steadily from 23 percent in 2000 to 38 percent in 2006. With some 1.5 million new entrants into the labor market each year, the domestic private sector is critical to employment generation.
Read more »

By Julia Chen

The four students dressed in hooded sweatshirts, faded jeans, and designer sneakers looked like any other teenagers walking along the streets of San Francisco. However, these students were part of a carefully selected delegation from Vietnam here last month to gain a sense of youth participation and awareness in environmental protection in the U.S. The delegation also included two officials from the Ministry of Education, and two reporters from Vietnam TV who were videotaping their experiences for a documentary to be shown on national TV in Vietnam. (Watch our own video featuring highlights from the visit.)

The delegation participated in a special reception for the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize winners at Golden Gate Park’s Crissy Field community center.

The Bay Area’s diverse natural surroundings and strong leadership in environmental innovation made it a great place to examine environmental challenges and successes, such as solid waste management and energy conservation, in an urban setting.
Read more »

By To Kim Lien

Rapid economic growth generates tremendous stress on the environment, from water and air pollution to depletion of natural resources and mounting garbage. As one of the countries that has enjoyed a high level of economic growth in the past decade, environmental degradation is becoming increasingly visible in Vietnam. Over the last year, we have seen unprecedented public outcry over the pollution of rivers and waterways with industrial waste, protests over unsanitary waste disposal and loss of green space due to rampant construction, and growing concern over the decline of quality of life.

Public outcry over the pollution of Vietnam's rivers and waterways has increased in recent years.

Although a few recent environmental cases generated significant media and public interest in Vietnam, citizens generally do not play an active role in the environmental discourse – whether pushing for more effective government response or individually participating in protecting natural resources.
Read more »

By John J. Brandon

During times of political difficulty, and even turbulence, Thailand has been known for its ability to at least cope with its challenges, even if they were not managed well. After events of the past week in Bangkok, Thailand’s ability to cope may very well be tested like never before. Thailand reached a critical stage of brinksmanship and confrontation between anti-government protesters (“red shirts”) and the military-backed, civilian government, led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, when troops used armored personal carriers to smash through barricades to end protests. Many were concerned, including this writer, that violence and bloodshed would escalate to an unprecedented degree.

Red shirt protesters in Central Bangkok climb on an army vehicle. Photo by Flickr user Pittaya, used under a Creative Commons license.

Early last week, it appeared that Prime Minister Abhisit might successfully end the two-month political crisis by promoting a reconciliation plan that would call for his government to step down a year earlier than its full term and for the holding of new elections in November.
Read more »

By V. Bruce J. Tolentino

As tantalizing hints of recovery from the global financial crisis pop up in international economic statistics, a curious dichotomy of narratives about the status of various Asian economies has emerged in the international media:

China Dominant

First, there is the big story, related with relish and surprise, of unexpected and robust economic recovery in most countries across Asia, with a dominant, triumphant China leading the way. Meanwhile, more-developed Asian economies – such as Japan, which is commonly portrayed as somewhat stuck in a low-growth, lack-luster rut – are seen as mere supporting players.
Read more »

By Steven Rood

On Tuesday, May 18, the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) proclaimed the last three (of 12) nationwide winning candidates for Senate. Doing so just eight days after polls closed for the May 10 election is in astonishing contrast to previous elections, which have taken closer to eight weeks to proclaim the last winning candidate.

Lines form at a local precinct for the first automated elections in the Philippines.

As I noted in last week’s In Asia post, the speed of results that emerged in the nation’s first automated election stunned the Philippines. A large number of races were decided extremely quickly, and the vast majority of the 17,000 electoral positions at stake have now been decided. Many candidates conceded defeat as the results became clear, including Senator Manny Villar who lost in the presidential race to Senator Noynoy Aquino, although the losing candidate running for mayor of Manila claimed to have been the victim of “hocus-PCOS” (a reference to the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines used during the election).
Read more »

By Scott Snyder

The Washington Post reports that interim results of a South Korea-led international investigation into the March 26th sinking of the 1,200-ton corvette Cheonan near Baek-ryong Island are due to be released by the South Korean government on Thursday morning (Wednesday evening EST). The report, which concludes on the basis of strong circumstantial forensic evidence that a North Korean torpedo sunk the Cheonan, will provide an initial basis upon which the South Korean government will pursue a range of policy responses. These responses can be categorized according to four different tracks: 1) domestic, 2) inter-Korean, 3) the U.S.-ROK alliance, 4) international.
Read more »

Water, sanitation, traffic, and regular electricity and fuel shortages are severe problems facing Bangladesh’s citizens. By 2020, the country will have nearly 170 million people; half will be women. “For the sake of Bangladesh,” explains The Asia Foundation’s program officer in Dhaka, Suparna Hasan, in this video, “we need to bring women into the development process.” She says, although Bangladeshi women love to take on challenges and are very hard working, the society is still very male-dominated, making it difficult to gain the collateral usually needed to secure bank loans. Now, in the Northeastern Bangladesh city of Sylhet, a group of women entrepreneurs have joined together to advocate for better access to loans for women. Through their efforts, they have formed a network that has been successful in getting banks to change their policies and make more loans available to women. Now, more women are finding the means to grow their own businesses and boost employment in the region.