[Tlc] TLC-international relations

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Al Valentine.
Thanks,
justin

A good article on US-Asia relations and US strategy in the region.  Here are some quotes I found interesting from the article:

"Despite no imminent external or domestic threats and a long established policy in Washington—and particularly the U.S. Navy—to promote warmer ties, Beijing has increased its military budget by double digits every year for more than a decade.6 It has pursued advanced weapons systems, including fourth-generation fighters, kinetic space kill capabilities, and new ballistic missile submarines. It has laid underwater listening nets and built a recently discovered submarine base in its far southern waters, near Asia’s most crucial trade routes. It is becoming increasingly adept at cyber-warfare. And, even though the People’s Liberation Army ground forces remain cumbersome and outdated, its asymmetric capabilities are worrying defense planners around the region."

"As much as China is feared, it is Russia, flush with petrodollars, that nations are beginning to worry about more."

"In general, the United States should employ a similar set of programs and approaches, linking security assistance to open trade relationships and buttressing both with enhanced civil society engagement, from grass-roots gatherings to parliamentary and intellectual exchanges."

Al

http://www.aei.org/docLib/20081006_23544AO03Auslin_g.pdf  

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu