Asia

Korean Demilitarized Zone Essential to Thousands of Migratory Birds
- February 11, 2018
The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics (February 9–25) and Paralympics (March 9–18) promise a brief respite in tensions on the Korean Peninsula. During inter-governmental talks in January 2018, North and South Korea decided that their teams would march in the Opening …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Environment
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2018: A Strong Canada–Japan Relationship Bodes Best for Peace
- January 10, 2018
At the dawn of 2018, anxiety and uncertainty seem to loom over the horizon. The most obvious risks come from North Korea, with its missile tests and threats to use nuclear warheads against the United States. President Trump’s threatening rhetoric …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, China
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Canada Must Step Up to Help Stop Beijing’s Bullying of Taiwan
- January 10, 2018
China began 2018 with a breach of longstanding arrangements for aviation safety in the Taiwan Straits. On 4 January, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) unilaterally opened up northbound civil flights on flight path M503 and three connecting east–west …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, China
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Mapping Out a North Korean Peace Process
- December 11, 2017
By John Gruetzner

There are ultimately four critical components to a peace process:

The first component is to submit and then finalize a draft of a document acceptable to the original signatories that converts the armistice agreement signed on 27 …
By CIPS
Asia, International Security, Peacekeeping, United Nations, USA
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Canada Doubling Down on Diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula
- December 11, 2017
By John Gruetzner

Canada has announced that it is co-hosting a 16-nation summit with the United States early next year to explore options to engage North Korea. Prime Minister Trudeau is also likely to meet this month with US Secretary …
By CIPS
Asia, International Security, Peacekeeping, United Nations, USA
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Why Taiwan is an International Issue
- September 20, 2017
China works hard to convince the world that any decision about Taiwan is entirely a Chinese domestic affair. This has not, however, always been the official line of the Chinese Communist Party. In 1936, when the Republic of China (ROC) …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, China, Democracy, Human Rights
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China’s Republican Flag: A Conundrum for Canada–Taiwan Relations
- July 30, 2017
China’s Republican flag — the French-inspired tricolore representing nationalism, democracy, and peoples’ livelihood in Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People — was the national flag of all of China from 1928 until the founding of the People’s Republic of …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, Democracy
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In Memoriam: Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique, murdered 23 April 2016
- April 20, 2017
By Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a …
By CIPS
Asia, Democracy, Human Rights
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Canada–China Free Trade Part 2: Forging an Agreement
- March 10, 2017
by John Gruetzner and Phil Calvert

A new free trade agreement with China, in whatever form it takes, should be advanced within the context of a broader strategy for Canada’s engagement with China, particularly (but not exclusively) the strategy of …
By CIPS
Asia, International Trade
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Canada–China Free Trade Part 1: Business before Politics
- March 10, 2017
by John Gruetzner and Phil Calvert

Canada and China have begun exploratory discussions on a possible free trade agreement (FTA). Expanding Canada’s economic ties with China and moving the commercial relationship forward is a positive step. If it is properly …
By CIPS
Asia, International Trade
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North Korea: Testing China’s Patience
- October 7, 2015
^{Postcard from North Korea

Photo: John Pavelka, Creative Commons License}

Anniversaries have always been important in Socialist countries.

For the people, it means a day off from the humdrum of workaday life with maybe an extra ration of meat or …
By David Slinn
Asia, International Security
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Making Peace in a Divided World: New Roles for the United Nations?
- October 1, 2015
^{© Crown Copyright 2013}

By Richard Gowan

There is no more annoying phrase in discussions of international affairs than “If the United Nations did not exist, we would have to invent it!” It is certainly true that the world urgently …
By CIPS
Asia, International Security, Russia, United Nations, USA
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