Building a New China-U.S. Strategic Stability

Since the end of the Cold War,and especially since the beginning of the 21st century,the world order has changed significantly.This has brought major challenges to big power relations.Furthermore,in this era of globalization which advocates farther,faster,deeper,and cheaper,1 it has become urgent that China and the U.S.,as the biggest rising power and the biggest established power,to build a new type of strategic stability which would extend beyond the dimensions of their bilateral relationship.     

“Trade with the Devil”: Rubber,Cold War Embargo,and US–Indonesian Relations, 1951–1956

This article examines the issue of rubber in US–Indonesian relations in the 1950s. Indonesia, attempting to promote its economic development, sought to sell natural rubber to the Communist People's Republic of China. In so doing, it risked alienating the United States, which for its part led anti-PRC trade embargo efforts while at that same time attempting to woo Third World neutrals such as Indonesia. The article explores the course and complexities of this issue on both sides, and concludes that, in the end, Washington decided that enforcing an increasingly questionable rubber embargo was not worth a rupture in relations with Jakarta. It also finds that President Eisenhower, although keenly aware of the issues at stake, did not provide the decisive leadership that would allow Washington to take the initiative, rather than react to circumstances, regarding the sale of rubber to the People's Republic of China.     

Is the Animal Liberation Front morally justified in engaging in violent and illegal activism towards animal farms?

The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is an activist group, mainly focused on violent and illegal direct action, including destruction of property, the rescuing of animals and the clandestine filming of animal cruelty on animal farms. Here, I engage with three arguments that are often raised against the ALF’s actions, namely these actions are not morally justified because: (a) they are not measures of last resort; (b) they are excessively violent and do not discriminate targets; and (c) they have no reasonable probability of success. I contend that clandestinely filming animal cruelty is morally justified, the destruction of property is not and that rescuing animals is morally justified, if the ALF incorporates some changes as to how this is done.     

从民间歌唱传统中看壮泰族群关系——以中国壮族“末伦”和老挝、泰国佬族Mawlum的比较为个案

“末伦”是流传于中国德保、靖西、那坡等县壮族的一种民间曲艺,Mawlum是流传于老挝、泰国佬族民间的一种歌唱艺术.二者读音相近,意义相异.通过分别考察它们与本国民间宗教“末”和Maw的关系,可以发现二者的内在关联.“末伦”和Mawlum的称谓很可能在壮、佬民族分化之前就已存在,是用于指称壮泰族群共有的歌唱传统的.     

中国—东盟自由贸易区成立以来的成绩、问题及对中国—东盟关系的影响

文章总结了中国—东盟自由贸易区(CAFTA)建成一年多时间来取得的成绩,包括推动双边的贸易和投资,加深区域融合,促进中国省市对东盟市场的了解等;指出了存在的问题,如双方对CAFTA的“热情”不平衡,贸易不平衡,一些东盟国家对中国仍有担忧,中国企业对CAFTA仍缺乏了解等.文章认为,CAFTA的建成进一步密切了中国与东盟的经济关系,但双方应加强互信合作,以达到双赢目的.     

A proposed methodology for assessing the economic needs of safeguard zones protecting groundwater intended for human consumption within the context of the European Water Framework Directive

This paper describes the gross domestic product and hydrological environment service method for assessing the socio-economic consequences of implementing necessary measures for safeguarding the quality of groundwater for human consumption and eliminating the risk of pollution. This method assesses the positive and negative impacts of designations of protected areas. Economic assets and social goods are the two integrated variables used in analysing the method. The first includes economic impacts on the local gross domestic product of defining protected areas, and the second considers the benefits of this designation in the conservation of water resources, assigning a monetary value to the preserved resources. In addition, tools have been incorporated, such as payment for hydrological services and generation of permissible activities, which reduce negative social impacts through positive economic impacts. These tools can only be used when compliance with conservation requirements for protected areas is demonstrated. The conclusions of this study include an application of the proposed methodology and provide essential and specific assessments that show that this methodology fulfils the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive requirements and that it is an effective tool in the implementation and development of strategies for hydrological planning processes.