Organized Crime in Asia: A Review of Problems and Progress

This paper provides a preliminary overview of research on organized crime in Asia drawing on selected papers from a symposium held at the National University of Singapore in June 2007. We draw on these contributions to emphasize the enterprise nature of organized crime and the common problems encountered by law enforcement in controlling and preventing the many harms inflicted by serious criminal activity. Recent attempts to address the changing character and forms of transnational organized crime, especially through the strengthening of mutual legal assistance by regional bodies such as ASEAN, are noted. These measures have yet to develop into the cross-border institutional frameworks now found in Europe, and the level of effective co-operation can only continue to improve. Countering organized crime in Asia also faces additional difficulties arising from the cultural diversity, relative weakness of law enforcement in some states and the lack of common strategies in respect to illicit markets.

Building on a legacy

正During his visit to Central Asia and Southeast Asia last year,Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the initiatives of building a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.Fuzhou,capital of southeast China’s Fujian Province,is aiming to become a hub along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,which will connect Taiwan and ASEAN countries with the vast Chinese mainland.     

论白礁岛主权争端及其对新马关系和东盟发展的影响

由于历史、地缘政治等原因和国际海洋法对马来西亚的刺激,新加坡和马来西亚对白礁岛的主权归属展开了长达29年的争夺.新马两国对白礁岛主权归属的争端对新马双边关系和东盟的发展造成了一定影响.同时,双方对白礁岛主权的争端过程和争端通过海牙国际法院得以解决也给了我们一定的启示.     

布什政府在东南亚的三重战略及走向

布什政府在东南亚展开的一系列外交活动中,有着明晰的战略目标。它在这一地区的战略目标有3个方面：美国价值观的推行、双边关系的建立和加强、参与并影响地区进程。对上述三重战略走向分别进行阐述分析后,笔者认为,美国会继续推行它的既定战略,但是会遇到一定的阻力。     

中国与东盟农业合作状况与展望

中国和东盟开展农业合作不仅是中国国家整体外交的需要,也是中国农业可持续发展、农业企业发展壮大的必然要求.本文在分析中国与东盟农业合作现状和存在问题的基础上,提出了促进中国和东盟农业合作的政策建议.     

The Philippines’ Arbitration Pleading Bodes Ill for SouthChina Sea Disputes

正THE Philippines submitted on March 30 a memorial to the arbitral tribunal at The Hague,urging it to invalidate China’s"nine-dash line"in the South China Sea.The Philippines first initiated arbitral proceedings against China over the     

World Leaders' Gatherings: From APEC to G20

正From Beijing to Naypyitaw and then Brisbane,world leaders had a tight schedule from November 7 to 16 that entailed attending several major international conferences in the Asia-Pacific region.On the global stage,Chinese leaders announced the country’s new proposals on international governance.     

Exchanges

正Danish Queen Margrethe II Visits China President Xi Jinping held talks with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in Beijing on April 24,2014.Sino-Danish relations have never been better,said Xi Jinping,on the occasion of the Danish Queen’s visit.China has become Denmark’s largest trade partner in Asia and     

Contending eurocentric theories: the case study of Thailand's economic regionalism in ASEA

ABSTRACT

The Eurocentric theory of economic regionalism, as demonstrated by the empirical case of the European Union, has been widely recognized as the pathfinder, role model, and inspiration for other regional organizations, including ASEAN, due to its continuous attempts at deepening economic integration, formalizing the decision-making process, and legalizing the administrative body. Despite this concordant movement, it is evident from Thailand that ASEAN has evolved differently from the rationale, process, and prediction that Eurocentric theory dictates.

The purpose of this article is to argue that the economic regionalism of ASEAN has not developed in accordance with an economically-oriented rationale. Moreover, the process of economic integration has not necessarily derived from the free trade agreement itself, particularly when a country lacks continuity in terms of its development of regionalist projects. In addition, Thailand has not followed the path of economic integration due to spillover effects. This is because member countries have not given up their sovereignty in favour of the regional institution. Economic regional activities have been broadened within a limited scope, and the expansion has been conducted through bilateral talks, rather than a strengthening of regional solidarity.     

“四方安全对话”的新发展及前景探析

自2017年美、日、印、澳“四方安全对话”重新启动以来,其虽然只开展了少量且缺乏实质性内容的行动,却引发了大量讨论和高度的政策关注。纵观这一对话的发展演变可以看出,四国之间的某些共识构成了其重启后的显著特点,如更明确地将目标指向中国、以“民主价值观”作为秩序构建的出发点、服务于美国“印太战略”的需要以及开始将关注重点延伸至发展和治理领域等。基于这些新特点,“四方安全对话”在近三年来的实践中提升了四国之间的战略联系和协同作战能力、从议题领域和地理范围两个维度拓展了四国的战略合作、在外交上释放了四国团结一致的政治信号,并强化了美国主导的地区安全结构,从而对“印太”地缘环境产生了不容忽视的影响。尽管从组织内部以及次区域战略环境角度分析,“四方安全对话”的前景仍有很大的不确定性,但考虑到这一新的地缘战略安排针对中国的目标指向性,以发展的眼光看待并审慎地予以应对,是中国从外交上塑造地区和平秩序、维护国家安全和发展利益的应有之义。