4. Länderstudien

The Atlantic (21.05.2013)

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/05/whats-be
hind-nigerias-escalating-bodycount/276083/

"What's Behind Nigeria's Escalating Bodycount?" Im Konflikt zwischen der radikalislamischen Gruppe Boko Haram und Regierungstruppen in Nigeria seien allein im April mindestens 571 Menschen getötet worden, schreiben John Campbell, früherer US-Botschafter im Land, und Asch Harwood. "This Islamist-inspired violence and the brutality of the security services may feed off each other. The NST shows a pattern whereby Islamist attacks provoke a heavy-handed response from the police and military. For a long time, northerners have complained that in the aftermath of Islamists violence, the security services round up large numbers of young men in the vicinity of the attack. Never formally arrested or prosecuted, they simply disappear. This response then drives popular support or acquiescence for Boko Haram's anti-government position and violent methods. In fact, the violence is so systematic that Human Rights Watch has called for an International Criminal Court investigation of both Boko Haram and the security services for crimes against humanity." Weiter...

Asia Times (21.05.2013)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/JAP-02-210513.html

"Japan tips its hand via North Korea" Die japanische Regierung hat offenbar unabhängig von den USA und Südkorea diplomatischen Kontakt zu Nordkorea aufgenommen. Nach Ansicht von Peter Lee setze die neue Regierung Japans damit ihren nationalistischen Kurs fort. "(...) there is a definite sense that Japan has to look out for and advance its own priorities; for conservatives, that translates into a willingness to pursue an independent foreign policy while shrinking from overt conflict with US priorities (...). Japanese unilateralism - and the demonstrated threat of Japanese unilateralism and even brinksmanship - ensures that the US has to grant Japan a de facto veto over US policies such as rapprochement with China and negotiations with North Korea in order to keep the increasingly assertive and independent Japanese government on board." Weiter...

The Moscow Times (17.05.2013)

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/why-putin-wants-us-
bases-in-afghanistan/480087.html

"Why Putin Wants U.S. Bases in Afghanistan" Michael Bohm erläutert, warum die russische Regierung erstaunlich ruhig auf die Ankündigung reagiert habe, dass das US-Militär auch nach dem Rückzug 2014 neun Militärstützpunkte in Afghanistan betreiben werde. "What explains Putin’s uncharacteristic restraint regarding the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan and his pragmatism concerning U.S. bases that may remain in the country after 2014? The answer is that the security that the U.S. provides to Russia’s southern borders is so important to the Kremlin that Putin is willing, as a rare exception, to refrain from his trademark, overblown anti-U.S. rhetoric. (...) There are only a few foreign-policy projects in the Kremlin’s current playbook that can help Russia extend its influence beyond its borders in a significant way. These include the proposed Eurasian Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO. These two important geopolitical projects can be realized, however, only if the former Soviet republics in Central Asia remain calm, peaceful and free of Islamic extremism." Weiter...

Al Jazeera English

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/05/20135195222347
0765.html

"Drones play crucial role in East Asia" Al Jazeera-Korrespondent Scott Heidler berichtet in seinem Videobeitrag aus Singapur, dass Drohnen in Asien bisher vor allem zur Überwachung territorialer Ansprüche eingesetzt werden. "Drones have become the most controversial aspect of the US military's strategy in places such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. But now, governments in East Asia have also started using unmanned aircraft. The drones play a crucial role in monitoring territorial claims in the region." Weiter...

East Asia Forum (20.05.2013)

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/05/20/indias-and-chinas-deft-di
plomacy-reflects-strategic-common-ground/

"India’s and China’s deft diplomacy reflects strategic common ground" Peter Drysdale kommentiert den Indienbesuch des chinesischen Premierministers Li Keqiang vor dem Hintergrund der jüngsten Grenzstreitigkeiten zwischen beiden Ländern. Indien und China hätten – so Drysdale - diplomatische Wege gefunden, derartige Krisen schnell und relativ geräuschlos beizulegen und sich auf ihre strategischen Gemeinsamkeiten zu konzentrieren. "'Both India and China', [Sourabh] Gupta argues 'remain conspicuously committed to an alternative model of international relations that is open, pluralistic and non-interventionist in its conception and eschews the imposition of bloc-based approaches or closed-ended arrangements'. India is now more often than not taken for granted in the West, seen as a pawn in the growing power game between America and China, or so pre-occupied within its region as to stunt its potential global role. (...) The idea that India will seek to forge a 'natural alliance' of democratic states in the Indo-Pacific (...) framed in conscious contra-distinction to China and India’s regional interests is remarkably persistent, though clearly wide of the mark. More likely it will seek to articulate an alternate, pan-Asian model of international relations that is keyed to regional tradition and historical circumstance and driven at its core by shared Sino–Indian interests." Weiter...

Guardian (15.05.2013)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/15/china-okinawa-dispute
-japan-ryukyu

"China lays claim to Okinawa as territory dispute with Japan escalates" China wolle offenbar einen territorialen Anspruch auf die Insel Okinawa erheben und habe den Streit mit Japan damit weiter eskaliert, berichtet Justin McCurry aus Tokio. "Beijing began its attempt to broaden the territorial dispute earlier this month when the communist party newspaper, the People's Daily, ran an article in which two Chinese academics challenged Japan's sovereignty over the Ryukyu chain of islands, which includes Okinawa. Luo Yuan, a two-star general in the People's Liberation Army, raised the territorial stakes again this week, saying the Ryukyus had started paying tribute to China in 1372, half a millennium before they were seized by Japan." Weiter...

Australian Strategic Policy Institute (13.05.2013)

http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?Cont
entID=357&pubtype=5

"Facing the dragon: China policy in a new era" Chinaexperte Ross Terrill analysiert den geopolitischen Aufstieg Chinas in diesem Beitrag für das Strategy-Magazin aus australischer Perspektive. "Our Asia–Pacific region prospers, but the seas off China are not tranquil. American policies protect Australia, but they worry some Australians. Whitlam and Nixon cancelled decades of war in the Asia–Pacific, ushering in decades of astonishing economic growth for Australia, China and others. Can it last? Will the Chinese, who have much to lose from more war, accept give and take with Washington and Tokyo, or will the Middle Kingdom demand the middle position, squeezing its fourteen contiguous neighbours? With his dual perspective as both Australian and American citizen, Terrill examines the choices between idealism and realism, economic interests and security interests, and the benefits and risks of alliances." Weiter...

East Asia Forum (14.05.2013)

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/05/14/india-china-border-tensio
ns-and-nuclear-posturing/

"India–China border tensions and nuclear posturing" Das chinesische Militär hat sich aus dem umstrittenen Gebiet an der Grenze zu Indien zurückgezogen und den schwelenden Konflikt damit vorerst beigelegt, berichtet Sandy Gordon von der Australian National University. "A disturbing feature of the incident was the way it was politicised on both sides, thus risking the protagonists being 'locked in' to their respective positions. Analysts in New Delhi have argued for some time that China has adopted a tactic of creeping encroachment, taking a bit of territory here, a bit there, and turning these incremental gains into reality on the ground. But even so, the Indians are surprised by the strength of the Chinese action and its occurrence on the eve of the two scheduled visits." Weiter...

Worldcrunch (13.05.2013)

http://worldcrunch.com/rss/opinion-analysis/shinzo-abe-and-the-re
turn-of-japanese-nationalism-a-view-from-beijing/shinzo-abe-japan
-nationalism-populism-revisionism/c7s11792/

"Shinzo Abe And The Return Of Japanese Nationalism - A View From Beijing" Sun Xingjie charakterisiert die politische Entwicklung in Japan seit der Wahl von Premierminister Abe im chinesischen Economic Observer als Rückkehr zum Nationalismus. Die widersprüchliche Haltung Japans zur eigenen Rolle im Zweiten Weltkrieg spielt im Beitrag einmal mehr eine große Rolle. "Many Japanese politicians are convinced that issues such as textbooks and the Yasukuni Shrine are part of Japan's internal affairs and cultural identity – and should not be interfered with by other countries. Cultural relativism swallows all sense of right and wrong and eludes the crimes of the dead to erase the stains on Japan’s history. It is impossible for the victims of Japan's past to forgive and understand if Japanese people hold this kind of perspective of history – never mind trust them. South Korean President Park Geun-hye, warned: 'We can open up a future of common prosperity with Japan only when Japan honestly reflects on its past.'" Weiter...

European Council on Foreign Relations (08.05.2013)

http://ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_eu_russia_relations_time_
for_a_strategic_pause130

"Time for a strategic pause in EU - Russia relations" Die europäischen Hoffnungen auf eine "graduelle Transformation" Russlands seien spätestens mit der Wiederwahl von Präsident Putin "gestorben", meint Jana Kobzova. Da ein Konfrontationskurs der EU gegenüber Russland ebenso aussichtslos sei, plädiert sie für eine "strategische Pause" in den Beziehungen. "Neither the Europeans nor the Russians need to meet twice a year just to see how little have the numerous common initiatives delivered in practice. (...) The EU should use this pause to do its own homework: fully liberalise its energy market, adopt tougher anti-corruption and money-laundering laws, and simplify and unify its Schengen visa issuance system to end the practice of visa-shopping by applicants from abroad, including Russia. The last step would add more pressure on Moscow to finally start fully implementing the commitments it has subscribed to in order to gain a visa-free regime with the EU." Weiter...

The Diplomat (08.05.2013)

http://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2013/05/08/india-cold-sta
rt-and-pakistani-tactical-nukes/

"India, 'Cold Start' and Pakistani Tactical Nukes" Zachary Keck analysiert die Hintergründe des atomaren Wettrüstens zwischen Indien und Pakistan, das auf pakistanischer Seite durch die Entwicklung taktischer Atomwaffen neu angeheizt worden sei. Indien habe bereits klargestellt, dass es einen vermeintlich begrenzten Einsatz atomarer Sprengköpfe nicht geben könne. "After the Mumbai attack Indian’s military leaders reportedly developed a new doctrine called Cold Start, which called for Indian troops to rapidly mobilize for limited conventional strikes on the Pakistani side of the border immediately following a terrorist attack. The rationale was that this would give Delhi the ability to retaliate against Islamabad without sparking a full-fledged nuclear exchange. Lacking the conventional military power to confront India’s military, Pakistani military officials are believed to be building tactical nuclear weapons to deploy in the field for possible use against the invading Indian military forces. (...) Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary and the current chairman of India’s National Security Advisory Board (...) shot down the notion that India would distinguish between theatre and strategic nuclear weapons usage. 'A limited nuclear war is a contradiction in terms,' He said. 'Any nuclear exchange, once initiated, would swiftly and inexorably escalate to the strategic level. Pakistan would be prudent not to assume otherwise as it sometimes appears to do, most recently by developing and perhaps deploying theatre nuclear weapons.'" Weiter...

Asia Times (07.05.2013)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/SOU-02-070513.html

"India-China war delayed by technology" Mohan Guruswamy von der Observer Research Foundation in Neu-Delhi analysiert den geopolitischen Charakter des aktuellen Konflikts zwischen China und Indien. Das Kräftegleichgewicht und die regionalen Interessen der beiden Atommächte mache eine militärische Eskalation sehr unwahrscheinlich, so Guruswamy. "While China has ratcheted up its show of assertiveness in the recent years, India has been quietly preparing for a parity to prevent war. Often parity does not have to be equality in numbers. The fear of pain is disproportionate to the possible gains, and the ability of the smaller in numbers side to do so in itself confer parity. There is a certain equilibrium in Sino-Indian affairs that make recourse to force extremely improbable. Both modern states are inheritors of age-old traditions and the wisdom of the ages. Both now read their semaphores well and know how much of the sword must be unsheathed to send a message. This ability will ensure the swords remain recessed and for the plowshares to be out at work." Weiter...

Neue Zürcher Zeitung (06.05.2013)

http://www.nzz.ch/meinung/debatte/schweizer-armee-unter-der-lupe-
1.18076540

"Die Armee unter der Lupe" Denis Froidevvaux, Peter Regli, Martin von Orelli und Hans-Jürgen Käser kommentieren in der Neuen Zürcher Zeitung die Debatte zur Schweizer Armeereform. "Welche Leistungen soll die Armee künftig erbringen? Welche personellen und materiellen Abbaumassnahmen sind zumutbar? Darüber gehen die Meinungen auseinander. Die Zukunft der Armee kann nicht im stillen Kämmerlein geplant werden. Ein offener Diskurs ist notwendig, aus dem ein tragfähiger sicherheitspolitischer Konsens resultieren sollte. Nur wenn breite Bevölkerungskreise anerkennen, dass die Schweiz weiterhin über eine kompetent ausgebildete und zeitgemäss ausgerüstete Armee verfügt, bleibt die Institution glaubwürdig. In den nebenstehenden Meinungen äussern sich vier Kenner der Materie zur angedachten Armeereform. An Kritik mangelt es nicht." Weiter...

British Association for South Asian Studies

http://www.basas.org.uk/podcasts/annual-lecture.php?uuid=7BB40AE1
-1E4C-4421-9E0A-EFAF5C4B8D15

"Muslims in India Today" Christophe Jaffrelot, Sozialwissenschaftler und Indienexperte am King's College, hat im vergangenen November in London einen Vortrag über die Situation indischer Muslime gehalten. Die British Association for South Asian Studies hat den Vortrag als Podcast ins Netz gestellt. "Dr Christophe Jaffrelot is a professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at King's College London, and he teaches South Asian politics and history at Sciences Po (Paris). His research interests include: theories of nationalism and democracy; mobilization of the lower castes and untouchables in India; Hindu nationalist movement; ethnic conflicts in Pakistan." Weiter...

Foreign Policy (04.05.2013)

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/03/china_india_most
_dangerous_border

"The Most Dangerous Border in the World" Ely Ratner und Alexander Sullivan vom Center for a New American Security fragen, was China mit der recht deutlichen Provokation an der Grenze zu Indien bezweckt haben könnte. "Perhaps it was a case of a PLA officer going rogue. Perhaps China wanted to send a message of strength in advance of high-level visits in May, when foreign minister Khurshid goes to Beijing and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visits Delhi on his first official trip abroad since taking office in March. Or perhaps, as many in the Indian media are speculating, Beijing is signaling it will no longer tolerate India's stepped-up patrols and infrastructure development along the border." Weiter...

Indian Defence Review (05.05.2013)

http://www.indiandefencereview.com/indian-response-to-chinese-int
rusion-in-daulat-beg-oldie/

"Indian response to Chinese intrusion in Daulat Beg Oldie" Danvir Singh, indischer Oberst im Ruhestand, erläutert die historischen und politischen Hintergründe des Grenzkonflikts zwischen Indien und China aus indischer Perspektive. "Whatever decision India takes and whichever option it opts to overcome the perennial Security threat emanating from China, our actions will be closely watched by the countries of this region who are threatened by the hegemonic stature of the Dragon. Any move by India asserting its national interest will set the agenda for future dealings with the Chinese in the decades to come." Weiter...

Indian Defence Review (30.04.2013)

http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/india-china-stand-off-sun
-tzu-in-action/0/

"India-China stand-off: Sun Tzu in action" Der indische Geheimdienstexperte Col R Hariharan schreibt in seiner Analyse der indisch-chinesischen Grenzstreitigkeiten, dass die chinesische Führung mit der Verlegung einer kleinen Militäreinheit einen klaren strategischen Sieg über Indien errungen habe. Eine Eskalation des Konflikts sei allerdings unwahrscheinlich. "(...) as a nation we are not prepared for prolonged war both mentally and physically with a major power like China. Among the people, China does not generate the fratricidal genes Pakistan kindles. Probably, China also does not want a shooting war for a very different reason. They remember the Sun Tzu’s quote 'Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.' So it does not make sense for the Chinese to go to war when they can achieve what they want without firing a shot. Why should they? After all by the simple act of moving a platoon of troops into the disputed area, they have managed to divide the nation, confuse the government, frustrate the armed forces and get away with what they want to do." Weiter...

Asia Times (02.05.2013)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-020513.html

"Myanmar morphs to US-China battlefield" Der Publizist und Asienexperte Bertil Lintner stellt fest, dass die politische Transformation in Myanmar zunehmend vor dem Hintergrund der amerikanisch-chinesischen Rivalitaet stattfinde. US-Praesident Obama habe der Entwicklung im Land Berichten zufolge aussenpolitische Prioritaet eingeraeumt und unter anderem zusaetzliche Geheimdienstmitarbeiter in die Botschaft entsandt. "For China, Myanmar is of vital economic and strategic importance. (...) In other words, China cannot just 'hand over' Myanmar to the US. As a result, China is playing a complex diplomatic game with Naypyidaw. While supporting the UWSA, including through the provision of arms, China has become involved in the peace process with the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Weiter...

Global Post (02.05.2013)

http://www.globalpost.com/globalpost-myanmar-emerges

"Myanmar Emerges" Die Global Post hat auf ihrer Website ein umfangreiches Dossier mit Wort- und Videobeitraegen zur Entwicklung in Myanmar zusammengestellt. "After decades of rights abuses, Myanmar's generals have recently freed political prisoners, reduced censorship and held limited elections — prompting nations to lift sanctions. But a year-long GlobalPost investigation has found that protests, violence and cronyism are testing Myanmar's reforms — and tarnishing the reputation of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Weiter...

BBC News (02.05.2013)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22365485

"Stakes high in Malaysia's pivotal election" Im Vorfeld der am 5. Mai stattfindenden Parlamentswahlen berichtet Jonathan Head aus Kuala Lumpur ueber die politische Lage in Malaysia. Er verweist dabei auch auf die islamistischen Oppositionsparteien, die sich im Wahlkampf um ein moderates Image bemuehten. "The Islamic wing of the opposition is working hard to soften its theocratic image, to reach across Malaysia's ethnic and religious divide. In Kuala Selangor, a semi-rural constituency narrowly won by PAS at the last election, I watched MP Dzulkefly Ahmad doing the rounds of food stalls and grocery shops, accompanied by his headscarfed wife. He was greeted warmly by the mainly ethnic Chinese shop-owners, who happily donned his green campaign T-shirts and asked for signed copies of his book. They were unfazed by talk of Islamic law. What mattered, they told me, was Dr Dzulkefly's reputation for honesty and hard work. 'I am an Islamist democrat,' he told me." Weiter...

The Christian Science Monitor (01.05.2013)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2013/0501/An
other-BRIC-in-the-wall-Brazil-stakes-its-claim-in-Africa?

"Another BRIC in the wall: Brazil stakes its claim in Africa" Bei den Bemuehungen um wirtschaftliche Kontakte zu rohstoffreichen afrikanischen Laendern habe sich Brasilien als ernster Konkurrent Chinas herausgestellt, schreibt Blogger John Campbell in einem Gastbeitrag fuer den Christian Science Monitor. Die brasilianische Regierung verfolge dabei nicht nur oekonomische Ziele. "It is a key to Brazil’s recognition as a major world power, and close south-south relations focused on Africa could help build international support for a permanent UN Security Council seat for Brazil. Brazil seeks a partnership for development with an important political dimension rather than solely an economic relationship. (...) Thus far, the Brazilians appear to have avoided the cultural and other mistakes of the Chinese. The Brazilian relationship with Africa may prove deeper and longer lasting than that of its higher-profile rivals among the BRICS." Weiter...

RT News (07.05.2013)

http://rt.com/news/north-korea-relocates-missiles-908/

"North Korea removes missiles from launch sites" Das Regime in Nordkorea hat offenbar seine beiden abschussbereiten ballistischen Raketen wieder von den Startrampen genommen und den Konflikt mit Südkorea damit deeskaliert. "Two Musudan missiles, capable of hitting targets 2,500 miles away, were withdrawn from a launch site in the eastern part of the country and moved to a storage facility, several US officials who chose to remain anonymous told the media. The US, which considers Korean missile program as a threat to its national security in parts of the Pacific Ocean, has confirmed that the weapons have now been relocated, a defense official told AFP." Weiter...

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