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Asia

Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress

Posted Fri, 06/11/2010 - 00:00

The post-World War II U.S.-Japan alliance has long been an anchor of the U.S. security role in East Asia. The alliance facilitates the forward deployment of about 36,000 U.S. troops and other U.S. military assets in the Asia-Pacific, thereby undergirding U.S. national security strategy in the region. For Japan, the alliance and the U.S. nuclear umbrella provide maneuvering room in dealing with its neighbors, particularly China and North Korea.

The 2009 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meetings and U.S. Trade Policy in Asia

Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 01:00

Congress and the Executive Branch have historically identified the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) as potentially important in the promotion of liberalized international trade and investment in Asia, and possibly the rest of the world. APEC's commitment to the goal of trade and investment liberalization is embodied in its Bogor Goals, in which APEC members pledged to free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.

United States Relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Posted Mon, 11/16/2009 - 01:00

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia's primary multilateral organization. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world's largest regional fora, representing a strategically important group of 10 nations that spans critical sea lanes and accounts for 5% of U.S. trade. This report discusses U.S. diplomatic, security, trade, and aid ties with ASEAN, analyzes major issues affecting Southeast Asian countries and U.S.-ASEAN relations, and examines ASEAN's relations with other regional powers. Much U.S.

U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2009: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy

Posted Sun, 08/23/2009 - 00:00

After communist North Vietnam?s victory over U.S.-backed South Vietnam in 1975, U.S.-
Vietnam relations remained essentially frozen until the mid-1990s. Since then, bilateral ties have
expanded to the point where the relationship has been virtually normalized. Indeed, since 2002,
overlapping strategic and economic interests have compelled the United States and Vietnam to
improve relations across a wide spectrum of issues. Congress played a significant role in the
normalization process and continues to influence the state of bilateral relations.

Taiwan-U.S. Relations: Developments and Policy Implications

Posted Thu, 04/02/2009 - 00:00

Policy toward and support for Taiwan are a key element in U.S.- relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and an important component of U.S. policy in Asia. Official U.S. relations with the Republic of China (ROC) government on Taiwan became a casualty of the U.S. decision to recognize the PRC government as China's sole legitimate government. Since then, unofficial U.S. relations with Taiwan have been built on the framework of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA – P.L. 96-8) and shaped by three U.S.-PRC communiques.

Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues

Posted Sun, 03/22/2009 - 00:00

Tighter physical and border security may encourage terrorists and extremists to try to use other types of weapons to attack the United States. Persistent Internet and computer security vulnerabilities, which have been widely publicized, may gradually encourage terrorists to develop new computer skills, or develop alliances with criminal organizations and consider attempting a cyberattack against the U.S. critical infrastructure. Cybercrime increased dramatically between 2004 and 2005, and several recent terrorist events appear to have been funded partially through online credit card fraud.