Tag "Vietnam"
Could Asia’s debt torpedo growth?
Debt-to-GDP ratios have built up rapidly across Asia and may start impeding growth. Even more worrisome than the absolute levels of debt is the pace of the increase. While the
AIIB membership is about business, not politics
Following Beijing’s announcement on April 15th, 57 nations will become founding members of the AIIB. With around $100 billion already earmarked for the bank, many countries joined based on the opportunity
Vietnam tree cutting debacle highlights opaque politics
A government program that planned to cut more than 6,700 trees in a bid to ‘beautify’ Hanoi, Vietnam, has been abruptly halted due to significant public backlash. While analysts have heralded this
Vietnam’s investment reforms fall flat
Vietnam has amended several laws and issued decrees to encourage investment in the country. However, these measures may create more problems than they resolve. During the past year, Vietnam has amended
Trade unaffected despite competing claims in South China Sea
Despite China’s increasing assertiveness regarding its territorial claims in the South China Sea, trade in the region is still unaffected. China’s various government agencies, tasked with enforcing Beijing’s claims in the
Four places that could become water conflict zones
Water is the single most important resource on the planet but human consumption is already beginning to outpace growth of the global water supply. As a result, tensions over shared water
Why Iraq is not a new Vietnam
It was fashionable in 2007 to label the Iraq War as the next Vietnam. It was easy to draw parallels – weak local allies, a post-invasion quagmire, insurgency, inability to
Sino-Russian gas deal: Alliance or partnership?
Does the recent gas deal between Russia and China signal a broader geopolitical alliance between the two countries, or is it simply an economic partnership? The recent announcement of a
US Decline Series: US shows long-term commitment to Asia-Pacific security
While rising tensions have provoked concern over the United States’ status as the region’s security guarantor, the Pacific Power is not going anywhere. This GRI series challenges the myth of the
China-Vietnam conflict points to geopolitical shift
With tensions increasing on both sides, maritime border disputes are directly affecting life and economic production in both China and Vietnam. However, the disagreements also point to China’s growing assertiveness