OVER the last 30 years,perhaps the most significant capital that the Chinese government has accrued is not the trillions of dollars worth of foreign exchange reserves in its central bank,or the value of fixed assets t...OVER the last 30 years,perhaps the most significant capital that the Chinese government has accrued is not the trillions of dollars worth of foreign exchange reserves in its central bank,or the value of fixed assets that so much investment has gone into.The most important capital it owns is in the form of reputation capital with the public,gained through the continuously brisk GDP growth since 1980.Like a展开更多
China is evidently very clear about its plans for the coming five years Despite the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China being a domestic event,it is inevitable that many of its decisions and the sta...China is evidently very clear about its plans for the coming five years Despite the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China being a domestic event,it is inevitable that many of its decisions and the statements,particularly those made by Party leader Xi Jinping in his speech on the opening day,will have international implications.展开更多
The passing of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ on September 8,after a reign of over 70 years,brought to the end an extraordinary life,and an era in British and European history.Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne on the death of...The passing of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ on September 8,after a reign of over 70 years,brought to the end an extraordinary life,and an era in British and European history.Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne on the death of her father King George VI in February 1952 when Winston Churchill was prime minister.She died only days after appointing the 15th incumbent to this position,Liz Truss.Churchill was born in 1874,and Truss in 1975.There is a gap in the birth years between the first and last prime ministers who served the Queen of 101 years.This is one of many utterly extraordinary statistics about her reign.展开更多
SINCE the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it is Widely accepted that the United States has been the world＇s sole superpower. This is based on two indisputable facts. The first is the size of it...SINCE the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it is Widely accepted that the United States has been the world＇s sole superpower. This is based on two indisputable facts. The first is the size of its economy, which has been utterly dominant over this period and constitutes approximately a quarter of global GDR The second is the size of its military. The United States has the army, navy and air force powers to project展开更多
SEPTEMBER marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II （WWII） in Asia. A few months after hostilities ceased in Europe, the war against Japanese aggression ended with Japan＇s surrender after the dropping ...SEPTEMBER marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II （WWII） in Asia. A few months after hostilities ceased in Europe, the war against Japanese aggression ended with Japan＇s surrender after the dropping of two atomic bombs,展开更多
THE new leadership in place in the Party since November last year and in their government positions as of March this year have spoken a great deal about the issue of urbanization. This plenum has given two ideas about...THE new leadership in place in the Party since November last year and in their government positions as of March this year have spoken a great deal about the issue of urbanization. This plenum has given two ideas about how accelerated urbanization might occur. One is to address the household registration system,展开更多
The discourse on microentrepreneurs and their involvement in the short stay market (SSM) was non-existent until 2008. While several concepts and constructs have been developed and empirically tested since 2009, many o...The discourse on microentrepreneurs and their involvement in the short stay market (SSM) was non-existent until 2008. While several concepts and constructs have been developed and empirically tested since 2009, many of them relate to economics, leaving the social, cultural, and environmental factors underdeveloped. Thus, this study aimed to fll the gap and identify and assess the social impact of the short-stay market (SSM) in a regional area. The study included 16 face-to-face interview sessions conducted with 18 participants, and the Leximancer software was employed to analyse the data. The study revealed that the social impact on SSM is not generic, rather pluralistic, multidimensional, and dynamic. The study also found that the limitation clause instituted by the council is a direct disconnect between the council and property owners/managers. Furthermore, despite ample opportunities provided by the short-stay market (SSM) in regional areas, encumbrances cannot be overlooked. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to understand the social impact on policy frameworks in regional areas.展开更多
One of the great enigmas of human history is how the Eastern or later Han dynasty of China,which ran from around 25CE to 220CE,and that of the Roman Empire from the era of Augustus from 27BCE to that of Constantine th...One of the great enigmas of human history is how the Eastern or later Han dynasty of China,which ran from around 25CE to 220CE,and that of the Roman Empire from the era of Augustus from 27BCE to that of Constantine the Great around 330CE were almost contemporaneous and yet there is very little solid evidence that they had any contact w让h each other.How did two such vast entities manage to occupy their extensive geographies in blithe mutual ignorance?This question has been addressed perhaps most extensively by Walter Scheidel and others in the edited 2009 Oxford University Press volume,"Rome and China:Comparative Perspectives on An&ent World Empires.Their conclusion is broadly that they just did not know about each other;there was no particular reason,it was just a fact.展开更多
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation （APEC） forum has always been an orga- nization that has a lower profile than it deserves. Set up as an initiative of the then-Aus- tralian Prime Minister Bob Hawke in early 1989...The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation （APEC） forum has always been an orga- nization that has a lower profile than it deserves. Set up as an initiative of the then-Aus- tralian Prime Minister Bob Hawke in early 1989, its annual meetings are better known for the photo shoots showing the 21 leaders attend- ing in the national costume of the host country than for substantive policy accomplishments. This is a pity. APEC does serve an important purpose, and should be better known and ap- preciated in the rest of the world, and perhaps even in the Asia-Pacific.展开更多
Australia and the United States completed their annual military dialogue dubbed LAUSMIN on August 12-the 29th since its establishment in 1985. The joint communique issued at the conclusion of the talks, held in Canbe...Australia and the United States completed their annual military dialogue dubbed LAUSMIN on August 12-the 29th since its establishment in 1985. The joint communique issued at the conclusion of the talks, held in Canberra and attended by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the U.S. side and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister David Johnston on the Australian side, covered a vast range of issues from joint military exercises to concerns over climate change and terrorism in the Middle East. The document testifies to the close relations between the two countries.展开更多
Chinese President Xi Jinping made his visit to Australia as China＇s top leader in November. although he had already visited the country four times before. It hap- pened at a time when Australia was hosting a major co...Chinese President Xi Jinping made his visit to Australia as China＇s top leader in November. although he had already visited the country four times before. It hap- pened at a time when Australia was hosting a major conference that was attended by many of the world＇s leaders. The G20 summit in Brisbane presented an opportunity for the first ever visit to Australia by a sitting French president and an Indian prime minister. It also brought together figures like President Barack Obama of the United States.展开更多
One of the greatest challenges for anyone trying to make sense of Asia as a region is the lack of clarity it still has.In The Transformation of the World,his magisterial global history of the 19th century issued last ...One of the greatest challenges for anyone trying to make sense of Asia as a region is the lack of clarity it still has.In The Transformation of the World,his magisterial global history of the 19th century issued last year,German historian Jürgen Osterhammel talked of the lack of＂conceptual stability＂ that many Europeans in particular have about the region. ＂In any space;＂ he writes, ＂a central question concerns the factors that underlie its unity and make it possible to speak of an integrated context. In this optic of global history, regions are spaces of interaction constituted by dense networks of transport and migration, trade and communications.＂展开更多
Europe is being visited frequently by Chinese leaders in 2014. In March, President Xi Jinping made the first ever visit by a head of state from China to Brussels, which is, in effect, the headquarters of the EU and th...Europe is being visited frequently by Chinese leaders in 2014. In March, President Xi Jinping made the first ever visit by a head of state from China to Brussels, which is, in effect, the headquarters of the EU and the place where most of its main offices and representatives are based. In June, both Premier Li Keqiang and fellow Political Bureau Standing Committee member Uu Yunshan visited countries in Europe. There will undoubtedly be other visits before the end of the year. And this is on top of the many visits by EU member states＇ and European countries＇ leaders to China.展开更多
Future growth must harness China＇s growing ranks of urban consumers The communique issued after the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Partyof China （CPC） on November 12 was strik...Future growth must harness China＇s growing ranks of urban consumers The communique issued after the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Partyof China （CPC） on November 12 was striking because it raised questions about what a China where the majority of the people live in urban areas would look like. The new Party leader- ship in place since November last year, who assumed office as of March, have spoken a great deal about the issue of urbanization. This plenary session has given two views on how accelerated urbanization might occur. One is to address the household registration system,展开更多
The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China （CPC） opened in Beijing on November 8. Thefirst day consisted of the report made by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC CenWal Committee, about progress...The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China （CPC） opened in Beijing on November 8. Thefirst day consisted of the report made by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC CenWal Committee, about progress in the last five years and what the direction fbr file country needs to be in the coming five years during the period in which the congress lasts. Congress work reports kcy statements of consensus. They contah the key objectives the Party sets ibr itself, which all members agree to abide by, and which then set the fi＇amework within which the govern ment work report delivered by the premier is organized ogmetime early next year when the National People＇s Congress is due to meet.展开更多
The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gives people inside and outside the country a chance to assess what the key achievements of the past decades have been, and where China is ...The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gives people inside and outside the country a chance to assess what the key achievements of the past decades have been, and where China is heading.展开更多
The EU begins 2013 with two contradicto- ry facts from the last 12 months. The first is that despite all the gloomy predictions,the euro zone so far has not fallen apart. The crisis, which has been ongoing for three...The EU begins 2013 with two contradicto- ry facts from the last 12 months. The first is that despite all the gloomy predictions,the euro zone so far has not fallen apart. The crisis, which has been ongoing for three years, has become a kind of normality. Emergency summits are held almost monthly, present- ing new initiatives on how to deal with threats such as the collapse of the Greek economy, the problems of unemployment and debt in Spain, or political uncertainty in Italy. All that can be said for these multiple summits over the last 36 months is that they have thus far avoided the worst possible outcome a breakup of the euro, a collapse of the EU, and the end of one of the greatest multilateral achievements of the modem world.展开更多
Controversial 20th-century British politician Enoch Powell once noted that all political careers in Great Britain end in tears. With Theresa May, his words proved true not just figuratively but literally. As the Briti...Controversial 20th-century British politician Enoch Powell once noted that all political careers in Great Britain end in tears. With Theresa May, his words proved true not just figuratively but literally. As the British prime minister announced on May 24 that she would step down on June 7, observers could see her face consumed with emotion and tears well up in her eyes. It was a bathetic note to end a chaotic, and for many, in glorious, period.展开更多
文摘OVER the last 30 years,perhaps the most significant capital that the Chinese government has accrued is not the trillions of dollars worth of foreign exchange reserves in its central bank,or the value of fixed assets that so much investment has gone into.The most important capital it owns is in the form of reputation capital with the public,gained through the continuously brisk GDP growth since 1980.Like a
文摘China is evidently very clear about its plans for the coming five years Despite the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China being a domestic event,it is inevitable that many of its decisions and the statements,particularly those made by Party leader Xi Jinping in his speech on the opening day,will have international implications.
文摘The passing of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ on September 8,after a reign of over 70 years,brought to the end an extraordinary life,and an era in British and European history.Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne on the death of her father King George VI in February 1952 when Winston Churchill was prime minister.She died only days after appointing the 15th incumbent to this position,Liz Truss.Churchill was born in 1874,and Truss in 1975.There is a gap in the birth years between the first and last prime ministers who served the Queen of 101 years.This is one of many utterly extraordinary statistics about her reign.
文摘SINCE the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it is Widely accepted that the United States has been the world＇s sole superpower. This is based on two indisputable facts. The first is the size of its economy, which has been utterly dominant over this period and constitutes approximately a quarter of global GDR The second is the size of its military. The United States has the army, navy and air force powers to project
文摘SEPTEMBER marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II （WWII） in Asia. A few months after hostilities ceased in Europe, the war against Japanese aggression ended with Japan＇s surrender after the dropping of two atomic bombs,
文摘THE new leadership in place in the Party since November last year and in their government positions as of March this year have spoken a great deal about the issue of urbanization. This plenum has given two ideas about how accelerated urbanization might occur. One is to address the household registration system,
文摘The discourse on microentrepreneurs and their involvement in the short stay market (SSM) was non-existent until 2008. While several concepts and constructs have been developed and empirically tested since 2009, many of them relate to economics, leaving the social, cultural, and environmental factors underdeveloped. Thus, this study aimed to fll the gap and identify and assess the social impact of the short-stay market (SSM) in a regional area. The study included 16 face-to-face interview sessions conducted with 18 participants, and the Leximancer software was employed to analyse the data. The study revealed that the social impact on SSM is not generic, rather pluralistic, multidimensional, and dynamic. The study also found that the limitation clause instituted by the council is a direct disconnect between the council and property owners/managers. Furthermore, despite ample opportunities provided by the short-stay market (SSM) in regional areas, encumbrances cannot be overlooked. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to understand the social impact on policy frameworks in regional areas.
文摘One of the great enigmas of human history is how the Eastern or later Han dynasty of China,which ran from around 25CE to 220CE,and that of the Roman Empire from the era of Augustus from 27BCE to that of Constantine the Great around 330CE were almost contemporaneous and yet there is very little solid evidence that they had any contact w让h each other.How did two such vast entities manage to occupy their extensive geographies in blithe mutual ignorance?This question has been addressed perhaps most extensively by Walter Scheidel and others in the edited 2009 Oxford University Press volume,"Rome and China:Comparative Perspectives on An&ent World Empires.Their conclusion is broadly that they just did not know about each other;there was no particular reason,it was just a fact.
文摘The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation （APEC） forum has always been an orga- nization that has a lower profile than it deserves. Set up as an initiative of the then-Aus- tralian Prime Minister Bob Hawke in early 1989, its annual meetings are better known for the photo shoots showing the 21 leaders attend- ing in the national costume of the host country than for substantive policy accomplishments. This is a pity. APEC does serve an important purpose, and should be better known and ap- preciated in the rest of the world, and perhaps even in the Asia-Pacific.
文摘Australia and the United States completed their annual military dialogue dubbed LAUSMIN on August 12-the 29th since its establishment in 1985. The joint communique issued at the conclusion of the talks, held in Canberra and attended by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the U.S. side and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister David Johnston on the Australian side, covered a vast range of issues from joint military exercises to concerns over climate change and terrorism in the Middle East. The document testifies to the close relations between the two countries.
文摘Chinese President Xi Jinping made his visit to Australia as China＇s top leader in November. although he had already visited the country four times before. It hap- pened at a time when Australia was hosting a major conference that was attended by many of the world＇s leaders. The G20 summit in Brisbane presented an opportunity for the first ever visit to Australia by a sitting French president and an Indian prime minister. It also brought together figures like President Barack Obama of the United States.
文摘One of the greatest challenges for anyone trying to make sense of Asia as a region is the lack of clarity it still has.In The Transformation of the World,his magisterial global history of the 19th century issued last year,German historian Jürgen Osterhammel talked of the lack of＂conceptual stability＂ that many Europeans in particular have about the region. ＂In any space;＂ he writes, ＂a central question concerns the factors that underlie its unity and make it possible to speak of an integrated context. In this optic of global history, regions are spaces of interaction constituted by dense networks of transport and migration, trade and communications.＂
文摘Europe is being visited frequently by Chinese leaders in 2014. In March, President Xi Jinping made the first ever visit by a head of state from China to Brussels, which is, in effect, the headquarters of the EU and the place where most of its main offices and representatives are based. In June, both Premier Li Keqiang and fellow Political Bureau Standing Committee member Uu Yunshan visited countries in Europe. There will undoubtedly be other visits before the end of the year. And this is on top of the many visits by EU member states＇ and European countries＇ leaders to China.
文摘Future growth must harness China＇s growing ranks of urban consumers The communique issued after the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Partyof China （CPC） on November 12 was striking because it raised questions about what a China where the majority of the people live in urban areas would look like. The new Party leader- ship in place since November last year, who assumed office as of March, have spoken a great deal about the issue of urbanization. This plenary session has given two views on how accelerated urbanization might occur. One is to address the household registration system,
文摘The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China （CPC） opened in Beijing on November 8. Thefirst day consisted of the report made by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC CenWal Committee, about progress in the last five years and what the direction fbr file country needs to be in the coming five years during the period in which the congress lasts. Congress work reports kcy statements of consensus. They contah the key objectives the Party sets ibr itself, which all members agree to abide by, and which then set the fi＇amework within which the govern ment work report delivered by the premier is organized ogmetime early next year when the National People＇s Congress is due to meet.
文摘The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gives people inside and outside the country a chance to assess what the key achievements of the past decades have been, and where China is heading.
文摘The EU begins 2013 with two contradicto- ry facts from the last 12 months. The first is that despite all the gloomy predictions,the euro zone so far has not fallen apart. The crisis, which has been ongoing for three years, has become a kind of normality. Emergency summits are held almost monthly, present- ing new initiatives on how to deal with threats such as the collapse of the Greek economy, the problems of unemployment and debt in Spain, or political uncertainty in Italy. All that can be said for these multiple summits over the last 36 months is that they have thus far avoided the worst possible outcome a breakup of the euro, a collapse of the EU, and the end of one of the greatest multilateral achievements of the modem world.
文摘Controversial 20th-century British politician Enoch Powell once noted that all political careers in Great Britain end in tears. With Theresa May, his words proved true not just figuratively but literally. As the British prime minister announced on May 24 that she would step down on June 7, observers could see her face consumed with emotion and tears well up in her eyes. It was a bathetic note to end a chaotic, and for many, in glorious, period.
