As Snowden considers asylum offers from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, and perhaps mulls a second application to Russia (Putin had earlier said if Snowden wanted to apply asylum there, he'd have to stop releasing NSA leaks), should China Consider Giving Snowden Asylum? By the answers, I am hoping to gauge people's attitude toward Snowden. For me, I am neutral. I … [Read more...] about Should China Consider Giving Snowden Asylum?
Eric X. Li: A tale of two political systems (李世默:两种制度的传说)
Eric X. Li, whom both YinYang and I know personally, recently gave this TED presentation on the ideological worship of two political systems - communism ... and electoral democracies. As usual, I find Li's perspective insightful and interesting. It certainly takes guts to stand up and speak against the predominant religion in the world! Now I appreciate even more how Galileo … [Read more...] about Eric X. Li: A tale of two political systems (李世默:两种制度的传说)
Everyone in Hong Kong is Celebrating the Triumph of Rule of Law In the Snowden Case – But Is This Really a Celebration of Law, or Politics under the Cult of Rule of Law?
For the last week or so, Hong Kong has been (very publicly) celebrating the "rule of law" that it claims it has exhibited in letting Snowden leave the country despite strong U.S. pressure to arrest and extradite him. The Hong Kong government made this official statement after Snowden left Hong Kong. The US Government earlier on made a request to the HKSAR Government for the … [Read more...] about Everyone in Hong Kong is Celebrating the Triumph of Rule of Law In the Snowden Case – But Is This Really a Celebration of Law, or Politics under the Cult of Rule of Law?
U.S. – Hong Kong Extradition Treaty (1997)
Took me a while, but I finally found the text of the U.S. - Hong Kong Extradition Treaty (1997) from the U.S. Government Printing Office. A copy of the pdf is provided below. The Senate Notes here provides a good summary of (and background information surrounding) the treaty. … [Read more...] about U.S. – Hong Kong Extradition Treaty (1997)
Toward a Japan-Anchored Asian Order?
Peter Lee wrote an interesting piece at Asia Times titled "India places its Asian bet on Japan" today regarding his take of India's recent rapprochement with Japan. Before reading this piece, I had regarded Singh's recent trip to Japan as nothing much more than two second-rate power trying to form a second-rate alliance against a perceived first-rate power. But perhaps there … [Read more...] about Toward a Japan-Anchored Asian Order?