Policy Forum 08-056: Chinese Civil Society After the 512 Earthquake

Jia Xijin, Associate Professor at the NGO Research Center at Tsinghua University, writes, “NGOs in China face capacity-building problems such as how to cooperate to avoid repeated work, how to avoid volunteers themselves turning into aid targets, how to maintain social credibility, etc. Nevertheless, the government needs to make efforts to help NGOs in opening up, cooperating and securing fair treatment to improve the institutional environment of NGO’s and promote social well-being.”

NAPSNet Daily Report 22 July, 2008

Policy Forum 08-055: Olympic Security Collaboration

Drew Thompson, Director of China Studies and a Starr senior fellow at the Nixon Center, writes, “However, a successfully managed Olympics will ensure China’s continued willingness to open its markets to the outside world and follow a progressive, constructive foreign policy. Even though some U.S. experts engaging the Chinese may feel that the level of collaboration with Chinese counterparts does not compare favorably with previous event organizers, there are no indications that the Beijing Games will not be safe. A positive Beijing Games outcome would ultimately benefit all global citizens in keeping with the Olympic spirit.”

NAPSNet Daily Report 18 July, 2008

Policy Forum 08-054: Simpleminded or Farsighted? – The US’ handling of North Korea

Masahiro Matsumura, Professor of International Politics at St. Andrew’s University (Momoyama Gakuin Daigaku) in Osaka, writes, “At this moment, Washington should continue to block this aid as a matter of policy discretion through the Boards of Governors and the Executive Boards, wherein Tokyo also possesses a significant voting power to support Washington. Pyongyang will then be subjected to further economic penetration by China, involving the deepening of China’s actual economic colonization. Under these parameters, Pyongyang would be constrained to negotiate sincerely with Washington and Tokyo.”