Today’s Links 8/28/2013
Anthony Fensom, “Services No Savior for Asia: ADB” (Diplomat): A summary of a recent report from the Asian Development Bank, arguing that, in order for countries like India, China, Bangladesh, and the Philippines to join the ranks of middle- and upper-income countries, it needed to focus as much on industrialization as the transition from agricultural to service sector labor. Key quote: “Historically, no economy has reached high income status without reaching at least 18 percent share of manufacturing in output and employment for a sustained period,” the ADB’s chief economist Changyong Rhee said.
Saeed Shah and Nathan Hodge, “Pakistan Rekindles Hope of Afghan-Taliban Talks” (Wall Street Journal): A recap of Hamid Karzai’s trip to Pakistan to confer with newly-elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. High on the agenda was getting reconciliation talks with the Afghan Taliban re-started; Pakistan pledged that it would encourage them to talk (while still acknowledging they had no direct control over these groups).
Rajan Menon, “Asia’s Looming Power Shift” (National Interest): A tour d’horizon of the strategic landscape with special focus on India, China, and Japan. Menon’s realist take predicts continued lack of cooperation among the emerging powers of the region. Key quote: “ Greater Asia is like a big bus crammed with passengers of varying backgrounds and persuasions. Some are more important than others and can take a turn steering. But this bus has several steering wheels and no consensus on a common course, least of all among the drivers, who also lack maps and don’t trust one another enough to select a route or destination. Some vehicle parts are old and unreliable; others have yet to encounter rough terrain. And a thick fog obscures the road.”
George J. Gilboy and Eric Heginbotham, “Double Trouble: A Realist View of Chinese and India Power” (The Washington Quarterly): A corrective to the view, shared by many in Washington, that India and the U.S. will be natural partners in Asia. Rather, India will pursue its national interests which, in many spheres, could conflict with the U.S.: its energy relationship with Iran, its attitude toward nonproliferation and global governance in general, and the chances that its military modernization will increase the security dilemma in South Asia.
