Skunks’s Weblog

TOP OF THE AGENDA: Trouble in Tibet

China today issued a midnight deadline (FT) for Tibetan protestors to surrender or face violence, bringing tensions to a head in a conflict that has been simmering for days. Chinese troops also moved today to seal off the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, blocking movement of people in and out of the city.

Protests began in the autonomous Himalayan province of China on March 10 with Buddhist monks staging demonstrations in support of Tibetan independence. Reuters reports conflicts between protestors and Chinese police and troops may have already resulted in as many as eighty deaths.

The BBC reports that the turmoil over Tibet only exacerbates China’s frustration at the many international criticisms that have come up in advance of this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. A CFR.org backgrounder looks at the laundry list of reforms critics are demanding from China in the run-up to the Olympics.

MIDDLE EAST: Cheney in Iraq

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney paid a surprise visit to Iraq as the first stop on a nine-day Middle East tour. Al-Jazeera reports Cheney will meet with Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and other Iraqi officials.

Turkey-Asia: A report from a Turkish think tank looks at the rising geopolitical significance of East Asia in Middle Eastern conflicts and questions how Turkey can best craft a cohesive Asia policy.

Israel-Hezbollah: A new briefing from the Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies outlines policy lessons that can be drawn from the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

PACIFIC RIM: Stocks Plunge

Concerns over U.S. economic weakness and rising inflation pummeled Asian markets (NYT) this morning, with indices in Japan, China, and India all suffering major losses.

Asian Currency: A new working paper from an Indian economic research institute examines the feasibility of establishing a pan-Asian currency.

Taiwan: A briefing from the Economist Intelligence Unit says Taiwanese businesses see potential opportunity in the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

SOUTH & CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistan’s PM

Dawn reports that the give and take over who will be Pakistan’s next prime minister is turning into a “bruising struggle,” despite the rapid installation of other parliamentary officials.

Central Asia-Russia: EurasiaNet reports on Central Asian energy interests and Russia’s efforts to bolster its power in the region.

AFRICA: Setting the Political Stage in Kenya

The Daily Nation reports this week could play a defining role in the future of Kenyan politics, with lawmakers expected to enact a crucial political reform bill that will establish a coalition government and install a new prime minister.

South Africa: Business Day reports that South Africa’s current account deficit is emerging as a “major chink” in the country’s economic armor.

AMERICAS: Surprise Fed Rate Cuts

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board made unannounced rate cuts (FT) this morning, dropping its benchmark interest rate twenty-five basis points. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke also announced the creation of a new lending facility that will attempt to boost liquidity for struggling financial institutions.

Amazon-Cocaine: The BBC reports that cocaine labs have been discovered in new parts of the Amazon rain forest in Brazil, potentially complicating regional counternarcotics efforts.

CAMPAIGN 2008: McCain in Iraq

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), traveling in Iraq (NYT) with a congressional delegation, met Sunday with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Gen. David Petraeus, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. With Maliki, McCain discussed (AP) the pending U.S.-Iraq long-term security agreement, provincial election-law reform, and oil-money distribution, among other topics.

The Los Angeles Times looks at McCain’s “mixed signals” on foreign policy throughout his political career, including his opposition to U.S. military efforts in Lebanon, Haiti and Somalia, and his more aggressive stances toward Iraq, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) pledged Saturday to “strengthen ties” between the United States and Northern Ireland if she is elected. She said she will name a special U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland and will build a “strong economic relationship” between the United States and all of Ireland.

EUROPE: Kosovo Clashes

Violent clashes in northern Kosovo (AP) led to the injury of twenty-two UN police in the struggle for control of a UN courthouse seized last week by Serbian protestors.

Business: A task force report from the Center for European Policy Studies looks at the new EU tax status for firms explicitly designated “European Companies” (PDF), examining what steps a firm must take to gain the designation and what benefits it entails.

Armenia: RFE/RL reports on media blackouts in Armenia following disputed recent elections.