While many foreign policy thinkers can’t resist exploring the growing probability of military rivalries between the West and East, the cold reality is that the states most likely to experience future arms races are actually within the Asia-Pacific region itself.

Whether the world is ready to admit it or not, non-proliferation in North Korea has failed. 

The Chinese admire the Jews for their five thousand years of history, ability to withstand persecution in scattered minority communities, and their work ethic. But most importantly there is a widespread belief that the Jews have cornered the market for making money, and the Chinese want to get their share. Bookstores across China are filled with publications purporting to teach Chinese the cultural habits behind famous Jewish fortunes, or how Jewish child-rearing can produce diligent, money-making young adults.

Over the last three decades, China’s economic development has been nothing short of astounding. Since the government began its economic “opening and reform” in 1978, more than 400 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty. China became the global leader in exports and home of the largest automobile market in the world in 2010, and some economists estimate that, within the next decade, China will surpass the United States to become the world’s largest economy.

More than three weeks since a magnitude 8.9 earthquake rumbled off the coast of Japan and sent 97-foot waves crashing inland, Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan has conceded that there will be a “long-term battle” to curb the damage caused by the radioactive leakage from a nuclear plant as the country executes post-disaster reconstruction.

China’s policies toward North Korea and Myanmar are a sharp departure from international consensus on how to deal with these regional outcasts. China continues to help the North Korean and Myanmar regimes survive despite pressure
from the international community for them to reform.

Internet experts consider China to be one of the most active leaders in cyber espionage. According to one computer security company’s estimate, there were 128 cyber intrusions per minute from Internet addresses associated with China in 2009. Among the most threatening of those intrusions came from “GhostNet,” a Chinese cyber espionage ring designed to break into sensitive U.S. government networks.

Amidst North Korean threats of retaliation, on December 20, South Korea pushed forward with military drills on Yeonpyeong Island. To the surprise of some Korea watchers, North Korea has remained silent and has yet to show any form of aggression in response.