Advanced search    Help

Clear all search criteria

Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).

• Malaysia [Updated May 22, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Malaysia plays an active role in regional diplomacy, and it has been a partner in various U.S. initiatives in Asia, including trade and security initiatives as well as efforts to combat terrorism and religious extremism. It is one of four Southeast Asian nations that have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, and its export-led economy has encouraged it to undertake trade negotiations with the United States and others. Malaysia was a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), from which the United States withdrew in 2017, and it is one of 11 members of the renamed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Malaysia was an original member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and it sees itself as both a regional leader and a moderate voice within the Islamic world. Despite generally cooperative bilateral relations with the United States, some issues remain obstacles to closer ties, including Malaysian opposition to much U.S. policy in the Middle East, and U.S. concerns over some Malaysian economic and human-rights policies."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-; Dolven, Ben

  2019-05-22
• Philippines [Updated August 5, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "The United States and the Republic of the Philippines maintain a deep relationship that includes a bilateral security alliance, extensive military cooperation, close people-to-people ties, and many shared strategic and economic interests. U.S. administration of the Philippines as a colonial territory (1898-1946), which followed 300 years of Spanish rule, also shaped the relationship. Bilateral relations have faced challenges under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has long held negative views of the United States. Elected in 2016, Duterte has pursued rapprochement with China and a violent extrajudicial antidrug campaign. Major areas of U.S.-Philippine cooperation, nonetheless, have continued."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben; Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-

  2019-08-05
• Timor-Leste: Background and U.S. Relations [Update June 27, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Timor-Leste (also known as East Timor), is one of the world's youngest nation-states, having gained its independence from Indonesia on May 20, 2002. This marked the end of more than three centuries of foreign rule, including over 300 years of Portuguese rule followed by 24 years of Indonesian control. The nation's transition to independence was traumatic: Following a 1999 nationwide referendum that supported independence, violence led by paramilitary militias supported by elements of the Indonesian military killed around 1,300 Timorese and displaced nearly 500,000. Today, with a population of 1.3 million, Timor-Leste is one of the world's poorest nations, with one of Asia's highest illiteracy rates. Timor-Leste has made considerable strides in building stability and democratic institutions, although it continues to face many challenges in consolidating its democracy and developing its economy. The nation's 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections, conducted peacefully as a U.N. peacekeeping mission prepared to leave the country, were widely seen as a turning point in Timor-Leste's development. Subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections have seen high voter participation and have been considered by international observers to have been largely free and fair."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben

  2019-06-27
• War Legacy Issues in Southeast Asia: Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) [June 3, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "More than 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, unexploded ordnance (UXO) from numerous conflicts, but primarily dropped by U.S. forces over Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam during the Vietnam War, continues to cause casualties in those countries. Over the past 25 years, the United States has provided a total of over $400 million in assistance for UXO clearance and related activities in those three countries through the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of State (DOS), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as funding for treatment of victims through USAID and the Leahy War Victims fund. Although casualty numbers have dropped in recent years, no systematic assessment of affected areas has been done, and many observers believe it may still take decades to clear the affected areas. War legacy issues such as UXO clearance and victim assistance may raise important considerations for Congress as it addresses the impact of U.S. participation in conflicts around the world and how the United States should deal with the aftermath of such conflicts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.; Feickert, Andrew; Dolven, Ben . . .

  2019-06-03
• Mongolia [Updated July 1, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Mongolia is a landlocked nation of 3 million people between Russia and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It has been viewed as a democratic success story both among former Soviet satellite states and in Asia. In 1989, democratic activists staged protests against communist rule and formed the Mongolian Democratic Union. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), which had ruled the country since 1921, allowed multiparty elections in 1990 and relinquished power in 1996, when a Democratic Party (DP)-led coalition of opposition forces won nationwide elections. Mongolia's foreign relations are driven by a desire to preserve its autonomy by balancing relations between major partners, including the United States, China, and Russia, and also Japan and South Korea. Its economy is supported by extensive mineral resources, but growth remains uneven, driven by fluctuations in mineral and petroleum prices."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Dolven, Ben

  2019-07-01
• Philippines [Updated February 14, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "The United States and the Republic of the Philippines have maintained a deep relationship that has included a bilateral security alliance, extensive military cooperation, close people-to-people ties, and many shared strategic and economic interests. U.S. administration of the Philippines as a colonial territory (1898-1946), which followed 300 years of Spanish rule, also shaped the relationship. Since 2016, when President Rodrigo Duterte was elected, his violent antidrug campaign and harassment of political opponents, human rights activists, and journalists, as well as his distrust of the United States and rapprochement with China, has raised concerns among many U.S. policymakers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Dolven, Ben

  2020-02-14
• Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [December 20, 2013]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "U.S.-Thailand relations are of interest to Congress because of Thailand's status as a long-time military ally and a significant trade and economic partner. For many years, Thailand was also seen as a model of stable democracy in Southeast Asia, although this image, along with U.S. relations, have been complicated by deep political and economic instability in the wake of a September 2006 coup that displaced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a popular but divisive figure who remains a flashpoint for many divisions within Thailand. In recent years, Thai politics have been dominated by rivalries between populist forces led by Thaksin (now in exile) and his opponents, a mix of conservative royalists and military figures, and other Bangkok elites. Despite his exile, pro-Thaksin political parties have won the three nationwide elections since his ouster, and the current government is led by his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Mass movements both supporting and opposing Thaksin have staged vigorous demonstrations, including protests in 2010 that spilled over to riots in Bangkok and other cities, causing the worst street violence in Thailand in decades. Large-scale anti-Thaksin demonstrations in November and December 2013 forced Prime Minister Yingluck to dissolve Parliament and call for nationwide elections in February 2014. […] Although the alliance itself does not appear to be fundamentally shaken by Thailand's political events of the past few years, Bangkok's reliability as a partner, and its ability to be a regional leader, are uncertain. Successive Thai governments have also been unable to stem violence by insurgents in the southern majority-Muslim provinces."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben

  2013-12-20
• Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated July 31, 2015]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Summary: "Thailand is a long-time military ally and a significant trade and economic partner for the United States. For many years, Thailand was seen as a model democracy in Southeast Asia, although this image, along with U.S.-Thai relations, has been complicated by deep political and economic instability in the wake of two military coups in the past nine years. [...] The United States and the international community have raised other concerns about Thailand, mainly having to do with human trafficking, the large refugee population living within the country's borders, and human rights and democracy conditions. This report will be updated periodically."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Mackey, Wil; Dolven, Ben

  2015-07-31
• Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [June 19, 2014]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Thailand is a long-time military ally and a significant trade and economic partner for the United States. In 2013, Thailand was the United States' 24th largest goods trading partner, with $38.0 billion in total two-way goods trade. For many years, Thailand was also seen as a model of stable democracy in Southeast Asia, although this image, along with U.S. relations, has been complicated by deep political and economic instability in the wake of two military coups in the past eight years. The first, in 2006, displaced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a popular but polarizing figure who remains a focus of many divisions within Thailand. The second, in 2014, deposed an acting prime minister after Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted from the premiership by a Constitutional Court decision that many saw as politically motivated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben

  2014-06-19
• Terrorism in Southeast Asia [October 16, 2009]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Since September 2001, the United States has increased focus on radical Islamist and terrorist groups in Southeast Asia, particularly those in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. Southeast Asia has been a base for terrorist operations. Al Qaeda penetrated the region by establishing local cells, training Southeast Asians in its camps in Afghanistan, and by financing and cooperating with indigenous radical Islamist groups. Indonesia and the southern Philippines have been particularly vulnerable to penetration by Islamic terrorist groups. […] The report looks at the rise of Islamist militancy and the JI [Jemaah Islamiyah] network, and discusses terrorism in the region, concluding with options for U.S. policy. Strategies include placing greater emphasis on attacking institutions that support terrorism, building up regional governments' capacities for combating terrorist groups, and reducing the sense of alienation among Muslim citizens."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben . . .

  2009-10-16
• Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated June 25, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner of the United States. These ties endure,but more than a decade of political turmoil in Thailand, including two military coups in 2006 and 2014, has complicated U.S.-Thai relations and erased Thailand's image as a model democracy in Southeast Asia. Thailand conducted nationwide elections in March 2019--its first since 2011--and in June seated a new government led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army who led the 2014 coup. The polls were conducted under new rules drafted by the junta that structurally protect the military's influence, and questions remain about the new government's popular legitimacy. The military government also rewrote Thailand's constitution to create a military-appointed Senate, and was widely criticized for harassment of government critics and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben; Smith, Kirt

  2019-06-25
• Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [June 5, 2012]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Under the Obama Administration, the United States has prioritized engagement with Southeast Asia and a broader strategic rebalancing towards the Asia-Pacific. With its favorable geographic location and broad-based economy, Thailand has traditionally been considered among the most likely countries to play a major leadership role in the region. But growing U.S. engagement with other allies and partners such as the Philippines and Singapore, and Thailand's domestic problems appear to have dimmed the prominence of the U.S.-Thai relationship in Southeast Asia. Thailand maintains close relations with China and is considered by some to be a key arena of competition between Beijing and Washington for influence."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben

  2012-06-05
• Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [July 29, 2015]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Thailand is a long-time military ally and a significant trade and economic partner for the United States. For many years, Thailand was seen as a model democracy in Southeast Asia, although this image, along with U.S.-Thai relations, has been complicated by deep political and economic instability in the wake of two military coups in the past nine years. […] Thai politics has been contentious for more than a decade, mainly because of the rivalry between Thaksin's supporters and opponents. Many of Thaksin's supporters hail from the poorer, more rural areas of northern Thailand, and they have benefited from populist policies launched by Thaksin and his supporters. Parties loyal to Thaksin have won the last six nationwide elections including several that took place after the 2006 coup, but a series of prime ministers have been removed, either via coup or court action. Thaksin's opponents--a mix of conservative royalists, military figures, and Bangkok elites--have refused to accept the results of these elections. Both Thaskin's opponents (loosely known as 'Yellow Shirts') and his supporters ('Red Shirts') have staged large-scale protests, which have become violent at times. In 2010, demonstrations led to riots in Bangkok and other cities, and the worst street violence in Thailand in decades. […] The United States and the international community have raised other concerns about Thailand, mainly having to do with human trafficking, the large refugee population living within the country's borders, and human rights and democracy conditions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben; Mackey, William

  2015-07-29
• Terrorism in Southeast Asia [October 16, 2007]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Since September 2001, the United States has increased focus on radical Islamist and terrorist groups in Southeast Asia, particularly those in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. Southeast Asia is a base for past, current, and possibly future terrorist operations. Al Qaeda penetrated the region by establishing local cells, training Southeast Asians in its camps in Afghanistan, and by financing and cooperating with indigenous radical Islamist groups. Indonesia and the southern Philippines have been particularly vulnerable to penetration by anti-American Islamic terrorist groups. [...]. In September 2009, Indonesian authorities claimed they had killed the leader of one [Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)] cell, Noordin Mohammed Top. Noordin is believed to have been responsible for organizing the nearsimultaneous July 17, 2009 bombings of the J.W. Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta. [...]. The responses of countries in the region to both the threat and to the U.S. reaction generally have varied with the intensity of their concerns about the threat to their own stability and domestic politics. In general, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines were quick to crack down on militant groups and share intelligence with the United States and Australia, whereas Indonesia began to do so only after attacks or arrests revealed the severity of the threat to their citizens. Many governments view increased American pressure and military presence in their region with ambivalence because of the political sensitivity of the issue with both mainstream Islamic and secular nationalist groups. The Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand has escalated in recent years as has terrorist activity in southern areas of the Philippines. The report looks at the rise of Islamist militancy and the JI network, and discusses terrorism in the region, concluding with options for U.S. policy. Strategies include placing greater emphasis on attacking institutions that support terrorism, building up regional governments' capacities for combating terrorist groups, and reducing the sense of alienation among Muslim citizens."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben

  2007-10-16
• U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated April 30, 2021]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to maintain positive ties with all regional powers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben; Chanlett-Avery, Emma

  2021-04-30
• Religious Intolerence in Indonesia [October 10, 2018]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, and it has long been known for its moderate interpretations of Islam. Yet, in recent years, there have been numerous acts of religious intolerance directed against minority religious groups in the country, including Ahmadis, a Muslim sect. This sort of intolerance gained international attention in December 2016 when over 200,000 protestors descended on Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, to demand that the city's governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, resign. They accused Basuki, otherwise known as Ahok, of blasphemy because he had suggested that his political opponents were using a Quranic verse to encourage Muslims to vote against non-Muslims. (Ahok is a double minority in Indonesia: he is a Christian and ethnically Chinese.) Months later, Ahok lost his reelection bid; he also was charged with blasphemy, convicted, and sentenced to two years in prison."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mackey, Wil; Dolven, Ben

  2018-10-10
• Mongolia [July 10, 2018]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Mongolia is a landlocked nation of 3 million people between Russia and China. It is often viewed as a democratic success story both among former Soviet satellite states and in Asia. In 1989, democratic activists staged protests against communist rule and formed the Mongolian Democratic Union. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), which had ruled the country since 1921, allowed multiparty elections in 1990 and relinquished power in 1996, when a Democratic Party (DP)-led coalition of opposition forces won nationwide elections. Since then, the Mongolian legislature and presidency have peacefully exchanged power several times. Mongolia's foreign relations are driven by a desire to preserve the nation's autonomy by balancing relations between major partners, including the United States, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Russia, and also Japan and South Korea. Its economy is supported by extensive mineral resources, but growth remains uneven, driven by fluctuations in mineral and petroleum prices."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Dolven, Ben

  2018-07-10
• Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) of 2018 [Updated April 4, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "In December 2018, the 115th Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA; P.L. 115-409), which provides a broad statement of U.S. policy for the Indo-Pacific region. ARIA states, 'Without strong leadership from the United States, the international system, fundamentally rooted in the rule of law, may wither.... It is imperative that the United States continue to play a leading role in the Indo-Pacific.' The act, which utilizes the 'Indo-Pacific' framework adopted by the Trump Administration in its 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' policy, appears to seek to reassure U.S. allies, strategic partners, and other nations of the United States' continued commitment to the region."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.; Dolven, Ben; Lawrence, Susan V. . . .

  2019-04-04
• Indonesia Prepares for Election Rematch [March 18, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Voters in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, are scheduled to go to the polls on April 17 to elect a President and the 560 members of the People's Representative Council, Indonesia's national Parliament. This will be Indonesia's fourth direct presidential election and the first time presidential and parliamentary polls are to be simultaneous. It is also expected to be one of the largest democratic exercises in the world: among democracies, Indonesia trails only India and the United States in the size of its electorate. The presidential polls pit the same two candidates who contested the last elections in 2014: President Joko Widodo and former army Special Forces commander Prabowo Subianto. Widodo, almost universally known by his nickname, Jokowi, won the bitterly contested previous election by 9 million votes. Most opinion polls show him once again holding a lead over Prabowo, but the advantage may be narrowing as election day nears."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben

  2019-03-18
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [Updated May 22, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia's primary multilateral organization, a 10-member grouping of nations with a combined population of 630 million and a combined annual gross domestic product (GDP) of around $2.4 trillion. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world's largest regional fora, representing a strategically important region with some of the world's busiest sea lanes, including the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Taken collectively, ASEAN would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy and the United States' fourth-largest export market."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben

  2019-05-22
• U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated May 20, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to strike a balance among the region's powers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben

  2019-05-20
• Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) of 2018 [March 20, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "In December 2018, the 115th Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA; P.L. 115-409), which provides a broad statement of U.S. policy for the IndoPacific region. ARIA states, 'Without strong leadership from the United States, the international system, fundamentally rooted in the rule of law, may wither.... It is imperative that the United States continue to play a leading role in the Indo-Pacific.' The act, which utilizes the 'IndoPacific' framework adopted by the Trump Administration in its 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' policy, appears to seek to reassure U.S. allies, strategic partners, and other nations of the United States' continued commitment to the region."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.; Dolven, Ben; Lawrence, Susan V. . . .

  2019-03-20
• U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated May 19, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to strike a balance among the region's powers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben; Chanlett-Avery, Emma

  2020-05-19
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [Updated June 10, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia's primary multilateral organization, a 10- member grouping of nations with a combined population of 650 million and a combined annual gross domestic product (GDP) of around $2.8 trillion in 2019. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world's largest regional fora, representing a strategically important region with some of the world's busiest sea lanes, including the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Taken collectively, ASEAN would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy and the United States' fourth-largest export market."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben

  2020-06-10
• Philippines [Updated June 11, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "The United States and the Republic of the Philippines have a deep relationship that includes a bilateral security alliance, extensive military cooperation, close people-topeople ties, and many shared strategic and economic interests. U.S. administration of the Philippines as a colonial territory (1898-1946), which followed 300 years of Spanish rule, also shaped the relationship. Since President Rodrigo Duterte was elected in 2016, his violent antidrug campaign and harassment of political opponents, human rights activists, journalists, and the media, as well as his distrust of the United States and rapprochement with China, have raised concerns among many U.S. policymakers. Among Filipinos, popular support for the U.S.-Philippines relationship is strong. [...] A 2018 Pew poll found that Filipinos prefer U.S. global leadership (77%) over that of China (12%)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Dolven, Ben

  2020-06-11
• South China Sea Disputes: Background and U.S. Policy [Updated December 22, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Overview: "Multiple Asian governments assert sovereignty over rocks, reefs, and other geographic features in the heavily trafficked South China Sea (SCS), with the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) arguably making the most assertive claims. The United States has no territorial claim in the SCS and does not take a position on sovereignty over any of the geographic features in the SCS, but has urged that disputes be settled without coercion and on the basis of international law. Separate from the sovereignty disputes, the United States and China disagree over what rights international law grants foreign militaries to fly, sail, and operate in a country's territorial sea or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Since 2013, the sovereignty disputes and the U.S.-China dispute over freedom of the seas for military ships and aircraft have converged in the controversy over military outposts China has built on disputed features in the SCS. Of particular concern to the U.S. military is the possibility that the outposts may be part of a Chinese effort to dominate the South China Sea, with the ultimate goal of making China a regional hegemon that can set the rules by which other regional actors must operate. A long-standing goal of U.S. strategy has been to prevent the emergence of such a regional hegemon. U.S. and regional observers have been alert to other actions China might take to achieve dominance in the SCS."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben; Lawrence, Susan V.; O'Rourke, Ronald

  2020-12-22
• Thailand: 2020 Student Protests and U.S.-Thai Relations [October 29, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Protesters have taken to the streets in Thailand, challenging the country's military-led government and, notably, the role of the country's powerful monarchy. Protesters are demanding constitutional reform, the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, and limitations on the powers of the monarchy--a deeply sensitive issue in Thailand. Previous periods of mass protests in Thailand have challenged the country's political institutions, and on numerous instances have resulted in violent clashes between competing factions as well as with the Thai military. Since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932, Thailand has experienced over 22 attempted coups (13 successful), the most recent in 2014."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Kirt; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben

  2020-10-29
• Chinese Land Reclamation in the South China Sea: Implications and Policy Options [June 18, 2015]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Since September 2013, China has undertaken extensive reclamation and construction on several reefs in the Spratly Island chain in the South China Sea, raising a variety of concerns in the United States and Asia. The reclamation has created over 2,000 acres (809 hectares) of artificial landmasses on Chinese-occupied reefs that are disputed between several countries and are located in some of the world's most heavily trafficked waters. China announced on June 16, 2015 that its reclamation work would be completed 'in the upcoming days,' and that when reclamation was finished, it would turn to building facilities on the newly created artificial islands. The reclamation activity continues a series of assertive actions by China in the South China Sea as Beijing seeks to more actively stress its sovereignty claims in the area. […] This, some observers argue, raises the question of whether the United States has developed a strategy for countering Chinese actions, and if so, whether that strategy is adequate. China states that its activities are legal, reflecting its claim of sovereignty over the affected features, and notes that other South China Sea claimants have also reclaimed areas on features that they occupy. […] This report assesses legal, military/operational, and diplomatic implications of the reclamation and construction activity. It surveys U.S. and Chinese statements on the situation, provides a history of reclamation activity by other nations including the United States and other South China Sea claimants, and discusses U.S. strategy and potential options for U.S. policymakers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben; Elsea, Jennifer; Lawrence, Susan V. . . .

  2015-06-18
• Coup in Burma (Myanmar): Issues for U.S. Policy [Updated March 4, 2021]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "On February 1, 2021, Burma's military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized control of Burma's Union Government and detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (the country's de facto civilian leader) and members of her political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD had won parliamentary elections held in November 2020, and the coup came as the country's Union Parliament was preparing for its initial session. The military's action was widely condemned internationally as a blow to Burma's partial transition from military rule to democracy. The Biden Administration has redirected some U.S. assistance to Burma, as required by law, and imposed sanctions against the coup's leaders. Any U.S. effort to coordinate a multilateral response to events in Burma may be complicated by the reluctance of many of Burma's neighbors to take sharp action against their neighbor."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolven, Ben; Smith, Kirt

  2021-03-04
• Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strategic Implications [February 4, 2016]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the report summary: "On February 4, 2016, Ministers of the 12 countries participating in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations signed the proposed free trade agreement (FTA). TPP is one of the Obama Administration's signature trade policy initiatives, an effort to reduce and eliminate trade and investment barriers and establish new rules and disciplines to govern trade and investment among the 12 countries. TPP proponents, including Administration officials, argue that the proposed TPP would have substantial strategic benefits for the United States in addition to its direct economic impact. They argue that the agreement would enhance overall U.S. influence in the economically dynamic Asia-Pacific region and advance U.S. leadership in setting and modernizing the rules of commerce in the region and potentially in the multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO). [...] China is not a TPP member, but features prominently in discussion of the agreement's potential strategic effects. Some argue that China is attempting to create a regional order that seeks to minimize U.S. presence and power. In this line of reasoning, the TPP serves as a counter to growing Chinese economic and political influence, implying that failure to conclude TPP could, in effect, allow China to shape regional rules of commerce and diplomacy through its own trade and investment initiatives. Others, however, argue that TPP is complementary to other FTAs and trade agreements throughout the region, including those championed by China, and that new members--possibly including China--will be critical for the TPP to influence regional norms."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Williams, Brock R.; Dolven, Ben; Fergusson, Ian F. . . .

  2016-02-04