Latest Articles about China and the Asia-Pacific
Abu Dujana: Jemaah Islamiyah’s New al-Qaeda Linked Leader
With the death of Jemaah Islamiyah's (JI) master bomb-maker, Azahari bin Husin, there has been intense speculation over JI's current leadership, in particular the position of Amir ("spiritual leader"), which has been vacant since 2003. In recent weeks, Indonesian authorities have focused their sights on... MORE
Japan: A Target for al-Qaeda?
While surprising, Japan is a secondary target for al-Qaeda. Tokyo backed the intervention in Afghanistan and deployed a small detachment of troops to Iraq; these two moves were interpreted by Osama bin Laden as a declaration of war. On October 18, 2003, in a message... MORE
How the Cartoon Controversy May Spur Terrorism in Southeast Asia
While the protests over the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed have spread to Southeast Asia, they have been smaller and less lethal than in other parts of the world. Yet, especially in Indonesia, a number of small hard-line groups and militant organizations have been at... MORE
The Threat of Maritime Terrorism in the Malacca Straits
The Joint War Committee (JWC) of Lloyd's Market Association announced last week that the Malacca Straits would remain on its list of areas at risk from terrorism and other related perils. The announcement came despite a collective campaign by the three littoral states of Indonesia,... MORE
Alternate Futures for Thailand’s Insurgency
The Thai insurgency has formally entered its third straight year. Between January 2004 and January 2006, more than 1,200 people were killed. In January 2004, violent incidents averaged 30 per month; by December 2004, violent incidents averaged 120 per month. By June 2005, bombings averaged... MORE
The Indigenous Nature of the Thai Insurgency
The recent upsurge of unrest in southern Thailand has increased concerns that the country’s Malay Muslim provinces—Pattani, Yala and Narithiwat—may be emerging as a new front for cross-border terrorism in Southeast Asia. In particular, regional and western authorities fear that outside militants, including cadres with... MORE
Australian Anti-Terror Raids: A Serious Plot Thwarted
Since September 11, 2001, Australians have been warned that an attack on Australian soil by al-Qaeda or its allies is probable, if not inevitable. In October, ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organization) released its 2004/05 annual report, which warned of the risk of “home grown” terrorists.... MORE
Thailand Crisis Deepening
The crisis in southern Thailand took an ominous turn with the announcement on November 3 that martial law has been declared in two districts of the province of Songkhla. This is the first extension of martial law beyond the three troubled provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani... MORE
Re-Examining Jemaah Islamiyah in the Wake of the Zawahiri Letter
On October 11, 2005, the website of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence posted a letter believed to be from al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri to Iraqi insurgent leader and commander of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Dated July 9, 2005, this letter provided not... MORE
A New Alliance in the Philippines
As political talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) register strong progress, the military campaign to finish off the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the south continues. According to the October 13 edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which... MORE