Asiatica Association

We have just received the Newsletter for Research in Chinese Studies, 119 (August 2011 - vol. 30, no. 3), a hard copy quarterly published by the Center for Chinese Studies (CCS), established in 1981 to promote research in Chinese studies both in Taiwan (The Republic of China) and overseas.

It is written in Chinese with subtitles in English. It contains articles, interviews, and regular updates on the happenings in the worldwide community of Chinese studies.

This issue includes: Summary of Research: “The Center for Chinese Studies: Hopes for the Next 30 Years”, by Tseng Shu-hsien; “Creating a Hig Quality Environment for Chinese Studies: 30 Successful Years of the Center for Chinese Studies”, by Huang Kuan-chung; “A Brief History of the Center for Chinese Studies”, by Tsai Ching-lang;

A very nice and useful map including graphical key to manuscript libraries in India. It has been put together by Prof. Kei Kataoka (Kyushu University, Japan).

The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies (AJISS) has just published the AJISS-Commentary No. 140 ""A New Era for APEC and TPP" by Takashi Omori, Chair of the APEC Economic Committee (till 2011) and Professor of Economics at Tokyo City University ([email protected].

With the Honolulu summit in November, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) wrapped up its so-called "golden three years" forged through the presidency of Singapore, Japan and the United States in turn. The East Asia Summit, held a week later in Bali, witnessed the first official participation of the United States and Russia. The Japanese government took the opportunity of the annual APEC summit to announce its intention to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations despite split public opinion at home. If Canada and Mexico, which similarly expressed interest in the TPP talks, are added, the future TPP could have 12 member countries, a majority of the 21 APEC economies.

Rani Jethmalani, Supreme Court lawyer and daughter of former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani, social activist, and my friend, passed away on December 31, 2011. She established in Delhi  the NGO Women’s Action Research & Legal Action for Women (Warlaw), examining factors responsible for inferior status of women; providing access to general justice; enabling women in India make laws effective; promoting the concept of human rights and aware about the rights of women in remote areas. Warlaw provided dowry victims with free legal assistance.

She also collaborated with our Journal of South Asia Women Studies, delivering a paper at the 2002 International Symposium - Understanding Indian Women: Love, History and Studies.