It is predicted by some observers that the 21st century will be remembered as the Asian Century. Many of the countries in the region seem to be able to take the economic and trade baton when one of the others experiences problems. the region, in general, continues to grow economically, politically and militarily. The articles presented in this book examine the current political and economic situations in nations across Asia, particularly focusing on economic developments. Contents: Preface; Why Does China Succeed in Attracting and Utilising Foreign Direct Investment?; Democracy Movement at the Crossroads: Protracted Democratisation and De-mobilisation in Hong Kong; China's Opening to the Outside World with Facing Economic Globalisation; China's Telecommunications Reforms: From Monopoly towards Competition; World Bank Lending: Issues Raised by China's Qinghai Resettlement Project; Explaining the Soft-Open Regionalism in East Asia; Governance, Security and the Environmental Policy in South Asia: A Paradox of Change and Continuity; Carbon Emissions Control, Trade Liberalisation and Electricity Market Imperfection: Co-ordinated Approaches to Taiwan's Trade and Tax Policy; ASEAN, 'Haz