Continental view - Asia
Devastation following the Chinese earthquake
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Thursday, 22, May 2008 12:13
A selection of the top news stories making the headlines in Asia in the last two months.
Cyclone Nargis' aftermath
Cyclone Nargis struck Burma at the beginning of May. Its 190km winds severed communications across the Irrawaddy delta and caused widespread flooding. By mid-May up to 130,000 people were feared dead.
Aid agencies quickly expressed frustration with the Burmese government's reluctance to allow assistance from abroad into the country. Criticism of the junta followed last autumn's vocal attacks on the regime, when pro-democracy protests were brutally repressed.
By May 19th the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) said Burma had agreed to an increased international role in delivering aid, after only a trickle of the potential relief had been received in the first two weeks after Nargis.
Meanwhile the junta pressed ahead with its referendum on a new constitution regardless. The ballot was suspended in the third of the country worst affected by Nargis but state-run media reported it had been overwhelmingly backed on May 15th.
The new constitution reaffirms the junta's hold on power and removes opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from office.
May 16th: Death toll rises to 78,000
Tibet troubles
Anti-China riots led by Buddhist monks broke out in Tibet on March 10th, with Chinese authorities claiming 22 people were killed in the protests. Beijing pledged to compensate the civilian victims but Tibetan exiles claimed almost 100 were killed by Chinese security forces.
On May 15th 17 people were jailed for taking part in riots in Lhasa. Nine Tibetan monks were arrested over an alleged bomb plot on April 13th and May 11th saw 600 women detained in the city following three demonstrations, proving the problem was not going away.
Demonstrators worldwide used the Olympic torch's passage through 22 countries, from Athens to Beijing, to protest against China's human rights record and its handling of the Tibet situation.
A team of Chinese climbers carried the torch to the summit of Mount Everest on May 8th, but attention was deflected from the situation by the Sichuan earthquake five days later. The Dalai Lama's visit to Britain was expected to raise the issue to the top of the headlines again, however.
March 16th: Violence spreads to China
Breakthrough with Pyongyang
Deadlock over the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear arsenal appeared to be broken in early April, when a new compensation deal was reached.
Despite the issue of "political compensation" being resolved US assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill remained reserved about the deal, warning "every time I mention a time, I'm always wrong".
It followed an escalation of confrontational tactics by North Korea. Its latest missile tests on March 28th were designed to send a message, as was the threat two days later it might suspend peace talks with the South.
Communist North Korea threatened to pre-empt pre-emptive attacks on its nuclear sites, as well as halt peace talks. Relations between the two countries have worsened since the election of Seoul's president Lee Myung-bak who has advocated a tougher stance with its neighbour.
Click here for a summary of the situation in North Korea.
Musharraf's opponents still divided
Pervez Musharraf was upbeat on March 23rd, pledging to work with the government of assassinated former opponent Benazir Bhutto.
Her Pakistan People's party (PPP) chose Yousuf Raza Gilani as the new prime minister two days later. He immediately released former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and 60 other judges placed under house arrest by Mr Musharraf last autumn.
Both the PPP and its coalition partner, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, pledged to reinstate the judges who were replaced as Mr Musharraf sought to confirm another term in power.
They divided over key details in late April, however, leaving the government effectively paralysed. Last autumn's state of emergency continues its legacy of instability.
Click here for a summary of recent developments in Pakistan.
No progress against the Taliban
The security situation remained perilous in Afghanistan as spring turned to summer. Around 17 civilian road workers were killed by Taliban fighters, who were subsequently pursued by the Afghan National Army and lost seven of their number, while on April 29th at least 15 died in a suicide bombing in the eastern Nangarhar province.
The capture of Pakistan's ambassador to the country, Tariq Azizussin, provided an indication of the same lack of security. The Taliban only released him after Pakistan freed around 40 Taliban members.
Perhaps reflecting the lack of progress in Afghanistan, UK defence secretary Des Browne suggested negotiations with the Taliban were now worth considering in late March.
And after a row with junior Nato members about their limited enthusiasm for sending troops to the country, US military leaders said they were considering boosting the number of US troops in the country by around 7,000.
Click here for an update of recent developments in Afghanistan
Other major developments
March 22nd - Opposition claims victory. Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang National party won elections, suggesting closer relations with China in the coming years.
Click here for full story
April 8th - Blast-off. The first South Korean astronaut in space, So-yeon Yi, blasted off from Kazakhstan. She returned to Earth safely 11 days later.
Click here for full story
May 12th - Sichuan earthquake. Tens of thousands of people were buried alive in China, prompting a week-long rescue effort.
Click here for full story