Egyptian protesters return to Tahrir Square as military makes plans (+analysis); Riot police block pro-Egypt protests in Iran; Algeria to end emergency law after 19 years; China's trade surplus drops due to rise in commodity prices; Chinese economy overtakes Japan; and more

Top of the Agenda: Thousands Return to Tahrir Square for New Protests

Despite Egyptian soldiers clearing out Tahrir Square (Haaretz), thousands of people surged back into Cairo's central square on Monday, including police marching in an "unusual show of solidarity" with protesters. In addition, protestors from the banking, transport, and tourism industries (BBC) demonstrated to demand better pay and working conditions. Most of the activists withdrew from the square on Sunday after embracing an announcement by the new ruling military council that it would dissolve parliament and suspend the constitution following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. Experts explain that the Egyptian junta (CNN) now has to tackle the economic troubles that fed the revolt, including massive youth unemployment and economic underdevelopment. The weeks of unrest essentially shut down Egypt's economy.

The military has set a rapid pace for transition to civilian rule, including elections in six months and the immediate convening of a jury to submit constitutional amendments (NYT) in ten days. Following the events in Egypt, similar opposition protests are spreading across the region (WSJ) including in Yemen, Bahrain, Algeria, Iran, and Palestine.

Analysis:

The military leadership now running Egypt emerged from two weeks of anti-government protests with its reputation intact, but it has yet to prove commitment to the reforms demanded by the public, writes CFR's Steven Cook.

This issue guide provides a range of background and analysis on the protests in the Middle East and North Africa.

Events in Egypt highlight the need for the US government to drop double standards on governance and human rights issues when dealing with friendly dictatorships, writes CFR's Mark Lagon.

Background:

Following more than two weeks of protests, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak stepped down as president, ending three decades in power. Explore this BBC News timeline of key events leading up to this moment.

Read a collection of Foreign Affairs articles on Egypt, including essays by Anwar el-Sadat, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and Fouad Ajami.

 

PACIFIC RIM: China Trade Surplus Declines

China's trade surplus (FT) dropped last month to its lowest level since April 2010. Analysts cited a rise in commodity prices that pushed import numbers close to new highs.

In an op-ed, CFR's Evan A. Feigenbaum says structural changes are afoot in the United States and China that will obstruct efforts by the two nations to form complementary policies.

Japan: According to the Japanese government, the country's economy slipped to the third largest in the world (CNN), overtaken by China. Japan's economy was valued at $5.5 trillion dollars in 2010, while China was at $5.9 trillion.

In this op-ed for Wall Street Journal Asia, David S. Abraham asks whether Japan's prime minister can reopen the world's third largest economy to competition.

 

ELSEWHERE:

- Iran Opposition Plans Protests
- Algeria to End Emergency Law

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org