STRATFOR 3/19/04

Shell's Troubles and Nigeria's OPEC Charade
Nigeria: Royal Dutch/Shell Oil Company
March 19, 2004
Royal Dutch/Shell got into more trouble with its shareholders -- and legal authorities -- March 18 when it reclassified some of its reserves for the second time in three months. The location of some of the reserves in question, Nigeria, may herald the end of that country's association with OPEC.

East Asia: Assassination Attempt, Impeachment Hint at Stability?
Mar 19, 2004
Two of the world's major flashpoints have received significant political shocks: Taiwan's president has survived an assassination attempt on the eve of elections, and the South Korean president faces an impeachment hearing in the Constitutional Court just weeks before parliamentary elections. Reactions domestically and abroad highlight the major changes that have taken place in the region over the past 20 years -- the stability of the emerging democracies in South Korea and Taiwan and the decreased perception of threat from China and North Korea.


Taiwan: Assassination Attempt Tips Elections for Chen?
Mar 19, 2004
An unknown gunman or gunmen have shot and wounded Taiwanese President Chen Shui-Bian and his vice president. The assassination attempt likely will win the incumbent another term, and China and Taiwan are preparing for a renewed mandate for Chen and another four years of his pro-independence policies.