As the United States vacates some of the foreign outposts, China is moving in to fill up the vacuum at a fast pace. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s latest visit to the Middle East is an indication in that direction…. Read More ›
Politics & Law
China Allows People to Pay Respects at Grave of Cultural Revolution Leader Jiang Qing
Home | News | China China Allows People to Pay Respects at Grave of Cultural Revolution Leader Jiang Qing The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has allowed public access to the grave of Jiang Qing, former member of the Gang… Read More ›
China’s secret loan contracts reveal its hold over low-income nations
Chinese lenders have used legal contracts to give them a hidden advantage over other creditors when lending to low-income countries, in a trend which threatens to undermine global debt relief efforts, according to research. Many of the contract terms were… Read More ›
China rages against Western brands in Xinjiang cotton ruckus
Swedish fast-fashion giant H&M has shuttered at one of its shops in Urumqi, the capital of China’s far-west Xinjiang autonomous region, as local pressure mounts against Western criticism and sanctions against Beijing’s policies towards the region’s Muslim Uighur population. In… Read More ›
Could former US president Trump leverage Russia against China?
Before Obama began his pivot to Asia to contain China, the US had been quite successful in containing Russia with Chinese assistance. China supported the UN Security Council resolutions initiated by the West to contain Russia in the Middle East…. Read More ›
‘Don’t over-extend your Alaskan King Crab legs’, China tells the U.S.
At least five important points can be noted beyond the hostile exchange of words between the two sides during the Alaska meeting (BBC 2021 March 20 ‘US and China trade angry words at high-level Alaska talks’). First, Yang Jiechi, the… Read More ›
Anti-China outrage pulls Beijing into Myanmar coup crisis
Beijing is being pulled into the ulcerous crisis in Myanmar, an unraveling country it had carefully stitched into its big plans for Asia, with Chinese factories torched as mainland workers hunker down under martial law. During a January 2020 visit… Read More ›
Historical enmity makes Russia-China alliance impossible
Russia-China Treaty Alliance Failed to End Historical Enmity Over the past two centuries, China and Russia were seldom good neighbors except in the decade from February 1950 when they were allies under a treaty of alliance totalled “The Sino-Soviet Treaty… Read More ›
China is one of three powers in the world, and none can defeat the others alone
Now, like Cao Cao, the US is too strong for China to fight for superiority with while the EU is also well-established like Sun Quan’s State of Wu that China can use as its ally to counter US threat.. Like… Read More ›
America will only win when China’s regime fails
Competition between the United States and China has begun, but how will it end? There is a bipartisan consensus that Sino-American relations will be defined primarily by rivalry across multiple regions and dimensions of statecraft for years to come. Yet… Read More ›
Nearly 90% in U.S. see China as ‘competitor’ or ‘enemy,’ survey finds
Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults see China as a “competitor” or an “enemy” rather than a “partner,” a new survey has found, shedding light on shifting American views of the Asian behemoth. The Pew Research Center survey released Thursday — the first focusing… Read More ›
Charging of Politicians For ‘Subversion’ in Hong Kong Sparks International Outcry
The charging of 47 democracy activists and opposition politicians with “subversion” in Hong Kong under a draconian national security law imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sparked an international outcry on Monday, amid calls for… Read More ›
China has a legal problem: finding lawyers to defend its interests abroad
With China and its companies facing an increasing number of bruising overseas legal battles, defending the country’s interests abroad has become a pressing issue for the ruling Communist Party. President Xi Jinping raised concerns two years ago in a speech… Read More ›
China’s Leaders Laud Mao Acolyte in Symbolic Attack on Reformer Deng Xiaoping
The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) commemorated former premier Hua Guofeng at the weekend in a move that could indicate the party under general secretary Xi Jinping is continuing to model his leadership on that of Mao Zedong, analysts said…. Read More ›
China critic Bolsonaro looks set for second term as Brazil president
Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro – known as the “Trump of the Tropics” for his hardline China policies – does not look set to follow his US counterpart into a one-term exit in elections next year. While much could happen between… Read More ›
Military coup in Myanmar – responses in geopolitical context
Executive Summary The recent military coup in Myanmar has baffled many observers as unresolved tension from the country’s long military rule have resurfaced just after a landslide victory of the NLD party led by Aung San Suu Kyi. International reactions… Read More ›
The Tromsø Convention may reverse Europe’s democracy deficit
Accessing quality information has never been so challenging, despite or maybe, because of our exposure to tremendous amount of information. The entry into force of the Council of Europe (CoE) Convention on Access to Official Documents (Tromsø Convention) on 1… Read More ›
Why Iran won’t cross China on the Uighurs
Iran has long championed the cause of repressed Muslims worldwide, an often vocal stance that has underpinned the Islamic Republic’s self-proclaimed leadership role in the Muslim world. But Iran has willfully ignored the ordeal of more than 1.5 million Uighur… Read More ›
Poland risks squandering warm ties with China
On February 9, Polish President Andrzej Duda represented his country at the ninth Summit of Central and Eastern European Leaders with China, which was held via video link for safety reasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Duda, whose country is… Read More ›
Examining China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan
Approximately 26.5 million out of 221.8 million Pakistani citizens live below the national poverty line, determined based on one’s ability to afford to consume 2,350 calories a day. Indigence is particularly widespread in rural areas, which houses almost two-thirds of… Read More ›
Biden Brings Human Rights, Military Threats to Fore in Phone Call With Xi Jinping
U.S. President Joe Biden has criticized China’s human rights violations and military aggression against the democratic island of Taiwan, in his first phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations on Thursday. While the phone… Read More ›
China calls for EU autonomy as Western alliance disintegrates
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called on the EU to act “independently and autonomously,” a day after U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to confront Beijing with “extreme competition.” Wang made the remarks in a video meeting with EU… Read More ›
The EU Sputnik Borrell in Moscow: An aftermath of diplomacy
After almost unanimous assessment of the Western media and analysts (one would be inclined to conclude they are “gleichgeschaltet”, modeled on the methods of Nazi master of propaganda Goebbels ), a visit to Moscow of the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs,… Read More ›
China the geopolitical winner of Myanmar’s coup
As the dust settles on Myanmar’s military coup, it is already clear that China will be the main foreign power beneficiary of the suspension of democracy. While US President Joe Biden’s administration quickly threatened to impose new punitive sanctions on… Read More ›
Major blow for Biden as French president shatters US alliance dream: EU cosies up to China
Emmanuel Macron has warned new US President Joe Biden he cannot rely on the support of the European Union when it comes to China in an indication that the bloc is ready to cosy up to Beijing. Mr Biden, who… Read More ›
Red-Green takeover: How China could turn off Britain’s lights
In any future war between Britain and China, the winner could be decided in a matter of hours — and Britain is unlikely to be the victor. For years now, Chinese businesses have been quietly positioned at the heart of… Read More ›
New Cold War threatens to sink international climate efforts
China is not eager to appear friendly with the U.S., despite the change of leadership in Washington. As the Trump administration concluded a marathon run of speeches denouncing Chinese communists and announcements of tough-on-China policies right through to its final days, expectations dimmed… Read More ›
China builds new housing on key South China Sea Island to support growing population
China is set to construct new housing to accommodate nearly 400 people on Woody Island, a sign of its effort to support a growing population on this key outpost in the disputed South China Sea, Chinese government documents and satellite… Read More ›
European Integration – Quo Vadis?
As part of the Geneva Lecture Series concepted and conducted by prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, President of the Republic of Austria Dr. Heinz Ficher (2004-16) and current Co-chair of the Vienna-based Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens centered his two-hour long mesmerizing… Read More ›
Biden admin vows to ‘deepen ties’ with Taiwan as Chinese warplanes threaten island
The U.S. State Department vowed to back Taiwan over the weekend and called on China to discontinue its military, diplomatic and economic pressures against the sovereign island. On Saturday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, “The United States notes with… Read More ›
China-US tension: Biden administration pledges to back Japan and Philippines in maritime disputes
The United States has pledged to support its allies involved in maritime disputes over both the South and East China seas – where China is locking horns with its neighbours – as the newly installed US administration is renewing alliances… Read More ›
Biden sends messages rejecting China expansionism
One week into the job, US President Joe Biden has sent a clear warning to Beijing against any expansionist intentions in East and Southeast Asia. In multiple calls and statements, he and his top security officials have underscored support for… Read More ›
Philippines says may benefit from any pivot to Asia by Biden administration
The Philippines may benefit if there is a renewed emphasis on Asia by the new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, which could help act as a counterbalance to China in the region, the country’s defence minister said on Friday…. Read More ›
Philippines protests new China law as `verbal threat of war’
The Philippines has protested a new Chinese law that authorizes its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels and destroy other countries’ structures on islands it claims, Manila’s top diplomat said Wednesday. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a… Read More ›
How will Biden deal with China?
Back in 2008, when Joe Biden was on the campaign trail running for vice president, the Democratic senator from Delaware once told fundraisers that the world will “test the mettle” of Barack Obama. Now that Biden has been inaugurated as… Read More ›
China’s Xi calls for unity in fighting virus, climate change
Countries must cooperate more closely in fighting the challenges of the pandemic and climate change and in supporting a sustainable global economic recovery, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday in an address to the World Economic Forum. “Humanity has only… Read More ›
Biden administration urges China to toughen it climate targets
Gina McCarthy, the White House’s national climate adviser, did not say what policies would be released. A memo seen by Reuters on Thursday showed Biden will unveil a second round of executive orders as soon as Jan 27 that include an… Read More ›
Analysis: Biden faces a more confident China after US chaos
As a new U.S. president takes office, he faces a determined Chinese leadership that could be further emboldened by America’s troubles at home. The disarray in America, from the rampant COVID-19 pandemic to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol,… Read More ›
No sign yet Biden seeks a honeymoon with China
The Chinese government hopes Sino-United States relations will get back on track after the Biden administration took office on January 20, but political analysts in Hong Kong and Taiwan are skeptical a drastic shift is in the offing. Hua Chunying,… Read More ›
Democracy or what? – and then climate
Most of us were appalled to see what happened in Washington ten days ago when a ‘mob’, incited by Donald Trump’s address, stormed the Capitol building to prevent the presentation of Joe Biden as the next President. He gave voice… Read More ›
China looks to boost ties with Philippines ahead of Biden inauguration
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be looking to reinforce Beijing’s ties with Manila during a two-day visit to the Philippines this week, observers say.His trip comes just a week ahead of the inauguration of US president-elect Joe Biden, who… Read More ›
Lessons learned after the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement
Over the past two and a half decades multiple problems have been identified in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. The process of development of the BiH society has generated some visible achievements that could lead to a stable… Read More ›
China’s recovery won’t be helped by political point-scoring
China’s impressive economic recovery will continue to attract significant foreign investment throughout 2021, but risks remain – and it won’t be helped by Beijing mocking the recent violence in Washington. After a considerable drop in the first quarter of last… Read More ›
China Is an Economic Bully—and Weaker Than It Looks
For decades, the United States imposed punishing economic sanctions on Sudan, Iraq, and other states it branded as rogue. Outside of military invasion, trade, financial, and diplomatic sanctions became the primary tools for America and its allies to coerce foreign… Read More ›
Who jeopardizes the Balkans?
It will be recorded in the history of international relations that all countries of the Balkans peninsula, starting from Slovenia to Bulgaria had or have officially applied for membership in the EU and NATO, except for Serbia which has declared… Read More ›
Montenegro President Đukanović’s war with the USA (and the West)
On 30 August 2020, Montenegro held the 11th parliamentary election since the first multi-party election in 1990, and the fifth since Montenegro gained independence in 2006. The turnout was as high as 76.65%. The elections brought an end to the… Read More ›
EU-China pact sparks concern over labor standards, human rights
A major investment pact between China and the European Union, which wrapped up negotiations on the deal this week, has sparked concerns that it will give the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) a free pass on human rights and labor standards,… Read More ›
2021: The Year of Disruptive Technologies and New Blocks
If 2020 was the year of pandemic then 2021 will be the year of creation of new blocks and disruptive technologies. Countries like China will take advantage of a vulnerable world and strengthen their position. This year may go down… Read More ›
China jails journalist for four years over Wuhan coronavirus reporting
A Chinese court handed down a four-year jail term on Monday to a citizen-journalist who reported from the central city of Wuhan at the peak of last year’s coronavirus outbreak in China. The journalist stood accused of “picking quarrels and… Read More ›
Of BREXIT and all that
When the Brexit vote was taking place in UK in 2016, I was addressing the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents’ Club at a monthly breakfast meeting. When the meeting started it seemed as though the remain vote was winning. However, by the… Read More ›
