Category: Geopolitics
Solomons PM to Visit China to ‘Reaffirm’ Ties
The new leader of the Solomon Islands has announced he will visit China to "reaffirm" his commitment to working with Beijing, a relationship viewed with unease in Western capitals. Solomons Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is heading to China following a week-long ...
Who Will Succeed Amidst Global Economic Fragmentation?
By Lukas Fiala It’s hard to go a day without reading about new economic security measures on either side of the Atlantic. From EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to the U.S. Treasury’s sanctions on China’s dual-use trade with Russia, the ...
Philippines Releases Video of Monday’s Confrontation With China Coast Guard, Sparks Outrage and Fears of Escalation
When news broke of Monday's latest confrontation between Chinese and Philippines maritime authorities in the South China Sea, it was unusual that video of the incident was not available shortly after it happened. But that changed late Wednesday afternoon when the ...
The Philippines Navy Used Armor-Plated Vessel to Protect Against Chinese Water Canons
Chinese Communist Party-run media outlets published photos of the Philippine Navy's re-supply ship which they allege was transporting construction materials to bolster the decrepit World War II-era warship that serves as Manila's outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal. What's most notable about ...
Key Players in South China Sea Confrontation Scramble to Shape the Narrative
The release of videos on Wednesday of this week's violent confrontation between Chinese and Philippines maritime authorities in the South China Sea triggered the usual mix of blame and recriminations among the major parties, but this time, there was a more ominous tone.
Sniping Between China and Philippines Following Ship Collision
Tensions in the South China Sea are high following Monday’s collision between a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine supply ship. The details of the incident are still at issue. It’s the latest in a series of standoffs between China’s Coast ...
Philippine Ship, Chinese Vessel Collide in South China Sea: Beijing
Philippine and Chinese vessels collided near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday, the Chinese Coast Guard said, as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims over the disputed area. Known in Chinese as the Ren'ai ...
Report: China’s Overseas Basing Strategy Focused on Protecting Sea Lanes, Not Confronting U.S.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) does not have the expertise or capabilities to build military bases around the world that could be used to confront the United States in the event of a war between the two countries, according to a new report by the RAND ...
China Says G7 Statement ‘Full of Arrogance, Prejudice and Lies’
China hit back on Monday after G7 leaders warned Beijing to stop sending weapons components to Russia, saying their end-of-summit statement was "full of arrogance, prejudice and lies". When Group of Seven leaders met last week in Italy, souring trade relations ...
New China Rules Allow Detention of Foreigners in South China Sea
By Jing Xuan Teng New Chinese coast guard rules took effect Saturday. Under them, the Coast Guard can detain foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea, where neighbors and the G7 have accused Beijing of intimidation and coercion.
Does Europe Want to Compete With China in the Global South?
By Lukas Fiala When Ursula von der Leyen took on the top job in Brussels back in 2019, she vowed to transform the European Union’s quasi-government—the European Commission—into a “geopolitical Commission.” Little did EU bureaucrats ...
It’s Time to Take the BRICS More Seriously
The BRICS group has existed since 2009 and has done little to distinguish itself in 15 years. They created a mid-sized development bank, but other than that, the bloc's accomplishments have been rather modest. That's ...