Category: Geopolitics
China and the U.S. Put Malaysia’s ASEAN-First Neutrality to the Test
China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner, and the United States is its biggest export market. Kuala Lumpur says it will keep both close. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz calls the approach “pragmatic neutrality,”. ...
China–U.S. Rivalry: Singapore FM on ASEAN Pragmatic Non-Alignment
Singapore’s foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, at a public forum moderated on Friday, said Southeast Asia is refusing a China–U.S. binary choice between China and the United States. Balakhrisnan thinks Southeast Asia is pivoting to integration, keeping economies open to ...
China Warns Papua New Guinea Over Australian Defense Deal
China cautioned Papua New Guinea against "undermining" its interests and sovereignty in signing a mutual defense pact with Australia widely seen as a counter to Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific. Australia and Papua New Guinea this week agreed on the ...
Q&A: Reading China’s Military Parade and Southeast Asia’s Optics Right
In Asia’s high-context politics, the stage often speaks as loudly as the words. Welcoming ceremonies, traditional dances, marathon speeches, China's military parade, and photo ops are never just pomp. They are signals to multiple audiences. At home, they convey respect and access.
Future-Gazing China’s Global Governance Initiative
By Lukas Fiala At China’s SCO summit earlier this month, Xi launched yet another one of his signature foreign policy-oriented projects: the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). Adding an umbrella framing to the existing alphabet soup of GSI, GDI, GCI and ...
Thailand, China Seal Amended Submarine Deal, 2028 Delivery
China’s state shipbuilder CSOC and the Royal Thai Navy signed an amended contract in Beijing to restart Thailand’s long-delayed S26T submarine program. The deal replaces the originally specified German engine with a Chinese diesel and sets delivery for the end ...
Cambodia Deepens China Defense Ties at Xiangshan Forum
Cambodia deepened defense ties with China and opened talks with regional counterparts at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, China. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha addressed the conference and held a meeting with China’s defense minister. Seiha ...
For Chinese Viewers, a Serbian Blogger Replaces a Simple Story with a Complex Reality
In recent weeks, Serbia has once again found itself at the crossroads of global power politics. On Chinese social media, military enthusiasts have been celebrating the prominent role of Chinese-made equipment in Serbia’s preparations for its September 20 military parade — including the debut of two ...
China Condemns U.S.–UK Taiwan Strait Transit, Tracks Warships
China’s military on Friday condemned the sailing of U.S. and British warships through the Taiwan Strait, saying it ordered naval and air forces to monitor and warn the two ships. The U.S. destroyer Higgins and the UK frigate HMS ...
Vanuatu Pushes Back on China-Excluding Deal with Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to cancel the signing of a landmark treaty with Vanuatu because it would limit the Pacific island state’s infrastructure cooperation with China. The Nakamal Agreement would see Australia allocate AU$500 million (about US$330.3 million) for ...
SCO Summit Review: Xi, Modi & Putin Present a United Front
This week's Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin signaled China’s ambition to redefine global governance. Leaders from more than 20 countries endorsed the Tianjin Declaration, pressing for a multipolar order, tighter security cooperation, and expanded economic integration.
Putin Tells Xi China-Russia Ties Are at ‘Unprecedented Level’
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday that their countries' ties were at an "unprecedented level" during talks in Beijing ahead of a massive military parade. World leaders, including North Korea's Kim Jong Un, are gathering in China's ...