Remember “no blood for oil”? Decades ago, the slogan emblematized opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Its logic subsequently shifted as the United States experienced a gas and oil revolution thanks to fracking.
It has cycled back into relevance following the Trump administration’s invasion of Venezuela and the seizure of its oil, which, despite its carnivalesque tone, left at least 80 people dead. The Iran war has now ...
Category: South Asia
Top Chinese Security and Diplomacy Chiefs Meet Vietnamese Counterparts in First-Ever Three-Minister Talks
The first-ever "3+3 Strategic Dialogue" between Chinese and Vietnamese foreign policy and security leaders began on Monday in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, together with Defense Minister Dong Jun and Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, began three ...
China’s Mediation Eases Fighting Between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sources Say
By Asif Shahzad and Joe Cash Chinese mediation efforts, including a message from President Xi Jinping, have helped ease the worst fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, three Pakistani government officials said.
China Steps In to Mediate Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Dispute
China is stepping up diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan after recent clashes along their disputed frontier, highlighting Beijing’s growing role as a regional mediator in South Asia. Officials say China has offered to facilitate dialogue between the two ...
China Calls for Afghanistan-Pakistan Ceasefire
China called on Friday for a ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding it was talking to both sides to try to end violent clashes that had left Beijing "deeply concerned." Pakistan is one of China's closest partners in the region, but ...
With Pakistan and Afghanistan at War, China Confronts a Strategic Moment on Its Frontier
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared "open war" against Afghanistan on Friday amid a surge of fighting between the two South Asian neighbors. Pakistan said it's retaliating against Afghanistan for a series of attacks, including a suicide bombing in early February that killed ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Post-Uprising Polls Won’t Shake Nepal’s Delicate India-China Balance
By Aishwarya Kumar Nepal votes next week for the first time since deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government, but analysts say any winner will likely maintain the delicate diplomatic balance between its two giant neighbors, India and China. ...
Bangladesh Inauguration Invites Reveal Careful Balancing
The leaders of thirteen countries, including China, India, and Pakistan, have reportedly been invited to the swearing-in of Bangladesh’s newly elected government on Tuesday. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, Tarique Rahman, will be inaugurated as the country’s new leader. His ...
China and India Meet to Calm Tensions, but Emphasize Different Priorities
Senior diplomats from China and India met in New Delhi on Tuesday for talks aimed at further de-escalating tensions between the two Asian neighbors. Chinese Executive Vice Minister Ma Zhaoxu met with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on the sidelines of a ...
U.S. Moves to Counter China in Bangladesh, Plans to Pitch Defense Alternatives
By Krishna N. Das The United States is concerned about China's expanding presence in South Asia and is planning to offer Bangladesh’s next government U.S. and allied defense systems as alternatives to Chinese hardware, Washington's ambassador to Dhaka told Reuters.
Bangladesh Election Fuels China Pivot, Reshaping South Asia’s Power Balance
Bangladesh's national election on Thursday may shift South Asia's geopolitical balance as China expands influence while India's regional standing weakens. The vote follows last year's student uprising that toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains sheltered in India despite extradition requests. ...
China Set to Widen Footprint in Bangladesh as India’s Ties Decline
By Tora Agarwala China’s influence in Bangladesh, boosted by the 2024 ouster of New Delhi‑aligned leader Sheikh Hasina, is likely to deepen after this week's election, although politicians and analysts say India is too large a neighbor to be sidelined completely.
China Condemns Islamabad Mosque Attack, Pledges Support for Pakistan
China condemned an attack on a Shi'ite mosque in Islamabad, pledging support on Sunday for the Pakistan government's efforts to "maintain national security and stability". China is "deeply shocked" by Friday's attack, the foreign ministry said in a statement.