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WEEK IN REVIEW: Marcos Rules Out Navy Deployment in South China Sea

Australia and the Pacific nation of Nauru announced a landmark security treaty on Monday, advancing Canberra’s aim of blunting China’s growing regional influence. Under the treaty, Nauru must seek Australia’s agreement before it inks any other bilateral deals concerning maritime security, defense, and policing. (AGENCE ...

Australia and Nauru Announce Landmark Security Treaty

Australia and Pacific nation Nauru announced a landmark security treaty on Monday, advancing Canberra's aim of blunting China's growing regional influence. Under the treaty, Nauru must seek Australia's agreement before it inks any other bilateral deals concerning maritime security, defense and ...

Leaders Arrive in Beijing for What’s Going to be a Frenetic Week of Global South Diplomacy

Visiting heads of state, foreign ministers, and party leaders from Asia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean arrived in Beijing this weekend for what's going to be a very busy week ahead for Chinese diplomacy specifically focused on small and mid-sized countries in the Global South.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nauru Officially Switched Diplomatic Allegiance From Taiwan to China

Indian naval forces are closely monitoring the movements of a Chinese research vessel operating in the Indian Ocean that is making its way towards the Maldives. Although these Chinese research ships are not officially designated as military vessels, the Indian government suspects the data they collect is used ...

How Ties With a Small Pacific Island Country Highlights China’s Reputational Statecraft

By Lukas Fiala & Kenddrick Chan Among the many noteworthy consequences of Taiwan’s recent elections, Nauru’s recognition of the One China Principle is perhaps the most underappreciated one. Having announced the diplomatic switch from Taipei to Beijing shortly after election ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

Plugging into African Agency

After several years of declining funding, the African end of the Belt and Road Initiative seems to be roaring back. The newest Griffith University/Green Development Finance Center data on the Belt and Road Initiative shows that engagement with Africa jumped by 395%, while a few big projects boosted engagement in Nigeria alone more than twelvefold.
These shifts indicate a window of opportunity for African electrification. 60% of Africans still ...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Saudi Arabia Apparently Still Not yet a Member of the BRICS Club

Saudi Arabia is apparently still not yet a member of the BRICS club despite its membership being announced at the same time as when other new members joined the bloc. The Kingdom's commerce minister Majid al-Kasabi confirmed on Tuesday Riyadh has "not yet officially joined." (REUTERS) China's long-serving special climate envoy Xie Zhenhua stepped down due to ...