Posts tagged RCEP
Hold on tight! The US, Indo-Pacific, and expectations for a second Trump term

Written by Blake H. Berger

If Trump prevails in the 2024 election, and if his first term indicates what the region can expect from a second one, hold tight because it will get ugly.

Read More
How and why Japan can be an alternative to China in the Indo-Pacific

Written by Kyoko Hatakeyama

Moreover, since Japan has maintained a stable relationship with China — despite their territorial disputes — the region does not have to worry about backlash or anger from China just because they choose Japan over China.

Read More
Despite IPEF setback, Taiwan-ASEAN ties are on the right track

Written by Marshall Reid and Zoe Weaver-Lee

Fuelled by rapidly growing private investment, state-led cooperative initiatives and broader changes in regional trade flows, Taiwan has established itself as a key economic player in the ASEAN region.

Read More
Japan’s strategic policies under the current global order

Written by Elli Pohlkamp

This behaviour of inactivity and standing on the sidelines has changed now, driven by the concern that one day Japan might need help from its Western alliance partners should the security situation around Japan change.

Read More
Crafting a durable US Indo-Pacific Economic Framework requires two-way buy-in

Written by Stephen Nagy

The raft of recent international trade agreements speaks to the multi-layered and multilateral approach many Indo-Pacific states are pursuing to deal with China.

Read More
2022: The Quad, AUKUS and the future Indo-Pacific

The reinvigoration of the Quad and the announcement of the AUKUS last year have been a subject of much consternation and debate. While they signal renewed diplomatic energy on Washington’s part, questions remain whether these initiatives will translate to meaningful policy and if they will promote or hinder a coherent Indo-Pacific strategy.

Read More
In Brief: FutureMap founder, Dr Parag Khanna

Chinese investment through the BRI is just part of the story, because if managed correctly, it is the first mover that unlocks greater investment from other powers and corporations, and leads to growth that ultimately helps countries pay their debts.

Read More
Who’s afraid of the RCEP?

Written by Jeffrey Wilson

There is nothing to fear in terms of RCEP becoming a vehicle for Chinese economic dominance of the Indo-Pacific. In fact, we should be more worried about the strategic implications of a RCEP failure than its success.

Read More
Tracking India’s Act East Policy

Written by Man Mohini Kaul

While India’s Act East Policy may sometimes appear to fall short in the implementation of specific projects, there is a resurgence marked by the convergence of strategic and security interests and a mutual desire for greater economic engagement.


Read More
Australia faces a contested region

Written by Nick Bisley

Whether others follow the example Australia has set, placing the military at the heart of regional policy, will be key to determining Asia’s emerging strategic landscape. Thus far even Japan, which has much greater clashes of interests with China, has not gone as far as Canberra.

Read More
Decentering ASEAN in the Quad’s Indo-Pacific strategy

Written by Rohan Mukherjee

ASEAN can then continue to hold together and take a middle path, offering security cooperation to the Quad, economic cooperation to China, and institutionalised opportunities for diplomacy all around. The Quad for its part can continue growing its footprint without maintaining the pretence of ASEAN centrality and the need to convince smaller regional states to irrationally become the tip of the spear aimed at China.

Read More
ASEAN centrality in trade and investment

Written by Ong Kian Ming

ASEAN must also be willing to push the envelope when it comes to economic diplomacy in a manner that would strengthen the unity of the grouping and safeguard the interests of its members.

Read More
India and the EU: Small steps through summits

Written by Chirayu Thakkar

Even though there would remain a considerable gap between the EU’s policy commitment to the Indo-Pacific and actual maritime efforts, India should appreciate and build upon the moral strength that the policy brings to multilateral efforts.

Read More
Why the Quad will endure

Written by William Choong

While there have been negotiations for a formal Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, ASEAN has found no solution to Chinese assertiveness. This is where the four Quad navies can bring power and presence to bear.

Read More
The CPTPP: Is the United States set to re-engage

Written by Tridivesh Singh Maini

The US and its allies need to provide an alternative economic narrative as merely criticising Beijing is not enough. Thus far the Biden administration has made the right noises by calling for a collaborative approach on economic issues. Nevertheless, it needs to strike a careful balance and can not ignore domestic political pressures.

Read More
India and China: Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific Decade — Part I

Written by Velina Tchakarova

Whereas China approaches its affairs with India as asymmetric and non-zero-sum, India sees itself involved in a zero-sum interaction between two equally powerful countries in South Asia. India’s perception of China is that Beijing is taking the central position in its direct neighbourhood and increasingly in the IOR, while China perceives New Delhi as a major geopolitical factor with considerable naval capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Read More
In Brief: Happymon Jacob on India in the Indo-Pacific

With Happymon Jacob

When one looks at Sino-EU relations from New Delhi, it seems that the EU is not so critical of Chinese policy. The EU wants to do business with China and Brussels is not very keen to push back on Beijing's aggressive behaviour or criticise its conduct toward smaller countries in the Indo-Pacific. The CAI, which replaces 16 existing economic agreements with Beijing with a single major agreement is perhaps indicative of this.

Read More
India seeks to strengthen and redefine relations with Indonesia

Written by Niranjan Marjani

Owing to a focus on continental South Asia, Indonesia has long remained a neglected entity in India’s regional foreign policy. However, as the geopolitical realities of the Indo-Pacific region continue to change in the face of a rising and assertive China, India and Indonesia are looking to coordinate their security policies and increase trade.

Read More