The number of Chinese workers overseas created a new type of liability for Chinese policymakers because the political value of protecting the life of a citizen is vastly superior to that of, for example, ensuring the payment of a contract.

Clouds on the horizon: Sino-German relations and the Bundestag election

Written by Christiane Heidbrink

The CDU/CSU, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP warn against digital competition with China. As these are the four parties with the largest predicted vote shares, their ideas for reinforcing the digital economy, critical infrastructure, and network security will shape Germany's relations with China as well as the US.

France in the Pacific: What it's been up to, and why it's good for America

Written by Michael Shurkin

Spurning France the way they have with the AUKUS deal, Australia, the US, and the UK have shut out an ally eager to enhance its role in Indo-Pacific security and do so in a manner that almost entirely coincided with American and Australian interests.

Navigating cybersecurity amid tech rivalry

Written by Farlina Said

Southeast Asian states aim to uphold the principle of ‘technological neutrality’ which ensures the right to choose technology most appropriate for a specific need. Thus, when oversight initiatives such as the Blue Dot Network or Trump’s Clean Network Initiative are pushed, ASEAN member states can avoid choosing sides or technology.

Taiwan’s fight against COVID-19: Balancing pandemic control with democratic oversight and rule of law

Written by Grace Faerber

Taiwanese society must rally its democratically elected representatives in the Legislative Yuan and Executive Yuan to take a hard look at the “necessary measures” currently in place and determine if one daily domestic case truly warrants such a wide margin of executive discretion and infringement on individual privacy.

Bhutan and India: The importance of subnational diplomacy

Written by Nitasha Kaul and Dechen Rabgyal

While the challenges are significant, the intertwined nature of regional trade, livelihood, resources, and security management means that paradiplomacy can be given much greater attention to bring local concerns to the forefront.

France in the Indo-Pacific: A credible strategy in the making?

Written by Antoine Bondaz

The possibility of renaming the Directorate of Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, which includes the sub-directorates of South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Far East, to the Directorate of the Indo-Pacific should be considered.

Bhutan’s coming border crisis with China

Written by John Pollock

Should it transpire in the coming years that Chinese villages or roads are being constructed in Sakteng, alongside those on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is conceivable that Indian mountain troops from IV Corps would intervene as at Doklam in 2017, thus placing Bhutan at the centre of a future Sino-Indian standoff.

The challenge of Chinese digital payment networks

Written by Felix Garten

Chinese-owned companies that use a Chinese digital payment platform outside of China also must adhere to the standards set by this platform. This could further be extended to companies and businesses that are not Chinese-owned but depend on the platform.

The Rohingya exodus: South Asia’s predicament

Written by Sreeradha Datta

Consolidated subnational efforts can enable safer ground conditions that would end the discrimination and persecution faced by the Rohingyas and would allow them a future that is not tainted by violence and hostility and the possibility to live with dignity and safety.

Australia and Papua New Guinea: Shared history, complex relationship

Written by Alan Tidwell

The dispute puts Australia in a difficult spot, pitting its northern neighbour against its Quad partner. Perhaps this might be a moment in which Canberra reaches back into its peacemaking bag to help heal the rift.

Will China build a 'Great Wall' in the East China Sea?

Written by Satoru Nagao

The more China escalates the situation, the more Japan-US-Taiwan security cooperation will be institutionalised, making it more difficult for China to construct another “Great Wall” in the East China Sea.

Pushing the limits of Australia’s strategic imagination in the Pacific Islands

Written by Joanne Wallis

Pacific Island leaders have developed ‘tactical, shrewd and calculating approaches’ towards using their agency to exploit strategic competition between powers to pursue their own priorities, including greater access to aid, concessional loans, military assistance, and international influence.

India and Sri Lanka: The subnational diplomatic dynamics

Written by Andrea Malji

China’s increasing presence in Tamil Nadu’s backyard reflects the quickly changing regional security environment but also draws attention to the tangled web of subnational, regional, and international diplomacy in South Asia.

European warships alone cannot save the South China Sea and Washington knows it

Written by Moises de Souza and Dean Karalekas

The recent G7 decision to invest US$40 trillion in infrastructure projects to rival China’s BRI in developing countries is an excellent step in this direction as long as it includes a long-term commitment with the recipient nations, principally when dealing with those located within Southeast Asia’s geopolitical landscape.

States in action: Federalism and foreign policy in India

Written by Chirayu Thakkar

Expats interested in returning to their roots are important tourists to places of religious and cultural significance. The inbound remittances and heritage tourism support both states as well as the centre.

India’s new consulates and sub-national diplomacy in South Asia

Written by Constantino Xavier and Nitika Nayar

As the region’s predominant power with a history of interventionism, India’s sub-national missions must be able to balance their sub-national outreach, especially to minority groups, with the security concerns of the host country’s central authorities.

Branding is the Quad’s biggest problem

Written by Hayley Channer and Ella Parker

Importantly, labelling additional members as ‘plus’ countries automatically relegates them to a lower status than full-membership countries, creating the impression that they are add-ons rather than equal partners.