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
Norway: India’s partner for green growth

Written by Gokul Sahni

India should continue to work with Norway on global issues of convergence across peace and security, women’s rights, climate change and the role of oceans, especially given both countries are in an agenda-setting position as temporary UNSC members until 2023.

Read More
India’s political paradox: The enduring popularity of Narendra Modi

Written by Srijan Shukla

Modi is not only changing the nature of the polity but is also ensuring that he remains central to that change. This is significant because all Hindu-revisionist cultural networks consider Modi and his presence in the central government integral to the success of their agenda.

Read More
Russia, India and the S-400 deal: Complicated geopolitics

Written by Divyanshu Jindal

While the delivery of the first batch of S-400 systems is still a few months away, in future, new dynamics in Afghanistan and increasing cooperation between India and the US in the Indo-Pacific through the Quad will surely be important factors affecting the decision to impose or waive CAATSA sanctions against India.

Read More
Challenges to subnational diplomacy: The tangled roots of Punjab

Written by Hamna Tariq

A peaceful Punjab region could prevent bi-national conflicts from spilling over into the region and, as both Punjabs border the seat of governments in Delhi and Islamabad respectively, regional bonhomie is likely to influence central government attitudes.

Read More

The Indo-Pacific is calling Israel

Written by Tuvia Gering

If, over the last decade, Israel sought to diversify its global focus away from the US and Europe toward China and India, it now must go a step further and strengthen its integration with Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and ASEAN countries, particularly by normalising relations with Indonesia

Read More
Kuomintang: The only party capable of maintaining a US-China-Taiwan trilateral balance

Written by Eric Chu

As conflict rages around the world and political divisions continue to drive nations apart, Taiwan’s political leadership must emphasise bipartisanship and cooperation for mutual benefit while also being able to stand up for the country’s principles: looking for commonalities while respecting differences.

Read More
The EU’s new hype around Taiwan: Prospects for a more granular approach

Written by Justyna Szczudlik

The European Parliament’s role in popularising the Taiwan issue cannot be overestimated. The EU should promptly move towards popularising existing platforms for cooperation with Taiwan, such as those on industrial, digital and high-tech topics.

Read More
In Conversation with Andrea Ghiselli

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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More