The Chinese dragon may spout fire but is not ten feet tall yet

Written by Joe Varner

A strong US industrial base with sufficient munitions stockpiles and weapons systems is critical for deterring Beijing in war.

Decoupling from China is not so easy for Japan and Korea

Written by Dr Chang-min Lee

Although both allies of the US, Japan and Korea are forced to compete with each other economically, which is exacerbated by persisting political problems between Tokyo and Seoul.

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'Thawing' between Seoul and Tokyo — A false spring?

Written by Kevin Gray

The apparent ‘thaw’ of Korea-Japan relations is likely to be a ‘false spring’ rather than a genuine new era of bilateral relations and broader regional cooperation.

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Will the decision on Bougainville’s independence rupture Australia’s Pacific Family?

Written by Corey Lee Bell and Elena Collinson

The approaching milestone on Bougainville’s journey to independence could once again see China escalating its efforts.

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In Brief with Enoch Wu, founder of Forward Alliance

9DASHLINE recently had the pleasure of speaking with Enoch Wu, the founder of Forward Alliance. His organisation works to empower Taiwanese citizens to protect themselves and their communities in the face of disasters by providing civilian emergency-response training.

Forum: Russia’s war and the international order — one year on

9DASHLINE asks several experts to assess what Russia’s war in Ukraine means for the international order and what the consequences may be for issues in the Indo-Pacific.

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The Adani Group and India’s foreign policy

Written by Pranesh HP

India ought to ensure that it does not lose domestic integrity to corporate influence while chasing economic goals abroad, creating negative downstream implications for its foreign policy.

South Asia9DLMarch 31, 20239dashline, The Adani Group and India’s foreign policy, PRANESH HP, Adani Group, Hindenburg Research, Haifa, market value, South Asia, China, Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, state capital, private sector buy-in, India, Chinese foreign investments, multinational corporation, Gautam Adani, Kanti Bajpai, Modi, Prime Minister Modi, host nations, Chinese influence, Unsustainable debt, Chinese loans and investments, debt-trap diplomacy, Sri Lanka, Hambantota Port, protest, domestic factors, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Chinese debt, international investors, Indian state-run companies, poverty, weak infrastructure, infrastructure diplomacy, foreign investment portfolio, mass privatisation, Colombo Port, Rajapaksa government, Sri Lankan East Container project, Ceylon Electricity Board, Bangladesh, energy crisis, coal power plants, electricity, Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Tim Buckley, Carmichael coal mine, RN Bhaskar, crony capitalism, domestic integrity, corporate influence, The Adani Group and India’s foreign policy

Beijing uses border villages to secure territorial claims

Written by Harry Thursby-Pelham

With India constructing roads and border villages leading up to the LAC in response to China’s construction, it looks like tensions on the border will continue in the foreseeable future.

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COP27 has reopened the Pandora’s Box on ‘fairness in climate finance’

Written by Dr Dhanasree Jayaram and Megna Suresh

Pre-2020 commitments made under the Kyoto Protocol cannot be wished away. Industrialised countries must be made accountable for their obligations to reduce emissions and provide climate finance, which remain unfulfilled.

Reflecting on Ardern: Don't confuse going slow with no change

Written by Dr Lucas Knotter

Now that Ardern has been replaced by Chris Hipkins as Aotearoa prime minister, it is unclear whether New Zealand’s foreign policy will change substantially.

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Sweden's EU presidency and the Indo-Pacific: A letter from Stockholm

Written by Axel Nordenstam

As Ukraine is the top European priority, it would make sense for Indo-Pacific partners to consider joint projects in and for Ukraine. The reconstruction of Ukraine could benefit from such cooperation.

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UNSC Resolution 2669 and the future of the Myanmar crisis

Written by Sadia Korobi

ASEAN members must realise that short-term economic benefits in Myanmar cannot overshadow the history of ineffective and unreliable military regimes in the country since independence.

“Nuke for nuke” — Kim Jong-un’s audacious escalation gambit

Written by Kylie Jones

To avoid a devasting conflict, the United States needs to persuade Kim Jong-un that salvaging relations between the two countries is in his best interest.

The Taliban continues to struggle for international recognition

Written by Dante Schulz

The Taliban’s inability to address the security and economic concerns of its partners will only exacerbate the glaring issues plaguing Afghanistan.

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The EU and Taiwan, partners for human rights and the defence of democracy

Written by Dr Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy

The world has taken note that Taiwan sits on the frontline of authoritarianism, whereby not only its own democracy, but democracy at large is under threat. It is in this context that Taiwan’s relevance, its global profile and, most importantly, its readiness to defend democracy must be appreciated.

Webinar: Bringing Taiwan in from the cold: Perspectives from Europe and South Korea on the Taiwan Strait

We are delighted to announce our inaugural webinar in collaboration with The Sejong Institute on Wednesday, 22 March 2023.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on Taiwan and its role in the Indo-Pacific, as viewed through the eyes of partners in Europe and South Korea.

News9DLMarch 17, 2023The Sejong Institute, 9DASHLINE, Sang Hyun Lee, Tereza Novotna, Charles Chong-Han Wu, Lee Dongmin, Taiwan, Europe, South Korea, Taiwan Strait

Indonesia’s new criminal code turns representatives into rulers

Written by Sana Jaffrey and Eve Warburton

After years of debate, protest, and delay, the Indonesian parliament passed a new criminal code that gives the state new tools to punish a wide range of ideological, moral, and political offences. The new provisions of the code threaten political dissent with prison sentences and have the potential to muzzle public debate about the purview of the state in citizens’ private and political lives.

In Conversation with Franziska Plümmer

9DASHLINE recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Franziska Plümmer about her insightful book Rethinking Authority in China’s Border Regime: Regulating the Irregular. Building on two case studies on the Sino-Myanmar and Sino-North Korean borders, this book presents a comprehensive analysis of the Chinese border regime and how border politics are implemented.