Gary Clyde Hufbauer and Megan Hogan: East Asia Forum: 9th of January 2022 US trade engagement in Asia had a transitionary year in 2021. To curtail Chinese influence, the US is striving to increase its Indo-Pacific engagement. The recently announced ‘Indo pacific framework’ is how the US aims to engage with Asian states. However, the…
Anatol Lieven: Responsible Statecraft: 10th of January 2022 Russia has hinted that there is American involvement in Kazakhstan’s troubles. These hints are in line with a standard Kremlin narrative that was formulated after the 2004 orange revolution in Ukraine. It posits that the US seeks regime change by interfering in Civil society. Howeverthere is no…
Fransiska Nangoy and Bernadette Christina: Reuters 10th of January 2022 Indonesia has eased its Coal export ban 10 days after its imposition due to pressure from Asia’s coal Importers and domestic coal mines. The ban caused the price of Coal and futures markets to surge globally. China was particularly vulnerable as the largest importer of…
China’s substantial defence related investments are a reliable indicator of its increasingly assertive aims. China’s President Xi Jinping has made force modernisation a national priority, looking to transform the Peoples Liberation Army (The PLA) into a ‘world-class force by 2050’. World Class force for the PLA means being able to match the operational capabilities of…
South Korea is the latest country to formally apply to join the CPTPP: The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
ASEAN is increasingly struggling to maintain its relevance in an era of great power competition.
Lesley Mitchell, SCMP – 3 November 2021 Innovation in Asia driven by climate change has the ability to offset the effects of climate change and also boost food security. However, according to this article on SCMP, we must not forget rural farmers in the region who’s livelihoods are at risk by a move to innovation.…
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, IISD – 1 November 2021 There is a clear change of direction and cause for optimism concerning climate change momentum in Asia and the Pacific, but vested interests could act to slow this down. This article by The International Institute for Sustainable Development looks at whether the region is ready for the…
The Economist – 30 October 2021 Despite clear directions of change, it is evident that vested interests in Asia will act to slow cooperation on climate change solutions. This article on The Economist looks at the reliance on coal consumption in Asia and explains why the region is vital in climate stabilisation. Read the full…
