Igor Denisov: The Diplomat: 18th of January 2022 The Kazakhstan Crisis has reinforced the regional power dichotomy in Central Asia. Russia exercises security influence through its leadership in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. China’s influence is more economically focused through its Belt and Road Initiative. Whilst CSTO troops have left, Russia’s prestige in the region…
Semiconductors are strategic technological assets of critical importance to the global economy. Their use is ubiquitous in laptops, smartphones, cars, and defense equipment. COVID-19 semiconductor supply issues have also highlighted the lack of companies that produce semiconductors and their geographical proximity. As we can see from this graph, the small island democracy of Taiwan dominates…
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…
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…
East Asia Forum: 3rd of January 2022 Japan and its companies are increasingly finding themselves in the middle of US-China tensions. The CEO of a leading international Japanese firm, Uniqlo, has stated that he wants his business and japan to be neutral between the US and China. This position was reified when Uniqulo refused to…
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…
China is trying to convince the world it is a democracy. This many, in fact, reflect a weakness in Xi’s Leadership than a strength.
ASEAN is increasingly struggling to maintain its relevance in an era of great power competition.
China desires more International consultation over Monetary Policy.
