Global Times – 3 October 2021 A ‘zero-Covid’ strategy has been the right path for China, according to top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan. Zhong noted that “China’s COVID-19 control reflected the principle of “healthy China” that is achieved not via treatment but by prevention. It is also in line with traditional Chinese medicine’s philosophy —…
Anatol Lieven, Prospect – 27 August 2021 Anatol Lieven recounts his NATO-organised trip to Camp Shorabak, an Afghan military base, in 2013 where he first realised that the West’s Afghanistan campaign was doomed. Speaking of military support in Africa, the author also states that “any chance of success depends on Britain and Europe learning the…
Tessa Wong and Zhaoyin Feng, BBC News – 24 August 2021 The responses from Asian countries after the fall of Kabul have been overwhelmingly in scepticism of the U.S.’ intentions and trustworthiness in the region. Whilst Singapore warned that they were watching the country’s next moves in response to the situation, China has stepped up…
Madiha Afzal, Brookings – 6 August 2021 The relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan has, for years, been defined by both state’s interests in the war in Afghanistan. This article on Brookings looks at the U.S.’ and Pakistan’s official stance on the situation and discusses why it may define their future relationship as well. Read…
Rajarsahi Chakraborty, Jawaharlal Nehru University – 6 August 2021 By the first quarter of 2021, Afghanistan has witnessed the resurgent of Taliban which has killed 573 people and left 1210 injured. As of July 2021, out of total districts, 223 districts are captured by the Taliban, 111 districts are contested between the Taliban and the Afghan government and…
Adam Leong Kok Wey, East Asia Forum – 12 July 2021 This post on East Asia Forum discusses the potential for developing Australia and Malaysia’s strategic relationship, particularly through the lens of The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The article argues that “there is significant potential for Australia and Malaysia to develop their strategic relationship through the…
Sergey Sukhankin, The Jamestown Foundation – 8 June 2021 According to this article on The Jamestown Foundation, a number of flaws in Moscow’s Asia strategy have meant their ‘Pivot to Asia’ has not gone as planned. The author states that “the much-praised Sino-Russian partnership is in many ways a one-sided deal. Since 2014, while Beijing…
Julian Ryall, South China Morning Post – 8 June 2021 A fatal collision between a Japanese trawler and a Russian ship has caused a diplomatic dispute between the two countries as Japan arrests a Russian sailor charged with the deaths of the three fishermen. Russia responded by seizing a Japanese boat. James Brown, a professor…
Nikkei Asia – 5 June 2021 Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that “Both Russia and Japan share a strategic interest in concluding a peace treaty” and that both countries are “ready to continue negotiations”. This comes during a continued dispute over the sovereignty of a group of…
