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…
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.
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…
