Beyond the Putin-Xi Relationship

As geopolitical currents swirl, and great powers clash, Asia is feeling the impact.

While the Putin-Xi friendship is important, it mostly oils the wheels of a relationship driven by longer-term structural trends.

The Islamic State sees great opportunity in the churn of great power competition, with ISKP at the forefront of its vision of international jihad. 

With street politics halted and parliamentary politics effectively on hold until the election, Thailand feels in limbo. 

There are strategic, economic, and geopolitical reasons for Islamabad to prefer ties with Washington over Moscow. 

Anwar “made himself ‘a bridge’ between different groups of people and ideas… it comes with the risk of being hated by all.” 

China has a new foreign minister, and its most famous “wolf warrior” has been pushed aside.

China and Russia enjoyed a high-profile bromance once before. It didn’t last. 

2 years after its IPO was scuttled, Ant Group is finally being allowed to increase its capital – with several caveats.

Chai Cheng’s case is one of the latest chapters in the frustrated struggle of China’s LGBTQ community to obtain legal protection against discrimination.

Safeguarding a free and open internet will help support China’s brave protesters.

Since North Korea’s state media called Kim’s daughter his “most beloved child,” there has been speculation – and disagreement – over the possibility of her becoming his heir.

Most Japanese see the need for an increased defense budget – but are less keen on the proposals to fund the new spending.

South Korea’s ruling conservative party has amended its charter to only allow votes from PPP members in selecting new party leadership.

After a decade in the political wilderness, the Constitutional Democratic Party is trying to broaden its appeal – but its base is not pleased.

The Unification Church and North Korea are closely linked, despite the church’s adamant anti-communist stance.

But shutting off the terror tap requires more. New Delhi must talk to Pakistan – and engage the Kashmiri people.

The plan was partially implemented a decade ago but failed to focus on ideologies that fuel terrorism. That will need to change. 

The new government cannot delay any longer the implementation of BRI projects and its decisions on India’s Agnipath scheme.

The Supreme Court ruled that despite having actionable intelligence, former President Sirisena and top officials did not act to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

The clash in late 2022 revealed much about the future direction of Sino-Indian relations.

Foreign policy in Vietnam is not set by any single individual, even if prominent officials can often leave their imprint. 

Weeks of heavy rains and fatal flooding have drawn attention to the archipelago’s approach to disaster prevention and resilience.

There has been a general breakdown of law and order in the two years since the coup, as the military junta prioritizes the pursuit of political opponents.

Jakarta takes up the bloc’s rotating chairmanship at a time when its centrality and efficacy are being called into question.

The annual gathering of global elites has grown more “eurocentric.”

The southern U.S. border remains a path for the desperate to try and enter the United States – even the occasional Central Asian, it turns out.

An attack on a journalist highlights the difficult environment for the press.

All three countries have suffered from energy shortages this winter, underscoring the need for new sources across the region.

China has now forged comprehensive strategic partnerships with all five Central Asian states. 

It seems the Kyrgyz authorities are set on prosecuting the politicians and activists who stridently opposed the border deal with Uzbekistan, accusing them of coup-plotting.

The power that the sport now has in Afghanistan makes cricket a point of weakness for the Taliban – one that can be exploited. 

After 16 years with Frank Bainimarama at the helm, Fiji faces myriad challenges as Sitiveni Rabuka takes over.

China’s decision to import Australian coal after a two-year ban was driven by diplomatic, not economic, considerations.

The New Zealand PM has announced her resignation, but her impact on the country’s diplomacy will continue to resonate.

The latest Biden-Kishida summit meeting highlighted shared concerns, but agreeing on how to address those shared challenges won’t be easy.

The Inflation Reduction Act strained ties with South Korea, threatening further cooperation on U.S. priorities. How can Washington repair the damage?

Despite growing cooperation with Washington, an anti-U.S. streak runs deep among communist leaders and the general public alike. 

However, Japan reported a record number of Chinese ship sightings near the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in 2022.

Whatever the intent behind a certain technology in nuclear systems is, it is the perception of that capability that will drive the response of other states.

New defense and security cooperation efforts are springing up across the Indo-Pacific, between some Quad members and those outside the grouping.

The internet and social media have created a host of novel internal challenges for the city-state’s authorities.

The Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic, functions both as a religious belief and inspiration for fiction.

How the Philippines became “ground zero” for the corrosive effects of social media.

The Korean Wave, or hallyu, has seen ups and downs in Japan, but could exert political influence over the long term.