Focus: Indo-Pacific | 29th May 2024
An attempt to stabilise East Asia amid the Taiwan strait crisis and North Korean belligerence was made on May 27 through S Korea-Japan-China leadership summit in Seoul after over four years. Both Japan and S Korea tried to impress upon China to rein in North Korea, which has plans to launch space rocket. This summit […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 15th May 2024
Over the past week, tensions have intensified in the South China Sea (SCS) region with China on one hand and USA-Philippines on the other hand engaging in drills to deter each other. The USA and Philippines even went to the extent of indulging in a mock-battle. Yet the Chinese have been trying to woo certain […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 2nd May 2024
A slew of initiatives was launched last week to reduce tensions between the West and China and across the Taiwan Straits. During the much-anticipated visit by the US Secretary of State to Beijing President Xi Jinping said the US and China should be “partners rather than adversaries”. The two countries continue to stabilize rocky relations […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 17th April 2024
The last week turned out to be a watershed in the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region with Japan and USA deciding to take their strategic partnership to an unprecedented level in the backdrop of Chinese expansionism. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida travelled to Washington last week for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 3rd April 2024
India in a significant move expanded its strategic and defence partnerships with 3 SE Asian states – Singapore; Philippines and Malaysia during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s trip to these countries where he engaged with slew of decision makers including top leadership. This happened as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered his government to strengthen […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 20th March 2024
Last week witnessed beginning of a unique partnership between India-USA-South Korea with launch of a trilateral dialogue to bolster cooperation in areas of semiconductor supply chains, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence and quantum computing that could create of group of like-minded democracies amid China’s soaring ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand China […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 6th March 2024
Tensions are escalating in the South China Sea (SCS) region between China and Philippines. Over the past weekend China has accused a top Philippine envoy of “reckless speculation”, hitting back at the official’s claim that Beijing was using economic coercion against Manila in their dispute over SCS. The Philippines’ top envoy in the United States […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 21st February 2024
While Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto was the frontrunner to win Presidential elections, very few expected him to win by a big margin. Days after the win Indian PM reached out to Prabowo sending him congratulatory message. Prabowo reciprocated by agreeing to further strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Prabowo is keen to purchase BrahMos missiles from […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 9th February 2024
What may send alarm bells ringing in Japan and USA is the fact that China and Russia last week decided to consult and coordinate with each other on the military use of Artificial Intelligence. This Sino-Russian collaboration may compel USA and Japan to forge closer alliance in high-tech sector. The United States has called for close […]
Focus: Indo-Pacific | 24th January 2024
In a significant move the Chinese leadership last week appointed Hu Haifeng, son of former Chinese President Hu Jintao as a vice minister of civil affairs. This is a leap into senior ranks of the government from a small city. This comes as tensions between Beijing and Manila continue to rise in the South China […]