Politics

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un looks on as a rocket carrying a spy satellite Malligyong-1 is launched, as North Korean government claims, in a location given as North Gyeongsang province, North Korea in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on 21 November 2023. (KCNA via Reuters)

The world will see a more provocative North Korea

Academic Kang Jun-young examines the recent rhetoric by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, especially comments relating to the prospect of nuclear war. How likely is that, and how will continuing US-China tensions and upheavals in this year of elections around the world affect the stability of the Korean peninsula?
A man holds a portrait of slain Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani on 5 January 2024 in the Iranian capital Tehran. (Atta Kenare/AFP)

Terrorist attack in Iran sends shockwaves closer to China’s borders

With the latest 4 January bombing in Iran by the Islamic State, likely by the ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province) branch of the grouping, China is facing a renewed threat of one of its greatest fears: terrorism connecting the Middle East and Central Asia.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi province, China, on 17 September 2023. (SPH Media)

China’s 'community of shared future' with Southeast Asia: Behind the numbers

Seven ASEAN member states have signed on to China’s “community of shared future” more for mutually beneficial cooperation than because they subscribe fully to the Chinese vision of a new regional order. The remaining three may prefer practical cooperation rather than to be enmeshed in China’s grand strategy and discourse.
William Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, waves to supporters at an election campaign event in Taipei, Taiwan, 3 January 2024. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Is mainland China the only one interfering in the Taiwan elections?

While criticisms are levelled at mainland China for apparent interference in the upcoming Taiwan elections, it seems there is another less overt player — the US. Is it fair to only notice mainland China’s actions while overlooking US efforts? Meanwile, as the ruling DPP continues to use “China's interference in the elections” as a means to deal with its political opponents, this might intensify cross-strait animosity that could be hard to reverse.
People wearing face masks wait at an intersection in Beijing's central business district in China, on 1 November 2023. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)

The China factor behind several Indo-Pacific hotspots

US researcher Wei Da gives a threat assessment of potential hotspots in 2024, from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait, the Korean peninsula and the Ukraine war, with the China factor in mind.
World leaders at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting as part of the ASEAN-Japan 50th Year Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Japan, on 18 December 2023. (Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore)

Japanese academic: Japan's declining national power must be considered in its security policy

While the Fukuda Doctrine introduced by former Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda was meant to promote peace and stability in Southeast Asia and ASEAN, the current approach of getting countries to choose between Japan and China might prompt ASEAN countries to hesitate from cooperating with Japan, says Japanese academic Hidekazu Wakatsuki.
Campaign posters for various legislative member candidates in Taipei, Taiwan, on 27 December 2023. Next month Taiwan holds presidential and legislature elections. (An Rong Xu/Bloomberg)

DPP and KMT: Who will be the largest political party in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan?

Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han notes that even if the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) stays in office after the upcoming presidential and legislative elections, it may be outnumbered in the Legislative Yuan. This would have implications for the advancement of cross-strait dialogue.
Chinese President Xi Jinping walks past members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army as he arrives for a ceremony in Beijing, China, 30 September 2023. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

Beijing ramps up purge of military-industrial sector

Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that due to centralised power, vast resources and opaque internal operations, the risk of corruption in the Chinese military-industrial sector is high. The recent crackdown on corruption among the high-ranking officials in the People’s Liberation Army and the leadership of the military-industrial sector shows how deep-seated this issue is.
A woman takes a picture along the moat outside the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, on 21 November 2023. (Wang Zhao/AFP)

Where is China now?

Only by absorbing the essence of modern civilisation can they rise above it, and only by standing on the peak of Western civilisation can they go on to the next level, says East Asian Institute senior research fellow Lance Gore. When one scans the terrain of Chinese public opinion and even academia, we see that very little remains of the constructive mentality once prevalent from the late Qing dynasty onwards — i.e., the spirit of humbly learning from the West for self-strengthening. Instead, we see "cultural self-confidence" that is not substantiated by proper analysis. Furthermore, political reform cannot always revolve around the consolidation of the ruling party’s position, and not make plans with the long-term interests of the Chinese people in mind.