Politics

Has China won control of the South China Sea? Senior Fellow Daljit Singh of the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute opines that with the US' toughening stance towards China and an increased danger of a clash from naval and coast guard vessels that often operate at close quarters, China has not won yet.

Riding on a record voter turnout of 71%, the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong has won 17 out of 18 district councils. This is despite mainland China media calling on Hong Kong people to use their votes in the district council elections on 24 November, to end the violence and restore order in Hong Kong. Yu Zeyuan examines the Mainland China media's tactics and what an opposition victory would mean for the future of Hong Kong, on the election day.

China and Israel share a special relationship that goes back in history and is grounded in modern economic and social needs, but the US has both explicit and implicit concerns about growing China-Israel relations. Political scientist Zhu Zhiqun illuminates how Israel walks the tightrope of advancing relations with both China and the US amidst intense rivalry between the two major powers.

The China-US trade war continues, seemingly with no end in sight. Adding to the unpredictability of trade talks are unexpected black swans, or complicating factors. Professor Zhu Ying of Shanghai Normal University examines these black swans and the way they have affected trade talks.

Labelled a “criminal and lie-fabricator” by Chinese officials, detained Causeway Bay bookseller Gui Minhai was awarded Svenska PEN’s Tucholsky Prize last week. The prize presentation renews controversy over freedom and democracy in China and casts a pall on China-Sweden relations.

Weekday or weekend, Hong Kong has become a battleground with universities — erstwhile symbols of civility — turning into base camps and refuel stations. What is happening to the Hong Kong as we know it?

As the Taiwan election approaches, incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen has managed to improve her standing with voters, amid a challenge from Kuomintang candidate Han Kuo-yu. However, one of the issues that Ms Tsai has to address is cross-strait ties with mainland China. How will Ms Tsai show goodwill towards the mainland, while keeping the people of Taiwan happy?

Despite synergies between Japan and China in the economic and technological spheres, Professor Shin Kawashima, University of Tokyo, argues that the hard line China maintains on security and historical issues will keep ties from warming.

Political commentator Leung Man-tao ruminates on the changing definitions of the "independence for Hong Kong" label. He worries that misuse of the term in times of instability will only diminish its significance as a political OB marker and further weaken the authority's power to get things done.