Turkey
Politics
How Turkey arms China’s rivals without angering Beijing
Just as it balanced its role supplying combat drones to Ukraine while deepening trade relations with Russia, Turkey is playing a similar game by advancing arms sales in the Indo-Pacific while staying out of China’s way. Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia gives his analysis.
Emanuele Scimia
29 Jun 2026
Politics
The Middle Corridor: Where Turkey’s rise meets China’s ambitions
At a time of geopolitical uncertainty when Central Asian countries are hedging their bets and China’s Belt and Road Initiative itself is evolving, Turkey is rising as a power that can cultivate deeper relations with Central Asia and dominate Eurasian transit flows through the Middle Corridor. Academic Alessandro Arduino looks at the issue.
Alessandro Arduino
09 Jun 2026
Politics
Turkey’s peacekeeping gambit in Ukraine and China’s strategic dilemma
Academic Alessandro Arduino observes that in the Middle East and Africa, the security vacuum left by the US — and China’s reluctance to fill it — has opened the door for Turkey, giving Ankara the space to manoeuvre and assert its influence.
Alessandro Arduino
20 Mar 2025
Politics
Erdoğan’s balancing act: The shifting dynamics of Turkey-China ties
Academic John Calabrese reviews the evolving nature of Turkey-China relations, noting its ups and downs under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The relationship remains asymmetrically interdependent, but both nations are eager to inject new energy into their partnership.
John Calabrese
01 Nov 2024
Culture
Why Turkey's national hero was honoured in Taiwan
Cultural historian Cheng Pei-kai muses on how heroes of the past are honoured after their time, recalling that in his youth in Taiwan, the founder of the Turkish republic was lauded as an honourable founding father, next to Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek. However, given the similarities in ideals and values, could it be that the high praise for Ataturk was in fact meant to boost the controversial image of Chiang?
Cheng Pei-kai
22 Sep 2023
Politics
Ankara's drone diplomacy in the Gulf complicates China's regional calculations
When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan headed to the Gulf last week seeking investments, he had a formidable bargaining chip - drone diplomacy. The top-of-the-line Turkish combat UAV, the Akinci, is much sought-after in Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia. China may be worried, as this development could threaten its leading position in the field and hinder its economic and diplomatic offensive in the Middle East.
Alessandro Arduino
24 Jul 2023