Qin Gang’s removal as Chinese foreign minister seems to confirm the rumours about his month-long absence from the public eye, especially since the authorities do not seem to have entirely refuted them. Questions swirl in people’s minds, with some asking: is the Chinese system’s quality of decision-making in selecting and appointing talents in question?
International relations
Politics
Former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who had a meteoric rise and just as swift a fall, was thought to have adopted a more measured tone in China’s foreign policy. Are fears of a return to wolf warrior diplomacy under Wang Yi unfounded? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Edwin Ong assesses the situation.
Politics
Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi has taken over former Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s position, but speculations are still rife about Qin's removal and the reverberations this will have on Chinese foreign affairs and politics. US academic Zhu Zhiqun weighs in.
Politics
Qin Gang’s month-long absence has drawn much attention and speculation, culminating in the authorities’ announcement that he has been removed as foreign minister, and Wang Yi reappointed to his former position. Despite the authorities’ earlier claims of Qin’s “health reasons”, there seems to be more than meets the eye.
Politics
Veteran diplomat and centenarian Henry Kissinger visited China this week, meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials. But amid the ongoing US-China tussle, can a civilian, even someone as seasoned as Kissinger, make much of an impact?
Politics
The US’s previous approach of pressuring Cambodia on improving its processes for democratic elections only pushed Cambodia closer to China, says Cambodian researcher Sokvy Rim. Now, with the ruling party dominating politics, the US and the West’s impact looks set to be further diminished. Will China’s influence further increase?
Technology
With recent reports of a China-based state-sponsored hacking group targeting US critical infrastructure, RSIS academic Eugene Tan examines some common modes of cyberattacks around the world and the latest furore around alleged China-based hacking groups such as Volt Typhoon and Storm-0558.
Politics
Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing looks at the recent issuance of Interpol “red notices” by the Hong Kong government on eight pro-democracy activists living overseas, and what the move signals.
Politics
Researcher Rishi Gupta analyses Bangladesh’s recently released Indo-Pacific Outlook, noting that while it does not state where Bangladesh stands vis-à-vis China and the West, some of the stated goals coincide with the Quad’s interests in upholding a rules-based system, thwarting Chinese aggressiveness, advancing connectivity projects and tackling Indo-Pacific security issues.