Indo-pacific

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's president, left, and Xi Jinping, China's president on the closing day of the BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Center in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 24 August 2023.  (Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg)

China puts spotlight on global south with BRICS expansion

The diplomatic focus on third world countries during Mao Zedong’s era has taken a renewed form in Xi Jinping’s era with the focus on the global south, notes EAI academic Chen Gang. International circumstances could propel the Chinese to further elevate the importance of the global south, not least with the recent expansion of BRICS to include several global south countries.
Indian soldiers prepare for the guard of honour before the arrival of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort during the celebrations to mark the country's 77th Independence Day in New Delhi, India on 15 August 2023. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP)

India deepens ties with Taiwan

India’s recent high-profile attendance at a security forum in Taiwan suggests it is ready to deepen ties with Taiwan to safeguard its future interests, despite expected pushback from China.
In this photograph taken on 21 July 2023, a yellow-painted building is pictured at the commercial hub of Pettah in Colombo. (Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP)

India, France and Japan join hands to counter China’s influence in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s recent high-level diplomatic engagements with India, France and Japan highlighted the island nation’s importance in the ongoing great power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region. After obtaining an IMF bailout with the assistance of these nations and dealing with the fallout of the pro-China Rajapaksa family, is the new Sri Lankan administration adopting a more Western and India-oriented vision?
People march as they participate in a May Day rally on 1 May 2023 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via AFP)

Can China and Russia reject Western political civilisation and still prosper?

Researcher Wei Da notes that while many things can be learned and embraced from the West, its political civilisation is one that China has rejected. But isn't that rejecting the core while transplanting the branches and leaves? Will that work?
Taiwan Vice-President William Lai makes a speech at the ruling Democratic Progressive Party annual congress in Taipei, Taiwan, on 16 July 2023. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Taiwan Vice-President William Lai’s upcoming transit in the US draws ire

Taiwan Vice-President and Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate William Lai is expected to transit in the US enroute to Paraguay to attend President-elect Santiago Peña’s inauguration in August. US officials are adopting a “low-key” handling of the transit amid Chinese foreign ministry protests. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang has the details.
Rickshaw pullers make their way along a street during a rainfall in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 9 June 2023. (Munir Uz Zaman/AFP)

Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook: Another anti-China vision?

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.
This file combination of pictures created on 8 June 2021 shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) during a welcome ceremony for Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev in Beijing on 3 July 2019, and US President Joe Biden speaking at the White House in Washington, DC, on 17 May 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri and Nicholas Kamm/AFP)

An uptick in US-China relations? Not so fast

After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen followed suit, while US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry is also expected to visit Beijing in the coming weeks. Despite the flurry of activity, says US academic Zhu Zhiqun, intractable issues remain in US-China relations.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (centre) departs after addressing a Joint Meeting of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on 27 April 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP)

South Korea's 'global pivotal state' ambition is a tall order

South Korea has far-reaching geopolitical ambitions but focusing on the regions closest to it will bring more dividends in a competitive world.
French President Emmanuel Macron reviews an honour guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) during the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China, on 6 April 2023. (Ludovic Marin/AFP)

EU's China policy staying on track despite intensifying debate

While French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to China is viewed by some to be an exercise in stirring the pot, this does not mean that the European boat has veered off course. The EU is used to robust debate among and within member states, and can take this as another opportunity to affirm their stance on China.