Asia Pacific
Beijing’s ‘creeping expansionism’ in the South China Sea
The South China Sea island dispute is an ongoing and complex situation in Southeast Asia’s doorstep. It has the power to disrupt multilateral alliances.
Influence of Facebook on Asia’s election season
Various Asian nations are set to hold critical elections later on this year. And there are serious concerns over the effect Facebook and other social media platforms can have on election campaigns in terms of fake news and bots.
Economic slowdown and China’s green future
China has adopted a high-profile role as a champion for climate action and renewable energy. Yet, as the country faces new economic constraints, its climate endeavour might be in danger.
A change in the East Asian balance of power? The implications of the Trump-Kim Summit
Ever since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the United States and South Korea have formed a liberal democratic alliance, in opposition to the communist North Korea. Although the two allies have encountered ups and downs throughout the decades, recent developments gave hope that a fundamental change to the nature of America’s engagements in the Korean peninsula might occur. However, President Trump’s last two summits with Kim Jong-un have made little progress, and questions concerning how to successfully engage North Korea persist.
China and 5G: the future of technology
The race for 5G presents a new theatre for geopolitical competition, with China raising the stakes for rapid deployment of its 5G network and the US pushing back to maintain the control over its network and applications. China has situated 5G as a priority, describing it as a “key technology” under its 13th Five-Year Plan.
Japan: military expansion and instability in East Asia
With an incursive China, relaxing American input and an ambiguous Trump-Kim relationship, Japan bolsters its military capabilities to face uncertain times.
Russia and China: A pragmatic partnership
As sanctions continue, Sino-Russian relations – in many ways a pragmatic response to Western reproach – have been steadily developing. Russia’s eastward leaning strategy, or its ‘pivot to Asia,’ is largely coming in the form of energy relations and military cooperation with China.
Artificial Intelligence in the South China Sea
The South China Sea is host to a number of countries vying for control in the area. Attempting to develop new tactics and technologies to swing the balance in its favor, China may have found its key advantage – artificial intelligence (AI).
India’s Bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group
Becoming a member of the exclusive Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would be a major coup Modi as his government heads into general elections in 2019. While most of 48 members have endorsed the Indian bid, China continues to veto India’s ability to join the Group by stating it is not an Non-Proliferation Treaty signatory.
Environmental, social, and governance trends in Asia
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues traditionally have not been a priority for investors and asset owners throughout Asia as compared to their Western counterparts. However, recent decisions by Japanese pension funds and Chinese policymakers may stimulate more interest throughout the region.
