Foreign Policy Blogs

Asia & Pacific

Doklam Standoff Highlights India and China’s ‘Great Game’ over Bhutan

Doklam Standoff Highlights India and China’s ‘Great Game’ over Bhutan

As China and India continue to face off over a tiny patch of Himalayan highland, Bhutan is caught in the middle with the dispute as much about Bhutan’s foreign policy as it is about territory.

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Doklam: China’s War Drums and the India-Bhutan Treaty

Doklam: China’s War Drums and the India-Bhutan Treaty

In the last two months there have been rising tensions in the Himalayas between India and China over disputed territories, the world should take notice.

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Beijing Threatens Hanoi Over Drilling in South China Sea

Beijing Threatens Hanoi Over Drilling in South China Sea

Following threats from Beijing, Vietnamese authorities have ordered a foreign joint venture to abandon its gas-drilling efforts in a disputed area of the South China Sea.

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Domestic and Global Shocks of the Growing Water Crisis in China

Domestic and Global Shocks of the Growing Water Crisis in China

China is plagued by a growing water security crisis and its current solutions are far from sufficient. Similar matters have already had global implications.

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Soft Power Gain for Taiwan

Soft Power Gain for Taiwan

According to Reporters Without Borders’ global rankings last year, Taiwan has now become the freest country on the Asian continent.

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North Korea’s ICBM Test Jeopardizes Regional Balance of Power

North Korea’s ICBM Test Jeopardizes Regional Balance of Power

North Korea has proven  its determination once again to fulfill its aspiration as a self-proclaimed Nuclear Power State with a new ballistic test on July 27.

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Indonesia Leads the Way on Mapping Fishermen

Indonesia Leads the Way on Mapping Fishermen

At a United Nations conference last month, Indonesia became the first nation to publish the exact location and activity of its commercial fishing flee.

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The ‘Blood Alliance’s Future Knotted with Blue Ties

The ‘Blood Alliance’s Future Knotted with Blue Ties

Donald Trump and South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, wearing similar blue ties reaffirmed their ‘ironclad’ commitments to the U.S.–ROK ‘blood alliance’

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Using Economic Muscle, Beijing Sways Panama over Taiwan

Using Economic Muscle, Beijing Sways Panama over Taiwan

President Tsai Ing-wen arriving in Panama City on her first overseas state trip in June 2016 (photo: The China Post) The days of countries paying tribute to China, in order to stay in China’s good graces, may long be gone, but nowadays the tribute appears to flow in the opposite direction.  Since opening up its […]

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US-India Relations: What Do We Want? What Should We Want?

US-India Relations: What Do We Want?  What Should We Want?

In their June 26 meeting President Trump and Prime Minister Modi voiced their mutual admiration as the nations grapple with a complex relationship.

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China’s Courtship of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Should Raise Eyebrows

China’s Courtship of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Should Raise Eyebrows

Beijing has invited Ivanka and Jared Kushner to visit China later this year for the purpose of cultivating ties between China and the Trump administration.

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Chinese General Exits Hanoi Early

Chinese General Exits Hanoi Early

Just when Chinese and Vietnamese relations appeared to be going well, the waters of the South China Sea (and East Sea) may be heating up again.

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Stranded Chemical Tanker Threatens Vietnamese Shores

Stranded Chemical Tanker Threatens Vietnamese Shores

The ship Chemroad Journey, en route to China with some 30,000 tons of chemicals and 27 crew members, has reportedly been grounded on a rocky bottom off the coast of Vietnam.

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Mattis and Inada Draw Fire at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

Mattis and Inada Draw Fire at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

The Shangri-La Dialogue concluded last weekend in Singapore was marked by sharp differences between Washington, Tokyo, and Beijing over the South China Sea.

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The ‘Moon’ Drive: Fast, Furious, yet Deft

The ‘Moon’ Drive: Fast, Furious, yet Deft

Taking advantage of public trust in the new government, President Moon Jae-in wants to dissolve the corrupt and malfunctioning bureaucracy inherited from past military regimes’ strong statism.

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