Foreign Policy Blogs

Asia & Pacific

Beijing-by-the-Bay: China’s Hidden Influence in San Francisco

Beijing-by-the-Bay: China’s Hidden Influence in San Francisco

The China Overseas Exchange Association poses as an NGO while acting in fact as an overseas propaganda agency of the Chinese government and the Party.

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Ambiguity Plagues the Shangri-La Dialogue

Ambiguity Plagues the Shangri-La Dialogue

The South China Sea played a prominent role at the Shangri-La Dialogue. However, ambiguity on several issues might prolong these very same tensions.

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Is Malaysia Reconsidering its Special Relationship with China?

Is Malaysia Reconsidering its Special Relationship with China?

Despite previous aggressive actions by Chinese vessels, Malaysia has ignored them, not wishing to disturb its trade and investment relationships with China.

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Japan Charts More Independent Course to Improve Russian Relations

Japan Charts More Independent Course to Improve Russian Relations

Japan realizes, irrespective of U.S. wishes, that it needs better relations with Russia in order to more effectively balance China within the region.

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Korean Choices – Great Decisions Spring Updates

Korean Choices – Great Decisions Spring Updates

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been negotiating with China and Iran in order to gain an advantage in future talks with Kim Jong-un’s regime.

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U.S. Sends Mixed Messages about Human Rights in Vietnam

U.S. Sends Mixed Messages about Human Rights in Vietnam

While Obama spoke of the need for Vietnam to improve its human rights record, lifting of an arms embargo showed there are other considerations in play.

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Obama Lifts Arms Embargo on Vietnam

Obama Lifts Arms Embargo on Vietnam

Despite concerns human rights violations in Vietnam, Obama opted to fully lift the arms embargo on lethal military equipment during his recent visit.

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Florence Fang’s “100,000 Strong Foundation”: Education or Indoctrination?

Florence Fang’s “100,000 Strong Foundation”: Education or Indoctrination?

For the Communist Party, there is no such thing as education or cultural exchange for its own sake: everything is political, everything is ideological.

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U.S. Must Still Compete with Russia for Vietnam’s Affections

U.S. Must Still Compete with Russia for Vietnam’s Affections

The U.S. decision to lift its arms embargo against Vietnam must factor in Russian rivalry and regional economic considerations.

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Causeway Bay Incident: Swedish Diplomacy under Challenge

Causeway Bay Incident: Swedish Diplomacy under Challenge

The Causeway Bay Bookstore incident and Beijing’s response has posed a serious challenge to Sweden’s “human rights diplomacy.”

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UN Calls on Vietnam to Respect Freedom of Assembly

UN Calls on Vietnam to Respect Freedom of Assembly

The UNCHR stated that it is “concerned about the increasing levels of violence perpetrated against Vietnamese protesters expressing their anger over the mysterious mass deaths of fish along the country’s central coast.”

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China Continues Attacks on Vietnamese Fishing Boats

China Continues Attacks on Vietnamese Fishing Boats

The incident last week was not a one-off: there have been dozens of attacks by Chinese vessels on Vietnamese fishing boats in the Paracel Island chain since last year.

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Nuclear Power and Economic Reform in the Age of Kim Jong-un

Nuclear Power and Economic Reform in the Age of Kim Jong-un

At the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jong-un is expected to promote his byungjin policy: simultaneously strengthening the nuclear arsenal and fostering economic development.

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Chinese Government Front Groups Act in Violation of U.S. Law

Chinese Government Front Groups Act in Violation of U.S. Law

If Chinese government front groups are operating illegally in the United States, the U.S. government has a responsibility to act in the matter and enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

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The Islamic State in Singapore

The Islamic State in Singapore

On May 3, Singapore announced that it had detained 8 Bangladeshi workers in April for their alleged membership to the Islamic State in Bangladesh and on suspicion of planning attacks.

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