Foreign Policy Blogs

Asia & Pacific

Trump-Kushner China Dealings Raise Conflict of Interest Concerns

Trump-Kushner China Dealings Raise Conflict of Interest Concerns

Russia is not Trump’s only foreign conflict of interest. The President, his daughter Ivanka, and son in-law Jared Kushner also have a growing China problem.

read more

Taiwan Turns Further Away from the Mainland

Taiwan Turns Further Away from the Mainland

Taiwanese recently celebrated a decision by a constitutional court granting same-sex marriage. On the more socially conservative mainland, the ruling drew criticism.

read more

China’s Infrastructure Bank Makes Inroads in Asia

China’s Infrastructure Bank Makes Inroads in Asia

With Beijing holding the majority of AIIB’s voting rights, the bank is seen by analysts as a deliberate effort to pull Asian countries closer into China’s orbit.

read more

Trump Courts Duterte, Duterte Courts Xi

Trump Courts Duterte, Duterte Courts Xi

Earlier this month Duterte visited three Chinese warships on Mindanao island in the Philippines—the first Chinese navy port call to the country since 2010.

read more

Trump’s Dilemma in the Korean Peninsula

Trump’s Dilemma in the Korean Peninsula

North Korea is close to the final stage of acquiring ICBM capabilities and miniaturization technologies required to target the continental U.S.

read more

Hanoi Protests China’s Fishing Ban

Hanoi Protests China’s Fishing Ban

Hanoi officially expressed its displeasure over Beijing’s annual fishing ban in the South China Sea at a regular press conference last week.

read more

China Rages as Hong Kong Democracy Figures Speak to U.S. Commission

China Rages as Hong Kong Democracy Figures Speak to U.S. Commission

On May 3, prominent Hong Kong democracy figures gave testimony at a hearing with the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) in Washington.

read more

With Its Second Aircraft Carrier, China Extends its Global Reach

With Its Second Aircraft Carrier, China Extends its Global Reach

By expanding its land reclamation activities in the South China Sea and growing the PLA’s global clout, China is reinforcing its influence in the Asia-Pacific.

read more

One Year On From Vietnam’s Worst Environmental Disaster

One Year On From Vietnam’s Worst Environmental Disaster

Marking the first anniversary of the Formosa Plastics spill, protesters in the town of Kỳ Anh blocked the country’s main highway the first week of April.

read more

North Korea Offers an Opportunity for U.S.-Russia Collaboration

North Korea Offers an Opportunity for U.S.-Russia Collaboration

As the other great power which borders North Korea, Russia offers the U.S. a tricky avenue, but avenue nonetheless, to resolve the DPRK situation peacefully.

read more

Britain to Import School Textbooks from Chinese Communist Party Publisher

Britain to Import School Textbooks from Chinese Communist Party Publisher

Britain will import Chinese math textbooks and Chinese teaching methods for schools throughout the country. The decision was lauded in Shanghai as a “delightful” soft-power boost for China.

read more

Manila Asserts Claims Over South China Sea Island

Manila Asserts Claims Over South China Sea Island

After bowing to Beijing’s request to retract his decision to plant a flag on Thitu Island over Philippine Independence Day, the President Rodrigo Duterte has likely angered the Chinese again.

read more

Paul Manafort Advising Chinese Billionaire on U.S. Infrastructure Projects

Paul Manafort Advising Chinese Billionaire on U.S. Infrastructure Projects

Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, under investigation for his Russian ties and money laundering, will advise Chinese billionaire Yan Jiehe on gaining access to lucrative infrastructure projects in the U.S.

read more

Duterte Backs Off Hawkish Rhetoric Over Spratly Islands

Duterte Backs Off Hawkish Rhetoric Over Spratly Islands

The unpredictable Duterte, has again changed course in the South China Sea, cancelling his plans to plant a flag on Thitu Island over Philippine Independence Day.

read more

North Korea after 60 Years of Status Quo

North Korea after 60 Years of Status Quo

Lack of political will is largely motivating the inaction in the Korean peninsula. But with nuclear weapons threatening US mainland, it may be that Washington will decide on a policy of “now or never”.

read more