Author: Joanne Serrieh

What is Indonesia’s newest political dynasty—the Widodo family?
World

What is Indonesia’s newest political dynasty—the Widodo family?

The rise of the Jokowi dynasty in Indonesia is a significant development in the country's political culture. Joko Widodo's presidency was seen as a milestone as he was the first president not from the political, military, or Islamic establishment. After one term, the foundations for his own political family were laid, with his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka being elected Mayor of Surakarta in 2021. However, unlike other political dynasties in Indonesia, the Widodo family does not have an exclusive political vehicle in the form of its own party. As a result, the family is dependent on decisions made by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) executive, namely Megawati Sukarnoputri. The first challenge for the Widodo family will be to secure incumbency for family members currentl...
The implications of Xi Jinping’s actions in West Asia for India, the United States, and the rest of the world.
World

The implications of Xi Jinping’s actions in West Asia for India, the United States, and the rest of the world.

Taken in context, China brokering a truce/peace between Saudi Arabia and Tehran may impact wider political geography, including India. If nothing else, it may ensure that much of West Asia/Middle East proclaims neutrality in any future geopolitical standoff between China and the US, and also between China and India. It may not be good from a historic Indian socio-political perspective, whatever be the geo-strategic benefits accruing from the relatively recent geostrategic overtures between India and the US, whose limitations the Ukraine War has already exposed. Going beyond the provocative American behaviour over the ‘Khashoggi affair’ in 2018, China’s twin Saudi-centric initiatives were waiting to happen. Unlike the US and its Western allies, China does not concern itself with human r
China Utilizes Strategy to Promote Pro-Beijing Government in Canada, Report Finds
World

China Utilizes Strategy to Promote Pro-Beijing Government in Canada, Report Finds

A recent report has revealed that China has been using a strategy to promote a pro-Beijing government in Canada. The strategy involves targeting politicians, media, and students to influence their opinion and gain support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The report, conducted by the Canadian think tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute, highlights the tactics employed by the Chinese government to shape Canadian public opinion in its favor. According to the report, the Chinese government has been using tactics such as propaganda, intimidation, and coercion to advance its interests in Canada. The report notes that China's efforts to sway Canadian public opinion have been ongoing for several years. In particular, China has been targeting Canadian politicians and media outlets to influe...
Xi Jinping’s proposed foreign policy approach requires the West to extend an olive branch to China,
World

Xi Jinping’s proposed foreign policy approach requires the West to extend an olive branch to China,

China's President Xi Jinping has reportedly expressed his desire to pursue a new foreign policy approach, but this may not be possible unless the West extends an olive branch to China. According to a recent report, Xi's proposed foreign policy approach seeks to strengthen China's relations with its neighboring countries and other regions of the world. The report suggests that Xi's proposed approach is aimed at reducing China's reliance on the West and shifting its focus towards strengthening its ties with other countries. However, this may not be possible unless the West takes a more conciliatory approach towards China. The report notes that China's relationship with the West has been strained in recent years due to a range of issues, including trade disputes, human rights concerns,...
<strong>Xi’s Policies Driving Rich Businessmen To Flee China</strong>
Business, China

Xi’s Policies Driving Rich Businessmen To Flee China

Chinese leader Xi Jinping's crackdown on industries such as technology, real estate and education, and his push for "common prosperity" over the past two years, have terrified China's wealthy community. Especially since Xi Jinping won his third term at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party in October last year, rich people's worries about their future in China have worsened. Bloomberg News reported on January 25 that there is a massive surge in Chinese seeking to immigrate to North American countries. Wealthy Chinese are desperate to move as soon as possible. It reported that China faced about $150 billion in annual capital flight and would face a large outflow of funds in 2023, which might put pressure on its currency, yuan and the current account. A large number o...
China Caught Between Economic Worries And Defrosting USA Ties
China

China Caught Between Economic Worries And Defrosting USA Ties

China’s growth rate barely managed to touch the three per cent mark in 2022, the second lowest since 1976 and after the 2.2 per cent growth seen in the Covid year of 2020. Its economy grew by 2.9 per cent in the final quarter of 2022, down from 3.9 per cent in the third quarter. The GDP was 121 trillion yuan (USD18 trillion) from 114.37 trillion yuan in 2021. Even this low growth rate is hailed in China where fears of an economic free fall gripped the people, the government and analysts after the Zero-Covid policy began to harm manufacturing, jobs and demand. A senior analyst at Guotai Junan Securities, Zhou Hao, could not hide his relief. He told the South China Morning Post: “China’s GDP report came in much better than expected, with fourth quarter GDP gaining 2.9 per cent year
China’s Push to its Digital and Security Companies in Gulf
Business, China

China’s Push to its Digital and Security Companies in Gulf

markets and strategic hubs. However, the same threats that the West alleged to have faced with Chinese companies cannot be ruled out in the Gulf, even as Beijing is putting an all-out effort to promote its digital and security companies to supply intelligence monitoring networks to Middle East countries. While most of the western countries are banning Chinese surveillance products fearing surveillance and other security hassles, China has increased its engagement to secure contracts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others. Qatar’s Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) Internal Security System Department which relied on Swedish technology for its CCTV surveillance systems, is now offering its market to Chinese companies. Hikvision and Dahua are the two prominent Chinese CCTV/video surveillance compani
Losing grip in Indo-Pacific, China resorts to falsehood to salvage image
China

Losing grip in Indo-Pacific, China resorts to falsehood to salvage image

Fast losing its grip on the Indian Ocean region, China is now resorting to blatant falsehood to shore up its image. Beijing had egg on its face when in late November 2022 Maldives and Australia denied in quick succession Beijing’s claim that they participated in a meeting of China – Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation on November 21. Beijing claimed on November 26 that representatives of 19 countries attended in Kunming in the Yunnan province of China the meeting of the Forum, an organization connected with the Foreign Ministry of China. These countries, according to Beijing, included Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti and Australi
Was China really uncomfortable with Pakistan under Imran Khan?
World

Was China really uncomfortable with Pakistan under Imran Khan?

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “All things change, and we change with them.” None other than Beijing has robustly applied this axiom in its foreign policy domain and in particular, it is glaring in China’s relations with Pakistan. Days after Imran Khan was ousted from the prime ministerial office in the second week of April and Pakistan Muslim League leader Shehbaz Sharif was handed over reign of power, Pakistan Foreign Office received a diplomatic communication through Beijing-based Pakistan Ambassador Moin ul Haque. The diplomatic cable received by the Pakistan Foreign Office on June 10, said that China has offered to extend $2.3 billion at a much-reduced interest rate. Pakistani daily, The News International which leaked the communication between the Beijing-based Pakistan Am
Will Imran take on the `Crore Commanders`?
World

Will Imran take on the `Crore Commanders`?

In his battle with the army, ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan knows he has an upper hand and he intends to raise it to an unparalleled level by taking on the army full head on. No Prime Minister in Pakistan has really taken on the powerful Army and those dared, even a whiff, either got the gallows or exile. Imran Khan has a critical advantage, a large middle class support, which he intends to exploit in the days to come and push the Generals to give him his way. He has a second advantage--he has considerable support among the top leadership and lower rung officials in the military. This could be a tricky wicket to play. If he pushes too hard against the army, the army could clam up and so he would, in all likelihood, make his attacks specific. Imran Khan and his party’s social me