Author: Joanne Serrieh

Is the Modi administration preparing to reclaim Kashmir, which Pakistan occupied? According to Amit Shah
15Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Asia, World

Is the Modi administration preparing to reclaim Kashmir, which Pakistan occupied? According to Amit Shah

With the Narendra Modi government reserving 24 seats for Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the talks around taking back the PoK have again gained limelight in India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said in Parliament that PoK belongs to India. Since the Modi government has already done away with Article 370, political experts speculate that the Modi government might take some actions in the near future to take back the PoK. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and even Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi had said that the army is ready to take back PoK. Amid all this, Home Minister Shah was asked during a TV interview whether the Narendra Modi government has any intent to take back the PoK. To this, Shah said, "Will I tell you about my intenti...
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Sultan Haitham’s Historic Visit: Fortifying India-oman Ties
14Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Asia

Sultan Haitham’s Historic Visit: Fortifying India-oman Ties

SYNOPSIS His Highness Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman's historic state visit to India on December 16, 2023, marks a pivotal moment in their 5,000-year-old relationship. At the invitation of Her Excellency President Droupadi Murmu, His Highness is accompanied by a distinguished delegation, will receive a ceremonial welcome, symbolizing the deepening ties between the nations. The visit explores new avenues for collaboration in strategic, economic, and cultural spheres, solidifying the enduring friendship. Oman's pivotal role in the Gulf region, active participation in international forums, and the potential to look south towards India amplify His Highness's significance. The dynamic ministerial engagements, successful COVID-19 collaboration, and bilateral agreements underscore His Highn...
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<strong>From Debt to political intrusion- China’s coercive strategies extending to South Asia</strong>
1Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Asia

From Debt to political intrusion- China’s coercive strategies extending to South Asia

China’s economic rise has come at a significant cost for the global order. By indicating its intensions of altering the prevailing status quo not only regionally but also globally, Beijing has clearly outlined the future of its approach in claiming superpower status. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tactics of burdening the under-developed world with hefty debts is a well understood strategy. However, what has majorly gone unnoticed in such a tactics, is the political implications such attempts have had on the host country. The Party, throughout recent years has been deploying strategies to have favourable political player leading the country which is in debt to its finances. These attempts have not only undermined the democratic value of the global order but has also proven to be d
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China and the United States are major factors in Indonesia’s presidential contest.
29Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China, World

China and the United States are major factors in Indonesia’s presidential contest.

Virdika Rizky Utama is a researcher with the think tank PARA Syndicate in Jakarta. Indonesia's upcoming presidential election has the potential to impact the country's finely balanced approach to foreign policy. That in turn could affect regional power balances and economic relationships. Indonesia is pivotal for both superpowers: to China as a trade hub and to the U.S. as a democratic pillar in the Indo-Pacific region. Thus, it is important to look at the geopolitical influences behind each presidential ticket, with the campaign having formally kicked off on Tuesday. The affiliations of the candidates hint at potential regional shifts and reveal complex alliances and historical connections. Anies Baswedan, who previously served as education minister under President Joko Widod...
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Google’s Policy Regarding China
28Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China, World

Google’s Policy Regarding China

How the National Security Council is trying to take over regulation of global data flows on the basis of what’s good for Big Tech While National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has been understandably preoccupied with the Middle East and Ukraine, people on the National Security Council who nominally work for Sullivan have outsourced a critical aspect of China policy to Google and other Big Tech players. If they succeed, Big Tech will effectively write the rules governing flows of sensitive data to China. It’s weird that the NSC, of all places, would want to help China capture sensitive data. But this saga is one part bureaucratic rivalry, one part settling of personal scores, and one part the immense influence of Google. It’s an appalling window on the way Washington often works.
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India-australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue: Nurturing A Dynamic Partnership For Pioneering Advancements
28Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Asia

India-australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue: Nurturing A Dynamic Partnership For Pioneering Advancements

SYNOPSIS On November 20, 2023, New Delhi hosted the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, featuring Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and their Australian counterparts. Dr. Jaishankar's affirmation resonated with the burgeoning momentum in the comprehensive strategic partnership, setting the stage for the 14th Foreign Ministerial Framework Dialogue (FMFD) on November 21. The discussions spanned security, regional dynamics, and Quad collaboration, showcased the nations' shared commitment to a free, open Indo-Pacific. Notable milestones, from Prime Minister Modi's visit to the symbolic 'Little India' in Sydney, underscored the deepening ties. The economic terrain, fortified by the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreeme...
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Is the Philippines putting itself at danger of a “major naval war” in the South China Sea by forming alliances to oppose Beijing?
26Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
World

Is the Philippines putting itself at danger of a “major naval war” in the South China Sea by forming alliances to oppose Beijing?

Apart from the US, the Philippines is expanding its military alliances with Japan, Australia and Germany amid growing tensions with China Without more top-level talks between Manila and Beijing to ease tensions, analysts say both sides risk ‘miscalculations’ that could lead to war China’s escalation of so-called grey-zone activities against the Philippines, and Manila’s response in seeking more allies, could cause already-brewing tensions in the region to spiral out of control.This was the assessment by analysts weighing in on the recent spate of actions in the disputed South China Sea, particularly over the Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila calls Ayungin, an atoll about 190km (120 miles) northwest of the Philippine island of Palawan.Lucio Blanco Pitlo, Asian affairs analyst a
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Bangladesh’s Political Unrest Seeps onto the Streets Before Election
22Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
World

Bangladesh’s Political Unrest Seeps onto the Streets Before Election

With Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections set for early January, the opposition’s push for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of an interim election-time government has reached its crescendo — sending the country’s streets and politics into tumult in the process. With no sign of political compromise in sight, Bangladesh’s January elections will likely do little to repair its deep political divisions. On October 28, Bangladesh’s primary opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called a “grand rally” in pursuit of its “one-point demand” of nonpartisan election administration. With elections fast approaching, the rally — which Jamaat-i-Islami and other political parties joined — was widely viewed as the opposition’s last stand against the
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China’s media coverage of Myanmar is inadequate.
21Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China, World

China’s media coverage of Myanmar is inadequate.

While many have expressed disappointment with the limited attention from the West regarding Myanmar’s political crisis, it is especially surprising that Myanmar’s neighbouring countries did not exhibit more interest. A perusal of Chinese newspapers — Myanmar’s most substantial neighbour — reveals scant coverage of the Myanmar population’s distress and the resistance forces opposing the military junta — the State Administration Council (SAC). This media oversight is not a coincidence. Politically speaking, the Chinese government may be apprehensive of its citizens drawing parallels or being influenced by Myanmar’s democratic struggles, especially in an era where information spreads rapidly across digital platforms. In a heavily censored information environment, Beijing is not interes
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A disagreement over polls prevents Taiwan’s opposition alliance from selecting a candidate.
19Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
World

A disagreement over polls prevents Taiwan’s opposition alliance from selecting a candidate.

A coalition between Taiwan’s rival opposition parties has hit a roadblock after party leaders were unable to agree on who will run for president in next year’s election. The Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) said on Saturday they were unable to agree on the statistical method for looking at polling that would have determined which candidate would run as president and which would run as vice president. A TPP spokesperson said its candidate Ko Wen-je had tied with the KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih, while the KMT said Hou won in a landslide. Also at issue was how to count phone calls, with the KMT refusing to accept the results from cell phones, according to the TPP. The rift comes just days after the two parties agreed to work together in a surprise deal brokered by for
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