Author: Nectar Gan

<strong>Is China getting edgy with ‘AUKUS’ enlarging footprint in the Indo-Pacific?</strong><strong></strong>
18Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
World

Is China getting edgy with ‘AUKUS’ enlarging footprint in the Indo-Pacific?

 With Japan showing its keenness to join the AUKUS which is being led by the US, Australia, and the UK for the Indo-Pacific region, China, rattled by Tokyo’s planned move, has expressed its concern, stating that any attempt to “enlarge and upgrade the trilateral security initiative will represent a step in a more dangerous direction.” The US administration under President Joe Biden, which has proposed a $895.2 billion defence budget for fiscal 2025 with an aim to bolster Indo-Pacific strategy to deter China, has asked Britain and the UK to collaborate with Japan on defence technology under the AUKUS security partnership, Nikkei Asia said. This development has occurred close on the heels of reports which suggest that the Japanese government supports AUKUS efforts in th
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18Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia, World

Pakistan’s election did not bring political stability back; rather, it increased polarization. US specialist

     United Nations/Islamabad, Mar 18 (PTI) A leading US expert in South Asian affairs has emphasised that the recent election in Pakistan did not restore political stability but instead resulted in the rise of polarisation in the cash-strapped country.     A seminar on the political situation in Pakistan was organised at the United Nations last week by the Muslim American Leadership Alliance, the Dawn newspaper reported on Monday.     During the post-seminar media session, Michael Kugelman, a leading expert in South Asian affairs associated with the prominent Washington-based think tank Wilson Centre, provided his insights on the political situation in Pakistan.     Following the February 8 election marred by allegations of vote rigging, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) headed by
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Analyst: China’s governance depends on political involvement.
18Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
China

Analyst: China’s governance depends on political involvement.

The recently concluded Two Sessions showcased China's whole-process people's democracy in action, with lawmakers and political advisors coming together to shape country's future. Josef Gregory Mahoney, a professor of politics at East China Normal University, says that whole-process people's democracy is the key to sustaining and building faith, unity, and participation in governance by China's masses.
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The once-powerful Hong Kong film industry struggles with shifting political and commercial realities.
10Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia, World

The once-powerful Hong Kong film industry struggles with shifting political and commercial realities.

As Filmart gets underway, Hong Kong’s major production companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP), Media Asia, One Cool Group and Universe Entertainment, will be unveiling their new titles in enormous booths at the front of the trade show floor, some of which will be as elaborate as film sets. Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. EMP has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes
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<strong>The Disastrous Legacy of President Muizzu’s Administration in the Maldives</strong>
8Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia

The Disastrous Legacy of President Muizzu’s Administration in the Maldives

Amidst the fallout of the International Tribunal on Law of the Sea's ruling, President Muizzu swiftly shifted blame onto the previous administration, vehemently accusing them of treacherously "selling off" Maldivian maritime territory to Mauritius. Asserting Maldives' rightful ownership of the entire 95,563 square kilometers, Muizzu launched into nationalist rhetoric promising the reclamation of what was purportedly 'lost'.[1] However, despite holding the reins of power for months, Muizzu's administration has conspicuously failed to take any meaningful steps towards recovering this allegedly forfeited Maldivian territory. This glaring inaction casts a dark shadow over Muizzu's leadership, raising serious doubts about his dedication to safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territorial ...
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<strong>Chinese influence and soft power in Kenya</strong>
7Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
China

Chinese influence and soft power in Kenya

One can hear ‘ni hao’ and ‘xie xie’ everywhere in Nairobi, Kenya. While it may appear to be a surface level comment made in passing on its face, the remark actually demonstrates the profound success and penetration of Chinese influence in Kenya more widely, even reaching to the levels of ordinary Kenyan citizens such as cab drivers. This influence takes many forms, the most famous of which is infrastructure investment projects; however, other manifestations of Chinese soft power are equally concerning, including media, governance, and even archaeology. For example, when it comes to media in Kenya, China is ever-present. There is a partnership between the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and the Chinese government, wherein senior KBC reporters are taken on trips to China to then rep
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Asif Ali Zardari becomes President of Pakistan, while Shehbaz Sharif takes over as PM. For India, what does it mean?
5Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia, World

Asif Ali Zardari becomes President of Pakistan, while Shehbaz Sharif takes over as PM. For India, what does it mean?

Shehbaz Sharif has returned as the Prime Minister and Asif Ali Zardari as the President of Pakistan after the two old-guard parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), reached a power-sharing agreement. The announcement comes after a nearly two-week-long political deadlock in the country following the February 8 elections, which resulted in a hung assembly with no party securing the 133 seats mandated for a simple majority out of 265 contested seats in the Pakistan National Assembly. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won 79 seats while the Pakistan Peoples Party came third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also agreed to support the coalition with their 17 seats. The new government in Pakistan is faced with...
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<strong>Muizzu Subverts Democracy as Maldives Seeks New Direction in Upcoming Elections</strong>
3Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia

Muizzu Subverts Democracy as Maldives Seeks New Direction in Upcoming Elections

The Maldives is poised at a critical juncture in its democratic journey as it braces for the rescheduled parliamentary elections slated for April 21, 2024.[1] However, the anticipation surrounding these elections is shrouded in controversy and political strife, primarily stemming from the actions of President Mohamed Muizzu and their profound implications for the trajectory of Maldivian democracy. It is therefore important to delve into the important dynamics at play, underscoring the pivotal significance of the upcoming elections and the challenges confronting the Maldives as it navigates this moment in its history. President Muizzu's recent decision to thwart the ratification of a bill aimed at amending general election regulations has ignited a firestorm of debate and raised fundame...
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1Mar By Nectar GanNo Comments
Asia, World

What Causes and What Effects: Pakistan’s Military’s Status as a Political Force

In recent years, Pakistan’s fragile democracy has grappled with an overbearing military, strained regional relationships, and repercussions from the growing rivalry between the US and China.[1] Amid domestic political turbulence and a deteriorating economy, the civilian government increasingly relied on a power-hungry military for stability and support.[2] Indeed, the domestic political rollercoaster underway since 2022 showcases the impact of the military’s involvement in the country’s politics, with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s worsening relationship with the military eventually leading to his ouster and imprisonment.[3] Khan’s public clashes with the military chief regarding top military appointments and policy decisions and his poor political and economic management are said to ha
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