Nectar Gan, Author at The Singapore Post

Anti-Corruption is Xi’s road to consolidation of power

15Jul

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Anti-Corruption is Xi’s road to consolidation of power

The Communist Party of China (CPC) General Secretary, Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the Politburo on 27 June 2024. The meeting announced that the 20th Central Committee will hold its Third Plenum in Beijing from 15 to 18 July. As in the past, the Plenum issue an authoritative direction or decision to guide policymaking in China for the next decade and beyond. What can be expected as an outcome of the Plenum? The outcome document will focus on “further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-style modernization”. From a Xi perspective, the Third Plenum is meant to further cement his power and enable him to continue with the anti-corruption campaign. The reality of China is that it is the anti-corruption campaign which is the real enabler of Xi’s central

China on the back foot in showdown with the Philippines

9Jul

By Nectar GanNo Comments

China on the back foot in showdown with the Philippines

In the face of an unambiguous warning from the U.S. that if China launches an attack on the forces of the Philippines America will come to the aid of the Philippines, and left with no room for doubt that Manila and Washington are now united in their opposition to the maritime expansionism of China in the South China Sea, Beijing has now thought it prudent to disembark from its high horse and approach Manila to negotiate terms for peace. Diplomatic circles have been taken by surprise that within days of Chinese troops launching on Filipino forces a murderous assault that smacks of an act of piracy rather than an offensive action by a disciplined army, Vice Foreign Minister of China Chen Xiaodong went to Manila early in July to find ways easing the escalating tension and avoiding a wider...

Germany adapts China policy in light of Beijing’s behaviour

5Jul

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Germany adapts China policy in light of Beijing’s behaviour

Germany’s China policy is undergoing a significant shift, according to Thomas Bagger, Director-General for Foreign Affairs. The emphasis has moved from partnership and cooperation to competition and rivalry, in response to China’s changing behaviour towards the international community. This shift includes a focus on de-risking and reducing dependence on Beijing, particularly in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Germany’s strategic shift is encapsulated in its first-ever Strategy on China, unveiled last year, which aims to reduce economic dependence on China. "The scales have evidently tipped. What was once a relationship of collaboration and alliance has now morphed into a landscape of competition, even escalating to rivalry," expressed the diplomat. This change in tone reflects the evol

The Chinese Communist Party’s scientific deception: Quantity over quality in research

28Jun

By Nectar GanNo Comments

The Chinese Communist Party’s scientific deception: Quantity over quality in research

The rise of communist China as a global power has led many to question its scientific prowess. While Beijing boasts of becoming a premier scientific superpower, a closer examination reveals a troubling landscape of quantity over quality, systemic pressures, and widespread misconduct that undermines the credibility of Chinese research. At first glance, China's scientific output appears impressive. For nearly two decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has poured vast sums of money into hiring researchers across all disciplines, both from within China and around the world. This investment has undoubtedly led to some advancements and pockets of excellence, particularly in hard sciences like physics, biology, and computer science. However, the CCP's approach to scientific...

Maldives’ Abstention on Muslim Genocide Resolution: A Puppet in China’s Geopolitical Theater?

21Jun

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Maldives’ Abstention on Muslim Genocide Resolution: A Puppet in China’s Geopolitical Theater?

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international community and its own populace, the Maldives, a nation of 100% Muslim population, has abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution commemorating the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Bosnia 29 years ago. This decision, made under the leadership of the purportedly devout President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu, has not only raised serious questions about the country's foreign policy independence but also ignited a firestorm of criticism both domestically and abroad. The resolution in question seeks to honor the memory of 8,372 Muslims brutally killed in Srebrenica, Bosnia, on July 11, 1995, during the Bosnian war. The Maldives stands out as the only Muslim nation to abstain from this resolution, a fact that has left many bewil...

Rising tensions: China’s PLA asserts dominance over 90 percent of South China Sea

18Jun

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Rising tensions: China’s PLA asserts dominance over 90 percent of South China Sea

India, Japan, Australia, and the US are all striving to maintain an Indo-Pacific region that is open and unrestricted for international trade and navigation. In addition, the US's strategy for the Indo-Pacific region includes efforts to curb China's growing influence. This involves the use of diplomatic and economic tactics to counter China's dominance and to hinder China's attempts to set up permanent bases in the region. China's Blue Dragon strategy, aimed at expanding its terrestrial and maritime influence, is challenging the Biden administration's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region's freedom and openness. This multi-faceted strategy involves military, economic, and diplomatic efforts, including territorial claims and strategic partnerships. Its long-term effectiveness, facing op...

The Maldives’ Tightening Debt Trap: China’s Unyielding Grip and India’s Steadfast Support

10Jun

By Nectar GanNo Comments

The Maldives’ Tightening Debt Trap: China’s Unyielding Grip and India’s Steadfast Support

Maldives find themselves ensnared in an escalating economic quagmire, their financial sovereignty hanging precariously in the balance. At the crux of this crisis lies the nation's mounting Chinese debt, which has reached a staggering $1.37 billion, accounting for a whopping 40% of the Maldives' external debt burden. Under President Mohamed Muizzu's leadership, the Maldives has embarked on a dangerous economic path, awarding numerous projects to Chinese companies with the assurance of zero costs to the nation.[1] However, this promise has proven illusory, as the Maldives has been forced to offer its precious lands on long-term leases to China, raising grave concerns over the erosion of its sovereignty. The severity of the situation is underscored by the World Bank's stark warning of the...

Paraguay continues to stand with Taiwan despite Chinese aggression

23May

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Paraguay continues to stand with Taiwan despite Chinese aggression

In a major setback to the Chinese campaign of poaching Taiwanese allies, Paraguay has refused to switch sides and rather advocated for deeper ties and cooperation with Taipei. “Let's be true, partners, friends. I wish us to be ambitious in the objectives we want to achieve, said Paraguayan President Santiago Peña when he met new Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Moreover, Peña slammed Chinese President Xi Jinping's geopolitical offensive in Latin America. “It is growing and is very worrying. Many countries decide to strengthen their ties with China, because they have no other choice,” he said.[1] Recognising Taiwan instead of China has cost Paraguay its trade with the world’s second-biggest economy.[2] Paraguay is standing with its 66-year-old friendship with Taiwan, refusing to

24Apr

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Peak China’s Delusion

Ever since Chinese President Xi Jinping secured his third term in power in the fall of 2022, he has had a rough time. Shortly after his reappointment, street protests pushed him to abruptly abandon his signature “zero COVID” policy. After a quick reopening bump in early 2023, the economy has progressively slowed, revealing both cyclical and structural challenges. Investors are leaving in droves, with foreign direct investment and portfolio flows reaching record lows. Meanwhile, Xi has fired his handpicked minsters for defense and foreign affairs in the wake of allegations of corruption and worse. His military bungled its balloon intelligence-collection program, precipitating an unwanted crisis after a stray balloon floated over the continental United States for days in early 2023. And now

Former CPC top political advisor dismissed

22Apr

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Former CPC top political advisor dismissed

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Han Yong, a former senior political advisor of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) over serious violations of Party discipline and laws, the country's top anti-graft body said Monday. Han is former chairperson of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and a former vice director of the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee. The decision came following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision upon the approval of the CPC Central Committee.