Stuart White, Author at The Singapore Post

China’s support Sikh separatism becomes more evident

21Jun

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Asia, World

China’s support Sikh separatism becomes more evident

Beijing’s role in fuelling Sikh separatism is becoming darker as new pieces of evidence are coming through. In a new revelation, China was found to be hosting clusters of fake Facebook and Instagram accounts that propagated pro-Khalistan sentiments. It was exposed by by Meta in its new report. The Meta report titled ‘Adversarial Threat Report’ said the fake Chinese social media accounts posed as Sikhs and targeted the Sikh community through disinformation that was aimed at provoking Sikhs living across the globe, including in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK, and Nigeria.[2] Meta removed these China-based accounts that used artificial intelligence-generated content to spread disinformation. “They appeared to have created a fictitious activist movement cal

China’s Global Ambitions and its strategy of territorial reclamation

6Jun

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Asia, China

China’s Global Ambitions and its strategy of territorial reclamation

Observing the rapid escalation of China’s assertiveness towards the South China Sea and its adjacent nations, it becomes unequivocally evident that China is adhering to its longstanding strategy. This strategy entails a premeditated plan for China to attempt to reclaim its purportedly lost territories by engaging in warfare with these nations over the forthcoming four to five decades. Nevertheless, despite China’s formidable power, specialists concur that it is not in a position to provoke hostility with the United States, Western powers, and other global nations. China harbours intentions to engage in conflict with six nations globally, commencing with its intricate involvement with Taiwan, a contention that is also echoed by Chinese media. Discourses surrounding prospective Chinese m

<strong>China’s Expansionist designs in Bhutan and along LAC with India</strong>

24Apr

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Asia, China

China’s Expansionist designs in Bhutan and along LAC with India

China’s targeted increase of transportation activity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India and its persistent aggression into Bhutanese territory demonstrates its expansionist agenda in recent years. Rooted in historical revisionism and a blatant disregard for international norms, China’s actions pose a grave threat to Bhutan’s sovereignty and regional stability. This why Bhutan has come to believe that diplomatic engagement with China on the boundary issue has become a one-sided affair, with China intent on using the negotiations as an excuse to grab more Bhutanese territory. Significantly, Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Bhutan’s Ambassador to India, recently conveyed his country’s deep concern to Ma Jia, the Chinese Charge d’ Affaires in New Delhi, about China’s persistent di

<strong>How Muizzu’s Profligate Embrace of China’s Debt Trap Imperils the Nation’s Sovereignty</strong>

18Apr

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Asia

How Muizzu’s Profligate Embrace of China’s Debt Trap Imperils the Nation’s Sovereignty

The paradisiacal veneer of the Maldives' sun-drenched atolls belies a storm gathering on the horizon - a tempest unleashed by the reckless policies of President Muizzu's regime that jeopardize the very sovereignty and economic autonomy of the island nation. In an uneven bargain driven by hubris and shortsightedness, Muizzu has shackled the Maldives to an ever-tightening noose of Chinese debt entanglements.[1] His injudicious plunge into Beijing's neo-colonial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has granted the Chinese a foothold from which to erode the Maldives' strategic independence through calculated debt-trap diplomacy. The fiscal abyss into which the nation stares is nothing short of apocalyptic. Official figures reveal a gaping $550 million budget deficit this year alone, with the burden...

<strong>China’s Military AI Ambitions: A Big Threat to Global Security</strong>

18Apr

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China

China’s Military AI Ambitions: A Big Threat to Global Security

The United States' latest action to blacklist four Chinese companies for seeking to acquire AI chips for China's military has brought a spotlight on China’s overambitious technological drive. Amidst global concern over Beijing's military modernization efforts, especially in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the move underscores the strategic importance of AI tools in shaping future warfare. The companies blacklisted by the US are LINKZOL (Beijing) Technology Co; Xi'an Like Innovative Informa Information Technology Co; Beijing Anwise Technology Co, and SITONHOLY (Tianjin). China sees AI playing a central role in advancing its military power. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has set ambitious goals for the PLA to “complete” its modernization by 2035 a

<strong>As economic woes deepen in China, banks cut salaries</strong><strong>and repeal bonuses</strong>

5Apr

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China

As economic woes deepen in China, banks cut salariesand repeal bonuses

As the Chinese economy shows no signs of improvement, instead its major sectors, including real estate continue to face crisis. Banks across the country have resorted to salary cuts of their employees, while some financial institutions have asked their staff members to even return their performance-based bonuses. In China, as many as 10 state-controlled financial institutions asked their employees to pay back performance-based bonuses worth $13.8 million, while around a dozen national banks controlled by shareholders cut salaries of their staff members as they lacked fund to manage their affairs amidst piling debt woes, data retrieved by South China Morning Post from the 2023 annual financial reports of Chinese banks, reported. Bohai Bank, which is based in Tianjin, China’s most imp

The Unmasking Of The Chinese Communist Party‘s Thuggery

3Apr

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China

The Unmasking Of The Chinese Communist Party‘s Thuggery

On March 25th, a series of events unfolded that exposed the true ruthless and thuggish nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the world. The United States and United Kingdom announced sanctions on a Chinese state-run company and two Chinese nationals for their malicious cyber operations and campaigns targeting these countries. These are rare public acknowledgments of the CCP's nefarious activities in the cyber realm. But the revelations didn't stop there. On that same day, reports surfaced of bomb threats being sent to theaters hosting the renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts company, a top target of the CCP's suppression. This is part of an escalating campaign of intimidation and sabotage by the CCP against the New York-based arts group, which has captivated global audiences with...

How did China improve ties with the Maldives in the wake of India’s withdrawal? Ten important joint ventures between Beijing and Male

31Mar

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China, World

How did China improve ties with the Maldives in the wake of India’s withdrawal? Ten important joint ventures between Beijing and Male

From providing military assistance to helping build infrastructure, China has been actively boosting its ties with the Maldives — which is seemingly trying to drift away from what many call India's "influence". Ever since Mohamed Muizzu took over as the Maldives President, he has offered China many opportunities to invest in the island nation. Here's in 10 points how China has been helping Maldives in the past few months: China's free military assistanceEarlier in March, China signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives. As part of the deal, China would provide Maldives with free military assistance to foster "stronger" bilateral ties. Maldives News Network had cited Mohamed Muizzu as saying that the Chinese government is ready to extend training to the Maldives ar

What Was Achieved in 2024 During China’s Two Sessions?

14Mar

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China, World

What Was Achieved in 2024 During China’s Two Sessions?

The Center for China Analysis (CCA) is pleased to publish short perspectives on key outcomes of the Two Sessions by Asia Society experts Neil Thomas (Xi Jinping's Activities), Christopher K. Johnson (Elite Politics), Guonan Ma (Economic and Financial Policy), Lizzi C. Lee (Technology Policy), Li Shuo (Climate and Environmental Policy), Lyle Morris (Foreign Policy and National Security), and Rorry Daniels (Taiwan Policy). Policy outcomes broadly aligned with the forecasts made by Neil Thomas and Jing Qian in a CCA preview article published on February 29, although any personnel movements were delayed and the cancellation of the premier’s press conference was unexpected. Readers can view the recording of a CCA event held on March 6, “What Does the Two Sessions Mean for the Economy, Polit

<strong><u>Terror stalks Hindu community in Sindh</u></strong>

12Mar

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Asia

Terror stalks Hindu community in Sindh

In Sindh, Pakistan, Hindu community lives under constant fear of being accused of blasphemy by radical Muslims and extremist groups like Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), all of which enjoy patronage from the Islamic state. Even for those who have been discharged by the court for being wrongly accused of blasphemy, there is constant danger of being lynched. Take the case of Notan Lal, Principal of a private school and a resident of Ghotki, Sindh. In 2019, some of his students accused him of blasphemy. It was not an ordinary accusation--the charges would lead to life imprisonment or even a death sentence under the most heinous penal clauses in the world. Pakistan, over the years, has made the law against blasphemy so retrogressive that more often than not people charge others, especi...