Author: Stuart White

Can the US stay focused on Asia-Pacific even with the Middle East and Ukraine issues taking its attention?
25Nov By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, World

Can the US stay focused on Asia-Pacific even with the Middle East and Ukraine issues taking its attention?

Washington will lean heavily on its regional allies to continue countering China amid ongoing conflicts elsewhere, analysts say But no other regional power carries the same clout – as resentment grows in some quarters about US support of Israel and lack of economic engagement In the high-stakes game of geopolitics, the United States finds its strategic gaze once again diverted away from the Asia-Pacific by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, raising questions about the resilience of its alliances and the future of its influence in a region shadowed by China’s ambitions. The US inevitably being distracted from the region is not a concern to which Secretary of State Antony Blinken would concede. Earlier this month, he told reporters that Washington will maintain a
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In Bangladesh, Who Gains From Street Politics?
22Nov By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Politics, World

In Bangladesh, Who Gains From Street Politics?

Conflict over a neutral election-time caretaker government between Bangladesh’s ruling party, the Awami League (AL), and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has turned violent. Both the ruling party and the opposition are taking a hard line, inspiring gloomy political prospects for both before and after the general election scheduled for January 7, 2024. The shift from politics to a violent protest surprised many. In the previous three months, the opposition BNP had successfully mobilized tens of thousands of people in mass rallies in Dhaka. These rallies were peaceful, but the demonstration on October 28 turned violent. There are conflicting narratives about who triggered the violence. While opposition parties point the finger at AL activists, the government and law
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China establishes a new data agency as its aspirations for the digital economy and AI grow.
20Nov By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, China, World

China establishes a new data agency as its aspirations for the digital economy and AI grow.

National Data Administration debuts as Beijing seeks to outpace the US and other Western rivals in setting norms and standards Growth of artificial intelligence is key driver behind bureau tasked with regulating vast and fast-growing pool of data, analysts say The establishment of China’s new National Data Administration (NDA) agency underscores Beijing’s ambitions to develop the digital economy and strengthen regulation of the country’s vast and fast-growing data pool, observers say.According to analysts, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is another key driver behind the agency, inaugurated last month as Beijing seeks to outpace Washington and other Western countries in setting norms and standards for data governance.The potential dangers of AI were on the agenda wh
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Examining Asia’s Trends Beyond China’s Growth
18Oct By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia

Examining Asia’s Trends Beyond China’s Growth

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has begun to more aggressively challenge America’s role as the key economic and political power in Asia. Increasingly repressive at home, Xi has not shied away from asserting China’s regional influence, positioning Beijing as the powerbroker on everything from trade routes to territorial disputes. And with its Belt and Road Initiative, China’s influence is spreading well beyond Asia, into much of Africa and even Europe. China’s ascendance is also evident in how much attention other global powers are paying to Beijing and its policies. But while China’s rise often makes headlines, it is not the only trend shaping events in Asia. Illiberalism has become a force in democracies like India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ridden the
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The Philippines Depends on Alliances and the Rule of Law Amid Tensions with China
18Oct By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia

The Philippines Depends on Alliances and the Rule of Law Amid Tensions with China

From its aggressive maritime actions to its new ‘10-dash line,’ Beijing flouts the rules-based order that Manila seeks to uphold. A diplomatic win, many people said about the announcement of a hotline between the Philippines and China. This was one of the highlights of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to China in January 2023, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping established a direct line of communications between their two capitals. Specifically, the line would be between departments in each country’s foreign affairs ministries that deal with maritime and border issues. The objective was to prevent the escalation of tension in the West Philippine Sea (also referred to as the South China Sea). In an interview, Marcos Jr. said he proposed the direct communication
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China Supports the BRI as the Optimal Growth Model – AP
12Oct By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia

China Supports the BRI as the Optimal Growth Model – AP

Analysts have credited the development programme with directing much needed funding to poor countries but say that it has come at a cost China has doubled down on its under-fire Belt and Road Initiative, arguing its controversial investment programme is a positive model for international economic development, the Associated Press reported. A new government report praises the initiative, which has seen the construction of ports, power plants, railroads and other projects around the world, while glossing over criticism that it has saddled poor countries with too much debt, the AP report went on. Li Kexin, the Foreign Ministry’s director for international economics affairs, told reporters in Beijing that Belt and Road had transcended the “old mindset of geopolitical games” and had c
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Significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels of foreign tourism in China affects the whole economy.
8Oct By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia

Significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels of foreign tourism in China affects the whole economy.

The slow recovery of China’s tourism industry will have wider implications for foreign investment and diplomacy, experts say The number of foreign tourists visiting China is a fraction of pre-pandemic levels, with the sector relying on domestic travel to survive Spanish tourist Maxim Gomez climbed the Great Wall in Beijing in May, something he could not do during the pandemic’s border closures. However, his visit was more difficult than expected. The exchange student in Hong Kong applied for a one-year multiple-entry tourist visa for mainland China in April, three months after the borders reopened. When he passed through immigration at Beijing Capital International Airport, Gomez realised straight away that he needed to make some hard adjustments. “Many cities requ
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China refines its Taiwan embargo tactics as worries of an invasion grow.
3Oct By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia

China refines its Taiwan embargo tactics as worries of an invasion grow.

As China ups the ante near Taiwan with military exercises designed to encircle the self-ruled island, Beijing may not have an invasion on its mind but rather another approach: a blockade. The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) increasingly frequent exercises around Taiwan, particularly its long-range deployments in the Pacific, indicate that Beijing is refining a strategy to cut the island off from the outside world and keep Taipei's potential military partners at bay. “China likely has the capabilities to conduct an aerial and naval blockade per what we know of their military capabilities, force structure and the military exercises we’ve seen them undertake in the past year,” said Kristen Gunness, a security expert and senior policy researcher at the U.S.-based Rand Corp. Some Chi
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Biden tries to counter China’s influence in Asia
11Sep By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Biden tries to counter China’s influence in Asia

We look at President Biden's trip to India for the G-20 meeting, and then to Vietnam, where he has an opportunity to strengthen security and trade ties, trying to counter China's influence there. President Joe Biden has had a busy couple of days in a part of the world where he is trying to strengthen partnerships. He was in India for the G20, and today he's in Vietnam, where he met with the country's leader, the head of Vietnam's Communist Party. Biden is highlighting the countries growing closer given their, quote, "bitter past." PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: This trip has been a historic moment. Today, we can trace 50-year arc of progress in the relationship between our nations, from conflict to normalization. RASCOE: NPR White House correspondent Asma Khalid has been traveling with the...
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After the failure in Libya, Netanyahu of Israel wants to greenlight any covert negotiations.
30Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
World

After the failure in Libya, Netanyahu of Israel wants to greenlight any covert negotiations.

After a disastrous meeting between his foreign minister and his Libyan counterpart became public knowledge, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order requiring him to authorize any future private conversations. According to the spokeswoman, the premier has also instructed his ministers to get his approval before making public any information about such meetings.Netanyahu seems to be trying to remove himself from the political fiasco that might impact his whole normalization strategy with Arab governments by claiming ignorance about the meeting between the Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers. The meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Libya's Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush in Rome last week was hailed as a "historic" step toward normalization of...
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