Conflict Archives - Page 6 of 40

China and Taiwan applaud Trump as the region awaits a shift in US policy.

8Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

China and Taiwan applaud Trump as the region awaits a shift in US policy.

Leaders from China and Taiwan have congratulated Donald Trump’s national election victory, despite growing uncertainty about how his second presidential term might impact dynamics across the Taiwan Strait. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged China and the United States to find the right way to get along in the new era, to benefit ‘’both countries and the wider world.” He hopes the two sides will “uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” according to a readout released by China’s official Xinhua News Agency on Thursday. Meanwhile, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who came to power in May, said in a post on social media platform

Implications of Trump’s victory for China, the Middle East, and Ukraine

6Nov

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Implications of Trump’s victory for China, the Middle East, and Ukraine

Donald Trump’s return to the White House is set to reshape US foreign policy, promising potentially radical shifts on multiple fronts as war and uncertainty grip parts of the world. During his campaign, Trump made broad policy pledges, often lacking specific details, based on principles of non-interventionism and trade protectionism - or as he puts it “America First”. His victory signals one of the most significant potential disruptions in many years in Washington’s approach to foreign affairs in the midst of parallel crises. We can piece together some of his likely approach to different areas from both his comments on the campaign trail and his track record in office from 2017 to 2021. Russia, Ukraine and Nato During the campaign, Trump repeatedly said he could end the war

Taipei hosts the opening of an international health and welfare summit.

5Nov

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Taipei hosts the opening of an international health and welfare summit.

The 2024 Global Health and Welfare Forum in Taiwan opened Nov. 5 in Taipei City as part of government promotion of health for all, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Organized by the MOHW and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, event attendees include health ministers and other high-level officials from 17 countries. The forum features 37 speakers hailing from Australia, Thailand, the U.K. and the U.S., among others. The two-day event was opened by MOHW Minister Chiu Tai-yuan and features keynote speeches by experts including Arūnas Dulkys, Lithuanian economist and former minister of health; Jozef Suvada, Slovakia’s ambassador at large for global health; and Osamu Kunii, CEO and executive director of the Japan-based Global Health Innovative Technology Fund. The event also inclu

Bangladesh increases Adani repayments to prevent a power outage.

5Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Bangladesh increases Adani repayments to prevent a power outage.

Bangladesh is ramping up payments to Adani Power after the Indian conglomerate cut electricity supplies by half, reportedly over an unpaid $800m bill. Two senior government officials told the BBC they are already processing partial payments to Adani, which supplies 10% of the electricity used by Bangladesh. “We have addressed payment glitches and already issued a $170 million [£143m] letter of credit to Adani group,” a senior Bangladesh Power Development Board official told the BBC. Adani supplies Bangladesh from its 1600 megawatt coal-fired plant in eastern India. The company hasn't responded to BBC queries about cuts to its supply to Bangladesh, which suffers regular power shortages. Officials say the company has threatened to suspend all supplies if the money owed to it is

The unexpected election outcome in Japan may signal the return of “revolving door” leadership.

5Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

The unexpected election outcome in Japan may signal the return of “revolving door” leadership.

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party suffered an unexpected major defeat in the October 27 Lower House election, where Prime Minister Ishiba's snap election gamble backfired. While this loss marks a potential victory for Japanese democracy by breaking the LDP's nearly 70-year dominance, it raises concerns about regional stability. The LDP, even with coalition partner Komeito, fell short of a majority with just 215 seats out of 465. While this political shift might strengthen Japan's democratic process, it could compromise Japan's crucial role as a stabilising force in the Indo-Pacific region. The Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP’s) surprisingly poor showing in Japan’s Lower House election on 27 October is at first blush a victory for democracy in Japan. The snap election called by Prime Min

A volcano explodes in Indonesia, killing at least ten people.

5Nov

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

A volcano explodes in Indonesia, killing at least ten people.

At least 10 people have been killed after a volcano erupted in eastern Indonesia in the early hours of Monday, officials have said. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted at 23:57 local time, according to the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMG). Hadi Wijaya, a PVMG spokesperson, said fiery lava and rocks had hit the villages about 4km (two miles) from the crater, burning and damaging residents' houses. According to local officials, the eruption has affected seven villages. PVMG said fires had "occurred in residential areas due to the ejection of incandescent material" from the volcano. It has raised the status of the volcano to the highest alert level, warning that a 7km (four-mile) ...

Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore has stated that he will resign as early as next year.

5Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore has stated that he will resign as early as next year.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced he will hand over the leadership of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) before the 2025 general elections. Lee, 71, said on Sunday that he would hand the reins to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as soon as the PAP’s 70th anniversary in November 2024. Addressing PAP members on Sunday, Lee said Wong had proved himself as head of the government’s COVID-19 task force during the pandemic and “there is no reason to delay the political transition”. “Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next general election,” Lee said. “After that, I will be at the new PM’s disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful. I will do my best to help him and his team to fight and win the next GE.” Wong, a form

Trade, Investment, and Prospects in China-Singapore Economic Partnerships

1Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Trade, Investment, and Prospects in China-Singapore Economic Partnerships

China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years since 2013. Additionally, China is Singapore’s largest export market and largest source of imports. Singapore is China’s fifth-largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. In 2023, bilateral trade between China and Singapore amounted to US$108.39 billion.Singapore has been the largest source of new investments in China for 11 consecutive years since 2013. In April 2022, Singapore surpassed Japan to become the largest cumulative source of foreign investment in China. By the end of 2023, Singapore’s cumulative actual investment in China reached US$141.23 billion.As a global financial center and technology hub, Singapore offers opportunities for collaboration, especially in electronic and medical equipment, facilit

Vietnam’s strategy with China is characterized by cooperation and conflict.

28Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Vietnam’s strategy with China is characterized by cooperation and conflict.

Vietnam's diplomatic approach emphasises a balance between ‘cooperation and struggle’ with Beijing. Despite concerns regarding a possible alignment shift, Hanoi remains focused on strengthening economic and political ties while resisting China's encroachments in the South China Sea. This strategy includes military enhancements, close ties with regional powers and frequent political engagements. By deftly balancing relationships with great powers, Vietnam aims to safeguard its sovereignty and promote stability amid ongoing geopolitical challenges. Given Vietnam’s diplomatic status and adept manoeuvring of great power relations, new developments regarding Hanoi’s alignment attract significant attention, including Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam’s August 2024 visit to

Defectors from North Korea want Ukraine to be used to fight their former allies psychologically.

28Oct

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Defectors from North Korea want Ukraine to be used to fight their former allies psychologically.

A group of nearly 200 North Korean defectors living in South Korea is pushing to deploy to Ukraine so they can launch a psychological warfare campaign against their former comrades, now reportedly assembling in Russia. Drawing on their military backgrounds, this band of ex-soldiers – each with seven to 10 years of military experience – aim to leverage their insider knowledge of North Korea’s military to disrupt and demoralise the troops sent to fight in Ukraine, exploiting their psychological vulnerabilities. “We are all military veterans who understand North Korea’s military culture and psychological state better than anyone else,” Ahn Chan-il, a 69-year-old defector and member of the group, told This Week in Asia. Ahn, who leads the World Inst