Opinion Archives - The Singapore Post

Power shift to China delays new global rules

18Jan

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Power shift to China delays new global rules

The once-laughable notion of selling solar power in the Middle East is now a rich vein for China to strengthen its presence in the region Amid geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States, including US sanctions on Chinese clean technology (cleantech), Beijing seeks to strengthen its presence in the Middle East, a region that has traditionally been in Washington’s sphere of influence. What regional actors seem to expect from China is assistance in the development of their green energy sectors. Estimates suggest the Middle East receives 22-26 per cent of the total solar energy on Earth. As such, it sees China as a desirable partner, knowing that the world’s second-largest economy can produce enough solar cells, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries for the regio

Business collaboration might restore US-China relations under deal-maker Trump.

18Jan

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Business collaboration might restore US-China relations under deal-maker Trump.

China can take a lesson from 1980s Japan, which defused bilateral frictions by strategically pivoting towards direct investment in US manufacturing As US president-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20, a pivotal moment in US-China relations is unfolding. One day before his inauguration, TikTok faces a shutdown under legislation requiring its Chinese parent ByteDance to divest or cease its US operations. Trump’s declaration last month that the United States and China “can together solve all the world’s problems” signals a reset in bilateral relations. He showed he was open to practical cooperation in his first term, notably with the phase-one trade agreement, which established frameworks for financial services and intellectual property protection, and expanded

18Jan

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Beijing and Hanoi share destiny

China and Vietnam should maintain close high-level exchanges, ensure Sino-Vietnamese cooperation yields more positive results, and promote people-to-people exchanges, President Xi Jinping has said as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Wednesday while talking with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. China and Vietnam not only share similar cultures and systems, but also have common ideals and strategic interests, and both sides have intensified reform and opening-up. In the 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have stood together through th...

China’s hopes for the second term of President Trump: Handling regional and bilateral relations

16Jan

By Nectar GanNo Comments

China’s hopes for the second term of President Trump: Handling regional and bilateral relations

Trump's 'America First' approach could weaken US alliances, creating opportunities for China to expand its influence If Trump follows through on tariff threats, China may retaliate economically by targeting US companies operating in China or imposing tariffs on US export The author is a junior research fellow at the Caucasian Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (QAFSAM). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election has heightened China's concerns regarding a range of complex challenges at bilateral and regional levels. His campaign promises and the individuals he plans to appoint to critical positions in his administration signal a tougher stance towards China. During his campaign, Trump pledged to impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese...

The geopolitical struggle for the Arctic is highlighted by Trump’s Greenland gambit.

13Jan

By Nectar GanNo Comments

The geopolitical struggle for the Arctic is highlighted by Trump’s Greenland gambit.

As climate change accelerates Arctic ice melt, opening up new shipping routes and resource extraction opportunities, Greenland’s geopolitical value has soared In August 2019, then US president Donald Trump made headlines with his surprising proposal to buy Greenland from Denmark. While the idea was met with scepticism and humour, it also reignited a historical debate and shed light on Greenland’s growing geopolitical significance. As Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, his renewed interest in Greenland – and its implications for US foreign policy and Arctic governance – merits deeper examination.The idea is not new. In 1868, US secretary of state William H. Seward, fresh from acquiring Alaska, expressed interest in Greenland and Iceland as part of America’s expansion str

On NYE, the China-Singapore free trade agreement update process is scheduled to begin.

31Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

On NYE, the China-Singapore free trade agreement update process is scheduled to begin.

SINGAPORE: China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that the Further Upgrade Protocol for the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) will officially take effect on Dec 31, 2024. The upgraded agreement aims to deepen economic ties by significantly expanding market access and fostering cooperation in emerging sectors. The protocol aligns with high-standard international economic and trade principles, providing enhanced opportunities in the services trade and investment sectors between the two nations, according to a ministry statement released on Monday. China and Singapore have pledged greater openness in their services and investment markets using a “negative list” approach. This model specifies the sectors where restrictions remain, allowing all other areas to be open fo

Government and Opposition in Pakistan Start Negotiations to Reduce Political Tensions

24Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Government and Opposition in Pakistan Start Negotiations to Reduce Political Tensions

The Pakistani government and opposition parties commenced talks on Monday to address ongoing political tensions that have persisted since 2022, Anadolu Agency reported. The initial meeting took place in Islamabad between representatives of the ruling coalition and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The discussions follow a recent PTI protest demanding Khan’s release, which resulted in casualties among both protesters and security forces. The National Assembly’s speaker is facilitating the negotiations, focusing on the release of Khan and PTI supporters, as well as a judicial inquiry into the May 9 riots and November 24 protests. Ruling party Senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed optimism about the talks, stating the government enter

Discussions Start Between the PTI and the Pakistani Government: Will Imran Khan Soon Be Freed?

24Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Discussions Start Between the PTI and the Pakistani Government: Will Imran Khan Soon Be Freed?

In a significant political development, the Pakistan government and the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have initiated talks, sparking discussions about a potential shift in the country’s political landscape. The talks, which began on Monday, aim to ease tensions between the two factions, with the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan emerging as one of the key issues on the table. The political dialogue follows a series of events signaling a thaw in relations between the two camps. Notably, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was recently seen embracing PTI leader and Imran Khan’s aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, marking a significant shift in the relationship between the ruling government and the opposition. This gesture is especially significant as it comes just thre

After President Dissanayake’s visit, what would happen to India-Sri Lanka relations?

24Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

After President Dissanayake’s visit, what would happen to India-Sri Lanka relations?

On September 28, I posted my thoughts briefly on social media under the title ‘Navigating Foreign Policy Towards the Stable Country: The Daunting Challenges for the AKD Government in Sri Lanka’. The main purpose of that write-up was to expose the complexity and criticalness of the external affairs that the AKD government has to deal with in future. This article aims at President Dissanayake’s first diplomatic mission embarked on under the crucial moment of navigating its foreign policy to neighbouring India, which badly seeks to secure its position in regional and global contexts. Sri Lanka’s presidential election was held amidst a growing political and economic turbulence, which probably caused many countries, more or less, to fall into a dangerous course by protracting military and t

By March, Ishiba hopes to have a conclusion on corporate donations.

24Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

By March, Ishiba hopes to have a conclusion on corporate donations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that he will aim for a conclusion on the issue of donations from companies and other organizations to political parties by the end of March, as agreed between the ruling and opposition parties. "We need to further deepen discussions," Ishiba told a press conference after the 27-day extraordinary Diet session ended earlier in the day. While opposition parties are pushing for a ban on such corporate donations, Ishiba reiterated his opposition to the ban. "We are proposing disclosure (of corporate donations), rather than a ban," he said. "The important thing is to make efforts to increase transparency." Regarding his envisaged summit with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Ishiba said it is "extremely important" for them to align t...