Opinion Archives - Page 14 of 45

9Sep

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Managing the New Cold War in South Asia

This detail revives the notion of a ‘foreign hand’ in the change of regime in South Asia. Other political upheavals in South Asian countries, such as the removal of Imran Khan as Prime Minister in Pakistan in 2022, have led to similar claims of involvement of foreign intelligence forces (i.e., United States-led conspiracy). The now-weakened Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) had safeguarded, at some level, sovereignty and independent foreign policy in South Asia during the Cold War. It also calmed tensions between the erstwhile superpowers and helped prevent World War Three. Despite its many shortcomings, NAM gave marginalised nations a collective identity and voice without having to align with any power blocs. South Asia is now on the threshold of a new

4Sep

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Fighting Hate Speech: Asian Insights

The pervasive issue of hate speech, particularly its online manifestation, poses a significant threat to peace, stability, and human rights across regions. The United Nations' efforts to combat hate speech in South and Southeast Asia have yielded valuable insights that can inform future initiatives in the region and beyond. The United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) regional team in Bangkok spearheaded a collaborative initiative to combat hate speech in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The regional team in Bangkok facilitated a two-year “5-country community of practice” involving over 75 UN personnel from various UN entities working in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand, and Myanmar, and with technical support from entities such as the Office of the S

2Sep

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In the relationship between China and Germany, trade prevails over political arguments.

Germany and China, despite ideological differences and increasingly negative public perceptions of China within Germany, continue to nurture their bilateral economic relationship. The two countries should continue to prioritise their shared economic interests and their roles as some of the world’s biggest economies. Though Germany should reduce dependency on China by diversifying its supply chains and investing in other emerging markets, their partnership can be strengthened by hosting economic dialogues, addressing cybersecurity issues, and combating trade protectionism and promoting an open world economy. China’s ties with Germany are one of its stronger bilateral relationships within the European Union. This bilateral relationship, which began in 1972, has been marked by periods of

2Sep

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For the situation in Myanmar to be resolved, the international community outside of ASEAN must unite.

Over three years into the conflict that has ravaged Myanmar, there are fears that the international community is placing too much hope in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) securing peace. ASEAN, a political and economic collective of ten countries based in Southeast Asia, ‘doesn’t have the tools and the history of resolving a crisis on the scale that Myanmar is facing,’ says Bryony Lau, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). Other global powers, such as members of the UN Security Council, could have more impact, she explains. Yet, given its geographic proximity to Myanmar, the world has looked to ASEAN to take the lead on handling the civil war. The conflict began when Myanmar’s military deposed the country’s democratically elected government in 202

30Aug

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China’s Communist Party brings in new rules to regulate faith, loyalty and performance

China’s Communist Party has rolled out a set of new rules to remove incompetent members deemed lagging in their faith, loyalty and performance, in a bid to further strengthen the party’s control over the conduct of its nearly 100 million members. The new rules released by the party’s general office on Thursday, decree that underperforming party members, whose conduct might not warrant a formal corruption investigation, be disqualified from the party, state-run Xinhua news agency said. Comprising 27 articles, the rules are “crucial for exercising full and rigorous” party self-cleansing, according to Xinhua, quoting an official from the Central Organisation Department, the party’s top personnel office. Unlike disciplinary measures imposed on party members who violate

29Aug

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Biden adviser Sullivan holds ‘rare’ talks with top Chinese army official

The United States national security adviser has held wide-ranging talks with a top Chinese military official in Beijing, wrapping up a three-day trip aimed at strengthening communication between the world powers on a range of issues. Jake Sullivan met General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Thursday, as China is embroiled in security rows with US allies Japan and the Philippines. The NSA raised issues such as “stability” in the Taiwan Strait, “US commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea”, China’s support for “Russia’s defence industrial base” and ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, according to a White House statement. On Taiwan, Zhang warned that the status of the self-ruled island was “the first red l

29Aug

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China’s modernisation race with the West under Xi Jinping

The recently concluded third plenum of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), along with earlier party and government gatherings and speeches by Xi Jinping, has highlighted the concept of the “Chinese path to modernisation” (中国式现代化). This theme, though discussed extensively within party communications, remains somewhat vague in its definition and implications. The concept targets both domestic and foreign policy, raising questions about its timing, integration into the CCP ideological framework, particularly Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and its impact on China’s international strategy amid the US-China strategic rivalry. Slogans in Chinese politics: intent and impact In Chinese politics, slogans ar

28Aug

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New Chinese textbooks play up national security, Xi Jinping Thought and Vietnam, India wars

New Chinese school textbooks will give more space to national security and traditional culture in Beijing’s latest move to step up ideological propaganda and control. Primary and junior high school students starting the autumn semester next week will be handed the new textbooks on Chinese language, history, as well as morality and law, state broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday. Morality and law was known until 2016 as ideology and politics. It is a mandatory subject that promotes the ideology of the ruling Communist Party. Topics highlighted in the new textbooks include the president’s political philosophy, Xi Jinping Thought. There will also be an emphasis on traditional Chinese culture and national security, according to a Ministry of Education official cited in the repo

27Aug

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As China celebrates Deng Xiaoping’s legacy, the country is again at a crossroads

As China commemorates the 120th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s birth, the Post examines his legacy across generations. In the first of a three-part series, we look at Deng’s continuing resonance with the ruling Communist Party’s leadership. Chairman Mao Zedong called him the “steel factory” for his uncompromising resolve. Yet he was also a master of charm – winning the hearts and minds of the American public in one swoop by donning a cowboy hat on the first visit by a Chinese communist leader to the US. The “chief architect” of the greatest economic liberation programme in history was also the man who demanded that the Communist Party “unwaveringly uphold the dictatorship of the proletariat”, nipping the country’s democracy movement in its bud. As China celebrates the 120th

25Aug

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Philippines, China accuse each other of ship ramming in South China Sea

China’s coastguard says it has rescued Filipino “personnel” who fell overboard after a Philippine vessel collided with one of its ships near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The Philippines on Sunday, however, slammed China’s claims as “completely unfounded”, saying it was a Chinese vessel that had rammed a Philippine ship. The two nations have had repeated confrontations in the waters in recent months, and on Saturday Manila accused China of recently twice firing flares at one of its patrol aircraft. China has continued to press its claims to almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis. The China Coast Guard said Sunday the Philippine ship “ignored repeated serious warnings and deliber