Politics Archives - The Singapore Post

Nepal turmoil adds to India’s woes in South Asia

11Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Nepal turmoil adds to India’s woes in South Asia

Nepal has become the third country in India's immediate neighbourhood to see a violent uprising topple its government in recent years. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after more than 20 people died in clashes with police during anti-government demonstrations triggered by a social media ban. A nationwide curfew is in place and the army is attempting to bring the situation under control after protesters stormed parliament and set fire to the homes of several politicians. For many, the scenes in Kathmandu were reminiscent of the turmoil that gripped Bangladesh last year, and Sri Lanka in 2022. Though Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are also India's close neighbours in South Asia, Delhi's relationship with Kathmandu is special because of historic people-to-people, eco...

Nepal crisis: Army deployed as death toll rises amid political turmoil

11Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Nepal crisis: Army deployed as death toll rises amid political turmoil

The unrest began Monday as a self-styled “Gen Z protest” against corruption, nepotism and restrictions on social media. It quickly escalated after security forces opened fire on the crowds. By Tuesday, protesters had stormed and torched parliament, the Supreme Court and multiple government offices, including Singha Durbar – the central administrative complex. Homes of political leaders were attacked, police stations overrun, and Tribhuvan International Airport briefly closed. In addition, media outlets and schools were set on fire, while the Ministry of Health and Population was also destroyed, including the National Health Emergency Operation Centre. UN chief urges dialogue UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply saddened by

Who is Balen Shah, Gen Z protesters’ favourite for Nepal PM?

10Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Who is Balen Shah, Gen Z protesters’ favourite for Nepal PM?

Balen Shah, Kathmandu's mayor and former rapper, has emerged as a trusted leader for Nepal's Gen Z, earning admiration for supporting the agitation against corruption and social media ban. Gen Zers, who forced out KP Sharma Oli from power, are batting for Shah to take over. Shah's 2022 victory symbolised a generational shift in Nepali politics. "All those who protect the country are fools. All leaders are thieves, looting the country and eating it up". These are the lyrics from a song by once rapper and now Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balen Shah. Shah's rise in Nepal's politics inspired many in the youth to contest elections to make a change. Now, after the Gen Z protests have forced the Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, the youth are asking the 35-year-old ...

Has Trump succeeded in normalising American autocracy?

31Aug

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Has Trump succeeded in normalising American autocracy?

When it comes to the rise of autocracy in America, Justice Potter Stewart’s famous pronouncement on pornography might be particularly appropriate at the moment: “I know it when I see it.” The cult of personality was apparent as Donald Trump’s cabinet convened on Wednesday in a marathon session that could have embarrassed even a seasoned strongman, providing for three hours and 17 minutes of fawning television coverage. There was Steve Witkoff, the president’s top envoy and negotiator, standing up in the increasingly gilded Cabinet Room, offering praise that could have made even Vladimir Putin blush. “There’s only one thing I wish for – that the Nobel committee finally gets its act together and realizes that you are the single finest candidate since this Nobel award was ever talk

Xi tells Putin China will continue to promote peace talks in Ukraine crisis

9Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Xi tells Putin China will continue to promote peace talks in Ukraine crisis

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China will remain consistent in its position on the Ukraine crisis and will continue promoting peace talks no matter how the situation evolves. In his phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi elaborated on China's principled stance on the crisis and stressed that complex issues have no simple solutions. The Chinese side is glad to see Russia and the United States maintain contact, improve their relations and promote a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Xi said. Putin, on his part, shared Russia's perspective on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and the recent interactions between Russia and the United States. He said Russia highly appreciates China's constructive role in promoting a political ...

China Watching in Chinese A Guide to Chinese-Language Analysis of Chinese Politics

7Aug

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China Watching in Chinese A Guide to Chinese-Language Analysis of Chinese Politics

China is not a black box. While Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power has brought tighter control over dissent and leaks, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) now produces more routine political information than ever before. Of course, academic research, database access, and public commentary have all become significantly more constrained, but much open-source material on Chinese politics remains available. Chinese internet users engage daily with a sprawling mix of propaganda feeds, commercial platforms, and semi-official accounts. The CCP now publishes a constant stream of information to retain control over its narrative in a country of 1.4 billion people as well as inform and instruct its almost 100 million members. These updates include meeting agendas, personnel changes, budget dat

Elon Musk slams Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, calls for new political party

1Jul

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Elon Musk slams Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, calls for new political party

The world’s richest man and the US president have traded insults over Donald Trump’s tax cuts and spending bill. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has stepped up his criticism of United States President Donald Trump’s tax cuts and spending bill and renewed his call for a new political party. Musk’s criticism of Trump’s 940-page “Big, Beautiful Bill“, which proposes tax breaks and sweeping cuts to healthcare and food programmes, has been met with strong criticism from the Democratic Party as well as some members of Trump’s Republican Party. In early June, Musk, a major campaign donor to Trump and a former key aide, called the bill a “disgusting abomination”, leading to a public falling out with the Republican president. The two then appeared to cool tensions, with Trump telling re

FBI chief Kash Patel declassifies report on alleged Chinese plot to influence 2020 US election

23Jun

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

FBI chief Kash Patel declassifies report on alleged Chinese plot to influence 2020 US election

In a move reverberating through Washington and beyond, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has declassified a long-awaited intelligence report detailing an alleged Chinese government effort to interfere in the 2020 United States presidential election. The release marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over foreign meddling in American democratic processes, shedding new light on Beijing's covert strategies and the intelligence community’s response. The declassification comes amid mounting bipartisan pressure for transparency and accountability in national security matters related to election integrity. While previous investigations, including those led by Congress and independent agencies, largely focused on Russian disinformation an

CCP’s expanding influence in the U.S.: A growing concern

2Apr

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

CCP’s expanding influence in the U.S.: A growing concern

As awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence in the United States continues to rise, concerns about the extent of Beijing’s reach into American political, economic, and social structures are being brought to the forefront. Former congresswoman Michelle Steel, in a recent interview with The Epoch Times, highlighted the CCP’s pervasive presence in California, across the United States, and even on a global scale. Her insights offer a sobering look at the strategic maneuvers employed by the CCP to extend its influence, raising questions about national security, economic independence, and the safeguarding of democratic values.CCP’s influence in CaliforniaCalifornia, with its vast economy and significant political sway, has been a primary target of CCP inf

Donald Trump’s additional tariffs foils the dastardly plan of China to use the Mexico route to invade the U.S.

19Feb

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Donald Trump’s additional tariffs foils the dastardly plan of China to use the Mexico route to invade the U.S.

With United States President Donald Trump announcing a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Mexico and an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports, the Mexican route to invade the American market has been effectively shut for Chinese companies. The previous Joe Biden administration had imposed a 100 percent tariff on the entry of Chinese electrical vehicles and taken effective steps to prevent the entry of synthetic opioid drug fentanyl to the U.S. from China. Since then, Chinese companies have been investing heavily in Mexico in facilities for the manufacture of EVs and fentanyl and using the Mexican route to access the American market; taking advantage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement which is a free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada....