By Richard Heydarian* This article is republished courtesy of Internatinal Politics and Society. Read original MANILA | 4 August 2024 (IDN) — Following years of intensive negotiations, the Philippines and Japan have consolidated their military cooperation with a new defence pact. Under the recently signed Reciprocal Access Agreement, the two Asian countries will define procedural […]
US Strengthens Military Bonds with Asia—with 500 million USD to Philippines
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 1 August 2024 (IDN) — The US is strengthening its economic and military relationships with Asian allies, including Japan and 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. As political and military tensions […]
Quad Foreign Ministers Creating Tensions in South China Sea
By Wang Qi, Global Times BEIJING | 30 July 2024 (IDN) — Top diplomats from Quad countries held talks on Monday in Tokyo, expressing so-called concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas and vowing to uphold so-called maritime order in the “Indo-Pacific region,” which analysts viewed as another attempt targeting China’s […]
What Sets China Apart from Traditional Mediators as Peace-Broker
By Fiona Raval* This article was originally published by The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS). NEW DELHI | 30 July 2024 (IDN) — Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recently identified China as one of the few global actors with enough power and influence to help terminate the war with Russia. China’s peace proposals have garnered […]
Chinese University Leads with Innovative SDG Summer School
By Viliame Tawanakoro* WUHAN, China | 27 July 2024. (IDN | Wansolwara) — An innovative summer school program by China’s Wuhan University focusing on reporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concluded on 26 July with its coordinator Professor Ji Li declaring “this will be the first of many more to come”. The Luojlia Global Summer School […]
U.S. Defense Secretary Embarks on His Eleventh Trip to Indo-Pacific
By Joseph Clark, DOD News U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III embarked on his 11th trip to the Indo-Pacific on 26 July amid what officials said is a landmark period for U.S. ties throughout the region. WASHINGTON D C | 27 July 2024 (IDN) — The 10-day series of engagements will include stops […]
A Worm’s Eye View of the World of India and China
By Sanjaya Baru* Shastri Ramachandaran’s “Beyond Binaries: The World of India and China (2008-2022)”, published by Genuine Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd., 1 January 2024, is a reminder for Indian media organisations to look abroad. This review was pubished by The Wire. NEW DELHI | 22 July 2024 (IDN) — Foreign correspondents have always been […]
South Korea, Under Nuclear Threat from the North, Reiterates its Commitment to NPT
By Tariq Rauf* VIENNA, Austria | 19 July 2024 (IDN) — Nuclear weapons were first introduced in the Korean Peninsula by the United States. Starting in January 1958, the US deployed 11 types of nuclear weapons in South Korea over the years until 1991 when they were withdrawn under the US/USSR Presidential Nuclear Initiatives. At one […]
Laos Could Become the New Southeast Asian Tourist Heaven
By Kalinga Seneviratne VIENTIANE, Laos | 15 July 2024 (IDN) — Laos, the land-locked country of 7.5 million people, with scenic mountainous terrain, traversed by the Mekong River that flows through both Vientiane and the UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist city of Luang Prabang, and home to many remote hill tribes is now in the crest […]
China-Built Laos Railway Could Be a Game Changer for Asian Connectivity
By Kalinga Seneviratne VIENTIANE, Laos | 14 July 2024 (IDN) — A direct train service between the Thai capital Bangkok and Laotian capital Vientiane will begin on July 19 according to Thai Railway sources, that could herald a game changer for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) connectivity, making the dream of a pan-Asian […]