By Ken Moak The January 5 edition of the South China Morning Post reported that the US passed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) to reaffirm and reassure its “allies” that America is committed to protecting and promoting democracy in the Asia-Pacific. To do so, America will spend US$1.5 billion annually for five years to … Continue reading US initiative would fail to contain China and put allies at risk
By Sun Xi This month marks the 40th anniversary of the official beginning of China’s reform and opening-up, when the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held from December 18-22, 1978. Just one month before the historic conference, in November 1978, Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping visited … Continue reading Forty years of reform: China vs Singapore
In a policy shift, Thai PM Prayut Chan-ocha says state agencies will study the construction of a long-envisioned ocean-linking canal China craves for economic and security reasons By Benjamin Zawacki After demurring for years, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha last week ordered national planning and security agencies to look into building a possible canal … Continue reading Thailand the missing link in China’s Maritime Silk Road
Vladimir Putin has been trying to strengthen Russia's ties with Southeast Asia lately. This is beneficial to all parties, Nikkei Asian Review wrote. After the meeting with the leadership of Singapore, Putin attended the East Asian Summit (EAC) and the Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The EAC includes ASEAN countries plus … Continue reading Putin’s three days in Singapore mark Russia’s major geopolitical changes since 2000
Trade-geared nation is poised to benefit more than most from coming shifts to global supply chains away from China-based production By Nate Fischler As Asian nations brace for US-China trade war impacts on their economies, Vietnam is positioning itself as a possible two-way winner of the conflict. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made clear … Continue reading Trade war upsides abound for Vietnam
