In its retaliating move against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Chinese government on Thursday launched one of its largest military drills around the self-ruled democratic island. This comes two days after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan which angered the Chinese administration. Meanwhile, Jake Sullivan, the US National […]
Read Time : 13 Minutes
The United States Is Deeply Invested in the South China Sea
In reflecting on these U.S. commitments, Austin returned to one issue more than any other: the South China Sea. Even when not directly discussing the waterway, his remarks made references to “freedom of the seas,” “maritime-security cooperation,” “threats in the gray zone,” and so on. In this, Austin was the […]
Read Time : 9 Minutes
China Won’t Replace the U.S. in the Middle East
But it is no more than buzz. Aggressive, mercantilist, and opportunistic, Beijing remains uninterested in choosing sides in the region’s ongoing power games. After the Iraq War’s disappointment, the Iran nuclear deal’s collapse, and the nightmares of failed interventions in Syria and Libya, both Republicans and Democrats in Washington have […]
Read Time : 20 Minutes
How to Take Down a Tyrant
That economic pressure cannot change or even end authoritarian regimes is a contention simply not supported by the evidence. In fact, our research highlights that over the past several decades alone, there are at least 10 prominent examples reaffirming that when civil society crumbled through externally induced economic implosion, autocratic […]
Read Time : 7 Minutes
Nepal-China ties
KATHMANDU – At least during peace time, diplomacy is all about gesture, decorum and trust. Or, it is expected to be more so when two closest neighbours meet as friends. But Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka’s three-day sojourn in northern neighbour China that concluded last Thursday somewhat blatantly failed to exude […]
Read Time : 8 Minutes
Lavrov in Myanmar as Russia Courts Pariahs
If you would like to receive Morning Brief in your inbox every weekday, please sign up here . Welcome to today’s Morning Brief, where we’re looking at Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s Myanmar visit, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan trip, and Yemen’s latest truce. Welcome to today’s Morning Brief, […]
Read Time : 11 Minutes
Zawahiri’s Killing Is a Blow to the Taliban
If you would like to receive South Asia Brief in your inbox every Thursday, please sign up here . The highlights this week: How al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri’s killing will affect the Taliban regime, India marks three years since revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy , and Pakistan’s election commission […]