By Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia has placed “resilience” at the heart of its foreign policy this year, pitching it as a way to keep the country from being buffeted by intensifying rivalry among the world’s major powers. But analysts say the concept, though rhetorically appealing, lacks clear objectives and a long-term strategy – running the […]
Read MoreBy Alyssa Chen The sudden removal of China’s two most senior generals is believed to be a stark warning underscoring President Xi Jinping’s zero-tolerance focus on Communist Party discipline and political purity ahead of two landmark events next year. Beijing announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and […]
Read MoreRAMALLAH: Samuel Dalou, whose family has run a produce market in the West Bank city of Ramallah for decades, was astonished when local farmers suddenly began arriving in droves offering fresh produce at extremely competitive prices. When Ahmad Salim arrived from Jenin to offer his produce, Dalou half jokingly asked how he had managed to […]
Read MoreFor much of the post-Cold War era, Japan’s relationship with Central Asia unfolded quietly. Tokyo invested in infrastructure, supported education and training, and selectively engaged in commercial projects-most notably in Kazakhstan’s energy and mining sectors. This engagement was shaped less by geopolitical ambition and more by Japan’s long-standing emphasis on “human security,” capacity building, and […]
Read MoreBy Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s next general election may well be decided by the country’s millions of young voters and its biggest conservative Islamist party is determined to win them over. For the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), winning young people’s support means dominating the online spaces they inhabit. “Whoever controls [online] media will gain their votes,” […]
Read MoreBy Seong Hyeon Choi In the US State Department’s catalogue of priorities for the next five years, Taiwan rates exactly zero mentions. The department’s Agency Strategic Plan does list peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific as a goal but its top focus after national security is the western hemisphere. The plan sets out the direction […]
Read MoreBy He Huifeng in Guangdong Despite a slowing economy, recurring trade frictions and intensifying price competition, the value of China’s exports rose in 2025 by 6.1 per cent, year on year, to a record 26.98 trillion yuan (US$3.87 trillion) – cementing its position as the world’s largest trading nation. Behind that growth, China’s export machine […]
Read MoreBy Finbarr Bermin gham in Brussels After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to make Europe “the antithesis to state-sponsored unfair trade practices”, the massive pressure the country’s automotive industry faced from China was laid bare in new figures. Over the course of 2025, German car and car part shipments to China saw dramatic slumps, while […]
Read MoreBangladesh’s decision not to take part in the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India is no longer just a cricketing matter. It has become a complex issue involving security, diplomacy, economics and long-term cricket planning — with consequences that could extend well beyond a single tournament. The government’s position, for now, is […]
Read MoreBy Maria Siow Vietnam’s Communist Party five-yearly congress is set to consolidate more power for General Secretary To Lam, whom observers say has behaved like he “expects a mandate”. But term and age limits on the leadership are expected to remain, they add, leaving Lam as just a “first among equals” when the conclave concludes […]
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