By Meredith Chen,Dewey Sim,Zhao Ziwen and Seong Hyeon Choi Saudi Arabia’s new mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan underscores deepening doubts over Washington’s security commitments in the region amid its strategic rivalry with Beijing, according to observers. They said China was likely to view such diversified partnerships positively, which could also open new opportunities to […]
Read MoreBy Julian Ryall The United States is backing Japan’s entry into the Aukus security pact, with analysts calling it a long-overdue move to harness Tokyo’s advanced defence technology and bolster Western military cooperation with a key ally in the Indo-Pacific. Quoting an unpublished US State Department report to Congress, Bloomberg reported on Thursday that Washington […]
Read MoreBy Park Chan-kyong South Korea’s prime minister has ordered a clampdown on anti-China demonstrations outside the Chinese embassy, amid warnings that such protests could derail Seoul’s efforts to reset ties with Beijing. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Friday directed law enforcement to “take strong action” against the increasingly disruptive rallies, which had led to merchants […]
Read MoreBy Joseph Sipalan Depending on who you ask, Anwar Ibrahim is either on a mission to liberate Malaysia from decades of corruption or settling old political scores under the guise of reform. The latest target of the prime minister’s anti-graft investigators? His 100-year-old arch rival and former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission recently […]
Read MoreBy Maria Siow India can seize an opportunity to reset its ties with Nepal and strengthen regional stability following the leadership shake-up in Kathmandu sparked by the Gen Z-led protests, according to analysts. But they warn that any such move by India must avoid triggering perceptions of “big brother” interference – a legacy of its […]
Read MoreBy Tom Hussain A week after Israel bombed Qatar, Saudi Arabia has signed a mutual defence pact with Pakistan in what analysts say will be an extension of Islamabad’s nuclear umbrella over the Gulf kingdom and is a clear signal to the United States for failing to intercept Israeli missiles during the attack. Saudi Crown […]
Read MoreThe eldest son of Samsung Group chairman Lee Jae-yong, heir to one of South Korea’s richest families, has enlisted to become a naval officer, one of the most demanding military roles in the country. In doing so, Lee Jee-ho joins a growing cohort of scions of family-run conglomerates who are opting for longer, more demanding […]
Read MoreBy Aidan Jones In Thailand, elections do not necessarily decide who governs. Over the past few weeks, that paradox has played out once more, with a prime minister ousted, the country’s best-known political dynasty sidelined and a new leader taking the reins. For young Thai activist Aitarnik Chitwiset, the endless chaos feels like it has […]
Read MoreBy Jane Caiin Beijing,Sylvie Zhuang in Beijing and Nora Mankel This year marks half a century of formal diplomatic relations between China and the European Union as well as the 25th anniversary of the founding of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. The fourth in a series of reports examining ties between the […]
Read MoreBy Park Chan-kyong North Korea has threatened military retaliation in response to joint drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan, with the powerful sister of ruler Kim Jong-un and a top military official issuing parallel statements. Both denounced the ongoing drills and signalled that Pyongyang was prepared to answer with its own show […]
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