China
China has a fifth station in Antarctica
China’s new Antarctic station, Qinling, has been greeted with alarm in several recent articles. Some concern and watchfulness is warranted, but strategic panic is not. Given the…
Open for business: North Korea welcomes back visitors
After three years of pandemic lockdowns, North Korea is reopening its doors to foreigners. The welcome mat was put out in March 2023, when the country welcomed new Chinese…
What constrains and restrains China on Taiwan?
Is a Chinese move on Taiwan the world’s next big crisis? What is the probability that the People’s Republic of China will seek to forcibly “reunify” Taiwan in the next few years?
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China’s message problem in PNG
Last month, China signed a significant deal with Papua New Guinea, a downstream processing agreement to manufacture products using locally sourced nickel and cobalt. With this…
A new China loan threatens Vanuatu’s debt outlook
Several Pacific nations have experienced a spike in public debt in recent years due to Covid-related border closures, trade disruptions, and climate-related disasters. Vanuatu,…
From “poop diggers” to allies: Chinese social media reacts to Nauru’s switch
On 15 January, when Nauru switched its diplomatic recognition to Beijing, “Nauru severs its ties with Taiwan” was the top trending topic on Weibo. For two weeks following, we…
Can China use offshore wind to break its reliance on foreign LNG and coal?
A worldwide scramble for energy supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has intensified China’s quest for energy security. The nation is doubling down on all forms of…
Cartographic aggression: Playing it the China way
The new book from India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar might feature the kind of customary proforma chapters expected of a diplomat-turned-politician, but the…
China’s evolving approach to multipolar world order in 2024
Two recent developments underscore a transformation in China’s foreign relations, characterised by assertiveness and, paradoxically, also nuance.
The first approach was…
India’s newfound assertiveness is a feature of the great game in South Asia
Taiwan’s election this month, which saw victory for Lai Ching-te, a figure known for his scepticism towards China and support for independence, has been the focus for recent…