Asia
Will Pakistan’s CPEC dream turn into a nightmare?
China’s huge infrastructure investments as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have the potential to change the strategic dynamics of the entire region. The BRI’s “flagship…
Trump–Kim summit: negotiating weakness
Among many Asia watchers, there is a clear sense of disappointment with the Trump–Kim summit in Singapore on Tuesday.
The deal is light on detail. Donald Trump got less from Kim…
Trump–Kim summit: Moon’s conflicted achievement
North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un scored a huge diplomatic victory on Tuesday when he finally got the chance to hold a summit with US President Donald Trump, a feat his…
“Gunfights” in Bangladesh
In the past three weeks, no fewer than 130 people have died in what Bangladesh’s security forces have described as “gunfights”. The police and other forces, such as the Rapid…
The Supreme Leader and his bodyguards
The Singapore summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump has all the drama of a Hollywood production, including glimpses the world is getting of the entourage travelling…
Trump-Kim summit: history happens
The handshake lasted 12 seconds, body language experts tell us. That’s not quite the full minute Donald Trump had predicted it would take him to judge whether Kim Jong-un was…
Trump–Kim: an agenda for forgotten nuclear victims
Like most Korea observers, in the lead-up to the Trump–Kim summit I have been inundated with questions from journalists and friends alike. Does Kim Jong-un have any actual…
A new path to dispute settlement
On 9 May, the United Nations Conciliation Commission (UNCC) concerning the Timor Sea dispute between Timor-Leste and Australia released its final report. This was the first…
A primer for the Trump–Kim summit
Barely six months ago, Australia’s debate on North Korea featured Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speculating about invoking the ANZUS treaty in case of war, and discussion on…
Cambodia: the unfree press
The Cambodian government has continued tightening the screws on its already crippled free press, introducing severe prohibitions on election reporting ahead of the ballot in July,…