Is China's bark worse than its bite? China’s efforts to punish Australia through economic coercion appear to have failed. The trade ban Beijing imposed three years ago did not affect Australia much. This Insight examines the impact of China's trade ban with Australia and the current state of play of relations between the two countries.
As tensions in the region ratchet up, the USA and China continue their "transit diplomacy" with matching high level visits doing nothing to ease the situation.
China and India are not only very powerful global powers, they are also neighbours and have a lot to learn from each other.
Whilst the country is facing an acute economic crisis, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has increased its terror attacks in the country, with a vow to take control of its tribal areas and give them autonomy.
In January, China announced for the first time, a decline in its population. What does this "demographic retreat" mean for China, its economy and geopolitics in the region and beyond?
The Indo-Pacific region is turning out to become amongst the areas where China’s assertive behaviour is expected to play out in its full capacity. In its attempt to legitimize its dominance, Beijing has already begun shaping its strategy by generating territorial disputes that have resulted in many of its neighbours reassessing their stances with respect to their bilateral relations with China.
Despite strong resistance, the military junta are still in control in Myanmar two years after the coup d’état when it took over. With support from China, both diplomatically and militarily, Myanmar has a very strong ally at its side.
Taiwan's application to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a significant commercial partnership made up of 11 nations, has been blocked by China. Canada, and other countries, could be powerful proponents for Taiwan but so far they've resisted pushing for Taiwan's inclusion in the bloc.
In the discussions around climate change, remoter areas are too often sidelined. Focus of global initiatives, as well as funding should seek to address the specific issues of these areas such as the growing emergency in the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau.
India takes over the Presidency of the G20 (Group of 20) countries, one of the most consequential amongst current day multilateral bodies, on December 1. This decisively signals the emergence of India as a significant player on the global scene.
Pakistan has become a playground for geo-politics and continues to be so even while its economy is faltering and people are battling disease and hunger after unprecedented floods.
This year, India and the EU celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations. Since 2005, India has been a strategic partner of the EU. In 2007, India and the EU opened negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement but this was put on hold in 2013 as no real progress was made. Can new negotiations deliver what proved to be impossible 9 years ago?