In September, ASEAN countries are planning to hold the first-ever joint naval exercise in the Natuna Sea which is an extended part of the South China Sea even though Myanmar and Cambodia have not yet given their assent to participation in the joint drills as they fear the move could rile China, the East Asian country that lays claims over 90% area of this waterbody of the Western Pacific Ocean.
As the wheel of Maldivian politics turns towards another critical juncture, the presidential elections slated for 9 September 2023, the national political landscape is abuzz with anticipations and preparations.
Seventy five years ago they were one, but 52 years ago Bangladesh gained Independence from Pakistan. The contrast in the countries' development couldn’t be more stark.
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.
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?
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.
A “middle-income trap” is looming large for China and this, along with a variety of other factors, may well impede its uplift to a high-income country.
China has gradually, strategically been increasing its influence in the Middle East, through economic engagement such as trade and investment in the region.
The 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit took place against the background of the continuing crisis in Ukraine, and tense relations between China and the USA.
Following Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and China's aggressive response, former Ambassador to India, D. P. Srivastava, reflects on the implications beyond the Asia-Pacific region.
Reflecting on the recent violent upheavels in Sri Lanka, former MEP Jo Leinen asks who’s going to pick up the pieces of failed nations across Asia and Africa and calls on international collaboration in order to shape a democratic world order in a fair, transparent and sustainable way.
The financial crisis of 2008 was preceded by two events. There was a steep hike in oil prices, which touched $ 147 per barrel. There was also a sharp increase in food prices as agricultural land was diverted for the production of bio-ethanol in Brazil and the USA. We might be witnessing a repeat of history argues former Indian Ambassador D.P Srivastava
The last two months have seen a spate of visits by European leaders to Delhi, and by Prime Minister Modi to Germany, Denmark, and France. They showed continued engagement at the highest level argues former Ambassador D.P. Srivastava
There are two weapons that nations can deploy in the fight against a pandemic such as Covid: technology and population management.
How can different environmental and societal approaches to battling the Covid pandemic across Asia be assessed?
A former senior Indian Ambassador offers his perspective on the war in Ukraine.
Jo Leinen, a former Member of the European Parliament from Germany and a member of the EAF advisory board, argues that the causes of the war in Ukraine are both longstanding and fundamental.