Category Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific, Policy & Politics

The Silent Parallels of US-China Rivalry: A Clash of Power, Not Models

April 4, 2025

Despite stark contrasts—if not outright opposition—between modern China and the United States, subtle yet undeniable parallels have emerged across society, economy, and politics. These similarities are shaped by mutual influences and shared challenges, even as the two nations remain locked…

Asia Pacific, Security & Conflict

In the Shadow of Giants: Assessing the Strategic Ambitions and Political Implications of the Chinese Aircraft Carrier

March 11, 2025

Having lived through an era of carrier-enabled US naval domination of the high seas for decades, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been relentlessly bolstering its naval capability in defense of its most critical national interests. In the maritime…

Asia Pacific, Economics

The Symbiotic Genesis: Investigating the Intricate Relationship Between South Korea’s Development Plans of the 1970s and the Current Semiconductor Industry Policy

November 27, 2024

This research is framed to explore the relationship between Korea’s current semiconductor industry policies and historical industrial policies. Broadly, it also examines how current government industrial policies align with or diverge from these historical strategies. This article aims to understand…

Asia Pacific, International Development

Human Rights, Inequality, and Public Health: An Integrated Approach

November 20, 2024

Extreme and growing material inequalities are a quintessential concern among scholars, particularly within international relations, global governance, and global public health, and they are increasingly recognized as urgent issues by policymakers and activists alike. Socio-economic inequality not only undermines health…

Asia Pacific, Security & Conflict

From Balochistan to Beyond: How Iran emerged as a Senior Partner to Pakistan

November 6, 2024

As news of Iran centers on the Gaza conflict’s spillover, and news regarding Pakistan revolves around its ongoing strikes against TTP militants on their Afghan border, the tit-for-tat strikes on January 16, 2024, and brief tension between Iran & Pakistan…

Asia Pacific, Policy & Politics

Geopolitics and Revolution: The Superpower Nexus Behind Hasina’s Rule and the Future of Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy

October 24, 2024

On August 5, 2024, Bangladesh experienced a pivotal moment in its political history. After 16 years of authoritarian rule, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country following a student-led revolution[1]. Her departure marked the end of a regime that had…

Asia Pacific, Security & Conflict

The Dual-Use Nature of Space Launch Vehicles and Ballistic Missiles and the Complexities

October 17, 2024

Space Launch Vehicles (SLVs) are gaining prominence, even among developing states, as a means of exerting greater influence and leverage in space. These technologies not only add to a state’s technological prowess, contributing to its power and prestige, but also…

Asia Pacific, International Development

Rethinking Urban Employment Guarantees in India

September 27, 2024

As India becomes more urbanized, there will be significantly higher demand for public services and welfare support in urban areas. There is a need to extend income and consumption support schemes, similar to the flagship rural employment scheme (MNREGA), into…

Asia Pacific, Policy & Politics

China’s Strategic Ambiguity on Taiwan

April 21, 2024

In recent years, Beijing has escalated its bellicosity towards Taipei—not least when it launched a large-scale military blockade and imposed various economic sanctions after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in 2022. This trend of heightened Chinese…

Asia Pacific, Economics, Policy & Politics

In Hindsight: Evaluating the Complex Legacy of China’s WTO Accession

March 8, 2024

In the 1980s, a growing amicability in US-China economic relations began to emerge despite ongoing political tensions. Policymakers in both countries concentrated their efforts on formalizing trade relations, with the declaration of China’s Most Favored Nation status in the 1990s…

Asia Pacific, Economics

Unlocking BIMSTEC’s Potential: Successes, Challenges and the Road Ahead

February 28, 2024

In an era marked by unprecedented global connectivity and interdependence—regional collaborations, especially those structured around institutions, play a pivotal role in shaping the geopolitical and geo-economic landscape. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) stands…

Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Security & Conflict

WHAT IS ‘STRATEGIC COMPETITION’ AND ARE WE STILL IN IT?

February 2, 2024

The last two (Trump and Biden) US national security strategies have claimed that the United States is in ‘strategic competition’ (a.k.a., ‘Great Power Competition’) with the autocracies of Russia and the People’s Republic of China. What does the term mean?…