In The News

Who Lost Hong Kong on June 30? Japan Times

Kuni Miyake July 6, 2020
Impatient after a year of massive protests, China enacted a national security law for Hong Kong on June 30 with vigorous enforcement. “That was the day when the long-eroding fiction of ‘One country, two systems’ finally disappeared in Hong Kong,” writes Kuni Miyake for the Japan Times. While multiple players contributed to Hong Kong’s plight, the author concludes that Xi is largely responsible...

UK Collision Course With China: Bloomberg

Alan Crawford June 4, 2020
The United Kingdom stands up to China on multiple fronts even while negotiating Brexit. “Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has criticized Beijing’s planned imposition of a security law on the former British territory of Hong Kong, and is taking steps to exclude Huawei from its fifth-generation mobile networks by lining up potential replacements,” reports Alan Crawford for Bloomberg. The...

Tribes Dream of a United Nagaland: Al Jazeera

April 30, 2020
Borders drawn by British colonialists for Myanmar and India divided indigenous peoples with long histories in the region. Though checkpoints and mountains divide the two nations, Naga tribes still talk about uniting the 3 million people living in India with the 400,000 in north Myanmar, one of that country’s poorest regions. The tribes, more fragmented over the years, also differ over rebel...

EU and US Disagree in Munich: Washington Post

Michael Birnbaum, John Hudson and Loveday Morris February 24, 2020
The annual Munich Security Conference exposed widening disagreements between the United States and Europe in terms of foreign policies, tariffs, national defense and more. This conference’s theme of “Westlessness” shows the concern of some political elites over a multipolar world as China and Russia gain power. Western rules-based international order remains the best option for the ensuring...

President Tsai Reelected: Taiwan News

Keoni Everington January 14, 2020
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was reelected in a landslide victory with 57 percent of the vote. The economy and excessive Chinese control were top issues. China had cut off contact with the Tsai government; protests disrupting Kong since June also troubled Taiwanese voters. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told the media Sunday (Jan. 12) that officials from more than 60 countries had...

Regime-Change Merchants: South China Morning Post

Teddy Ng December 12, 2019
Candidates who support democratic rights for Hong Kong swept district elections in November, and protesters continue to remind the government about their expectations. More than 800,000 marched on December 8. China wants to bring Hong Kong under its control and blames foreign interference, with diplomats expressing frustration. The Chinese vice foreign minister spoke at a human rights forum: “...

Scarborough Shoal: Rappler

Jose Antonio A. Custodio November 14, 2019
China has repeatedly harassed foreign ships in the South China Sea. “The harassment of the Liberian registered tanker the Green Aura by Chinese naval and coast guard elements off Scarborough Shoal has generated a huge amount of debate and discussion, especially with regard to the manner in which the Duterte administration attempted to sweep it under the rug,” reports Rappler. “The man of the hour...