South East Asia

‘A New World Order’? The Iran-Russia-China Axis During the Biden Administration

The Biden Administration has created a vacuum of leadership on the global stage. If the US further pulls out of Asia, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Ukraine, Latin America — anywhere — the vacuum created will surely be filled by the new axis of China-Russia-Iran. A US pull-out is, most …

Read More »

America and China Need to Talk

A Lack of Dialogue, Visits, and Exchanges Is Raising the Risk of Conflict Relations between the United States and China have fallen to their darkest depths since the early 1970s, when U.S. President Richard Nixon met with Chinese leader Mao Zedong (and Nixon’s national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, met with …

Read More »

China’s CICC plans UAE, Saudi expansion as Xi builds Middle East ties

CICC has about five to six people in its Middle East offices serving the entire region with a mix of Chinese and regional staff. China International Capital Corporation (CICC) plans to expand its reach in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, as China’s ties with the Middle East …

Read More »

Riyadh’s Motivations Behind the Saudi-Iran Deal

On March 10, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China issued a joint statement announcing an agreement to resume diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran. After seven years of military and diplomatic hostility, the two Gulf powers agreed to work toward resolving their disagreements based on a set of international rules and …

Read More »

The Potential Inroads and Pitfalls of China’s Foray Into Middle East Diplomacy

China’s mediation of the Saudi-Iran normalization agreement signals a potential break from its long-standing policy of keeping to a minimal and economically oriented regional footprint. By successfully bringing two of the Middle East’s bitterest rivals to the negotiation table, China aims to build credibility as a capable partner in a …

Read More »

Macron In China, Might Tip Odds In Ukraine Favor

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on a visit signaling France’s intent to revive dialogue with China. Macaron was due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. The visit is widely seen as an opportunity to change the course of the Russian war in Ukraine, especially since …

Read More »

G-20 summit in Delhi – legacy of the colonial `durbar’ of 1877, when a teenager composed a poem against its pomposity

New Delhi today sits at the centre of the global summit called G-20 – hosting VIPs from different parts of the world in the midst of pompous demonstrations of Prime Minister Modi’s suzerainty over India, and outreach beyond its borders. Coming down to brass tacks, G-20 is an exclusive club …

Read More »

The X-Factor in Super-Power Rivalry

Four well-known facts about super-power rivalry make it extremely dangerous; at the same time there is an X factor that can increase the danger much more, take it to an entirely new and high level. First let us briefly mention the four well-known facts. Superpower rivalry has become much worse …

Read More »

China settles first LNG trade in yuan with UAE deal

China has held several discussions with countries in the Middle East and North Africa about conducting trade using its local currency. The United Arab Emirates was part of a historical transaction carried out on China’s national energy trade platform this week. What happened: China conducted the first ever yuan-settled energy …

Read More »

Xi-Putin Meeting Amidst China’s Ukraine Dilemma – Analysis

Much has been written about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent three-day state visit to Russia from 20th to 22nd of March. Globally, the high-profile visit was interpreted as China’s drive for a new global order, as well as Russia’s willingness to play the “second fiddle” or “junior partner” in its …

Read More »