Historically it is the competition for land that provokes tensions between the states, over time the world has seen this shift towards the blue territories as Kaplan calls it. Two explanations for the same could be economic mercantile trade and the dynamic shift of attention from Eurasia to East Asia which is largely maritime. Kaplan says that seas can act as a seed or a dodger in creating tensions and even invasions. However, the likelihood is quite tilted towards aggression.
Category: Asia-Pacific
How can China Respond to Trump’s New China Policy?
During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese goods and services coming to the United States. This time, Beijing seems already strategising to retaliate against the upcoming tariffs from the second Trump administration. Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese imports could disrupt China’s export-driven economic model, which has driven the country’s growth over the past few decades.
From Secular Promises to Islamist Alignments: The Evolution of Bangladesh’s Political Landscape
For days now, Indians have watched with bated breath as the violence in Bangladesh unfolds with the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Concerns run deep about the attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus as well as for the potential hijacking by Islamist groups and a renewed accession to power. Fifty years ago, a poet by the name of Daud Haider was arrested by the then government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, tortured in custody, and then sent into exile.
China’s Mercenaries in Pakistan: Economic Promises vs. Sovereignty Costs
China’s growing involvement in Pakistan’s security, especially with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), represents a significant strategic shift that deserves a closer look. This shift occurs as Islamabad grapples with internal unrest, particularly in Balochistan, while Beijing focuses on safeguarding its economic interests. As regional stability and sovereignty issues become increasingly crucial, understanding this evolving dynamic is essential for academics and policymakers. CPEC, launched as a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is valued at roughly $62 billion (Caskey, 2024).
Bangladesh on the Brink: Ripple Effects on India’s Strategic Horizon
The resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has thrown Bangladesh into a political turmoil, casting a long shadow over the future of Indo-Bangladesh relations. With Hasina currently in India, seeking asylum in countries like the UAE and Finland after her request to the UK was rejected, the future trajectory of Bangladesh—and its impact on India—has come sharply into focus. The ongoing crisis, marked by unprecedented instability, carries significant implications for India’s strategic landscape, particularly in terms of security, economic ties, and geopolitical alliances. India must assess these challenges and develop strategic responses to safeguard its interests.
This is what Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Looks Like
Bangladesh’s complex history, marked by its struggle for independence from Pakistan in 1971, provides a backdrop to the current turmoil. While the United States played a role during that period, the recent protests are driven by domestic issues such as the quota system, police brutality, and economic challenges. The recent turmoil in the country has been multifaceted, with several factors contributing to the ongoing crisis.
Epidemic of Exam Leaks: South Asia’s Education Under Siege
In a shocking turn of events, an investigation done by a team of journalists for six years has shown that more than 30 government jobs and academic board exams in Bangladesh including question papers of the nation’s most competitive exams like Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) have been leaked for over “a decade”. These incidents of paper leaks are spreading like a contagious epidemic in South Asia’s education system. Paper leaks where exam question papers are disclosed before the scheduled date have become a common phenomenon that disrupts the integrity of individual academic assessments.
Emergence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Beyond
There was a time in the year 1979, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, at that moment both Pakistan and the US considered Afghanistan as a region to safeguard their interest. When Afghanistan was having wars with Pakistan it didn’t bother Pakistan much as it was aware of US funding to Pakistan but today the scenario has changed, post US withdrawal from the region Pakistan is left to deal with terror outfits in Afghanistan all alone. Pakistan has a long-shared bond with TTP as TTP is Pakistani militants from Pakistan, TTP experienced a strong comeback in 2020 after the Afghan peace deal with the US. Afghan Taliban and TTP share deep ideological roots.
Dragon Breathes Fire at Shangri-La: China’s Approach to Global Security
The Shangri-La Dialogue, held in Singapore from May 31 to June 2, 2024, is a prominent annual forum that brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, and security experts from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a leading think tank on international affairs, the event provides a platform for high-level discussions on pressing regional security issues. This year’s dialogue was particularly significant, as it took place against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and the evolving global security landscape.
Xi’s European Tour: Global Power Shifts and India’s Challenge
In these changing times, where every nation is trying to recalibrate its position according to its interests and the shifting power balances President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, Hungary, and Serbia has garnered observers of international politics their inquisitive seats of analysis. This comes when multiple conflictual clashes are building around the globe. The more than two-year war in Ukraine, the result of which seems to be elusive to the site, the Israeli siege of Gaza and its spillover effects in the region and the covert build-up of tensions between Israel and Iran distorting the current power status quo.