The yen's fluctuation and its geopolitical ripple effects: A new normal in Indo-Pacific

Written by Dr Seohee Park

Beyond its borders, the yen’s fluctuations have sent ripples throughout the Indo-Pacific region. As regional economies are also influenced by the yen’s depreciation, the spectre of competitive devaluations looms large.

In conversation with Dr T.V. Paul

9DASHLINE recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr T.V. Paul about his latest book: The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi.

This book explores India's successes and constraints since its independence in 1947, analysing the motivations of its leaders and the benchmarks for global status.

In Conversation9DLSeptember 19, 2024TV Paul, 9DASHLINE, The Unfinished Quest, India's Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi, independence in 1947, global status, great power status, Indo-Pacific region, swing power, China-India rivalry, Xi and Modi, Sino-Indian relations, 4, 056-kilometer border, BRICS grouping, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), East Asia, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Bandung meeting, United Nations, Himalayan borders, 1962 war, Indira Gandhi, Pakistan, China ], South Asia, US-led war in Afghanistan, Meiji restoration, China and Japan, Jiang Zemin, Deng Xiaoping, Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping, balance of power, mid-21st century., COVID-19 pandemic, Covid outbreak in 2020, Maldives, Bangladesh, third force, Washington, South China Sea, Hindu nationalism, BJP, Hindu Rashtra, Naval buildup, Muslims, identity politics, BRI, aspirational power, rising power, In conversation with Dr T.V. Paul

In Conversation with Dr Elvin Ong

9DASHLINE recently sat down with Dr Elvin Ong to discuss his new book Opposing Power: Building Opposition Alliances in Electoral Autocracies. This insightful study of East and Southeast Asian electoral autocracies from 1965 to 2020 illustrates why and how opposition parties build alliances to fight autocratic incumbents, and under which conditions they don’t.

In Conversation9DLMarch 2, 20239dashline, In Conversation with Elvin Ong, Elvin Ong, Dr Elvin Ong, opposition alliances, electoral autocracies, electoral autocracy, East Asia, Southeast Asia, opposition parties, autocratic incumbents, electoral campaigns, elections, opposition victory, regime vulnerability, mutual dependency, strategic actors, internal regime splits, opposition party leaders, alliance building, Philippines, Salvador Laurel, Corazon Aquino, ideology, religion, opposition candidates, Marcos regime, public protests, US, South Korea, Roh Tae Woo, Kim Dae Jung, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, ruling party, Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim, Thailand, Prayuth Chan-ocha, United Thai Nation Party, Palang Pracharath Party, Bhumjaithai Party, Pheu Thai Party, Thaksin Shinawatra, opinion polls

A domestic audience for a global spotlight: Indonesia’s G20 presidency and the Bali Summit

Written by Radityo Dharmaputra and Demas Nauvarian

The Global South can play an essential role as the host of a peace forum after the G20 Summit, and Indonesia — following its historical role in the Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement — can be the initiator of such a forum.

Editor's Picks9DLNovember 15, 20229DashLine, A domestic audience for a global spotlight: Indonesia’s G20 presidency and the Bali Summit, Radityo Dharmaputra, Demas Nauvarian, Indonesia, G20, Bali Summit, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), ASEAN, MIKTA, BRICS, Mexico, South Korea, Turkey, Australia, post-pandemic recovery, global health, energy transition, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Global South, Bandung Conference, Non-Aligned Movement, Lowy Institute, Megawati Sukarnoputri, PDI-P, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Demokrat, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, Kyiv, Moscow, Evan Laksmana, former President Yudhoyono, UN, G7 Summit, East Asia, economic growth, food crisis, energy crisis, economic recession, geopolitics, UN General Assembly, grain initiative, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, middle-power, Multilateralism, peace

Western Indian Ocean: The missing piece in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy

Written by Rushali Saha

The Biden administration’s expansion of the geographic definition of the Indo-Pacific to include the entire Indian Ocean, while a positive first step, is merely a symbolic move unless complemented with concrete policy action.

Pacific9DLOctober 13, 20229DASHLINE, Western Indian Ocean: The missing piece in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, RUSHALI SAHA, Indo-Pacific, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa, White House, Biden, Department of Defense, Central Command, Africa, China, US, US-China, Indian Ocean, United States, Cocos Islands, Keeling Islands, Comoros Archipelago, Red Sea, East Africa, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Asia, Middle East, WIO, energy, Washington, USPACOM, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Quad, South Asia, Afghanistan, Gulf Cooperation Council, Djibouti, hydrocarbons, People Liberation Army Navy, Camp Lemonnier, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, Madagascar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, FOIP, France, India, SAGAR, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, IPEF, Maritime Doctrine, Mozambique, Seychelles, Iran, Indian Ocean Commission, UAE, African Union, blue economy, Sagarmala Project, Delhi, Uganda, New Delhi, Modi, Mauritius, Vanilla Islands, Saint-Denis, Reunion Island, Trilateral Development Cooperation Fund, Trump, Sri Lanka, Israel, National Security Strategy, Diplomat Risk Intelligence, South Asian Voices

The ‘virtual maritime gate’ and Indonesia’s new capital

Written by Jefferson Ng

The Makassar Strait is likely to grow in prominence as Indonesia’s new capital emerges as a centre of economic activity alongside Jakarta, and defence policymakers in Indonesia will want to better control the flow of maritime traffic passing through the Strait.

Southeast Asia9DLAugust 17, 2022The ‘virtual maritime gate’ and Indonesia’s new capital, 9DashLine, Jefferson Ng, virtual maritime gate, indonesia, Jakarta, Makassar Strait, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Indonesian Law on the New Capital, undersea detectors, platform buoys, communication systems, ground data terminals, information fusion centre, conventional shipping routes, East Asian markets, Straits of Malacca, foreign naval warships, submarines, Indian Ocean, South China Sea, archipelagic sea lanes passage, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, Balikpapan Bay, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sulu-Celebes Sea, unmanned underwater drones, China, US-China rivalry, unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, maritime traffic, unmanned submersibles, archipelagic state concept, strategic defence, aerial threats, ballistic missile, ballistic missiles, Andi Widjajanto, anti-ship Brahmos missile, gerbang maritim virtual, East Asia, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, UAV, National Resilience Institute, COVID-19, COVID

In Conversation: Ramon Pacheco Pardo on 'Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop'

9DASHLINE recently engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with Dr Ramon Pacheco Pardo about his fascinating new book ‘Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop’, which charts the incredible rise of South Korea, from colonisation and civil war to the thriving nation it is today.

South Korea eyes Europe for its future

Written by Eunwoo Lee

South Korea, whose external engagement has so far revolved around the intractable security stances of the US and China, can surely hedge its security interests by embracing Europe.

Cope North 2022: Deepening security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

Written by Bec Strating

Both the 2022 Cope North exercise and the Tonga example highlight concerns that hard and soft security are not so easily distinguishable.

Canada: The missing AUKUS member

Written by Moez Hayat

Canada’s omission from the AUKUS defence partnership is a missed opportunity for both Washington and Ottawa to leverage their longstanding alliance as relevant powers in the Indo-Pacific.

Ukraine — A wakeup call for the United States

Written by Nicholas Ross Smith

Washington needs to replace its grand strategy with more nuanced strategies that better reflect the evolving power dynamics of the international and regional systems. Without realistic adjustments, the United States and its allies face a difficult future of regional great power competitions in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Maritime monitoring — AIS implications of China’s new data policy

Written by Jamie Withorne

If Beijing categorises AIS as a data type subject to DSL, it should issue a clarification on how it plans to collaborate with the IMO and other international organisations on issues of AIS data.

Shaping China’s ambitions

Written by Michael J. Mazarr

China’s challenge to US power and international norms is very real, but so are its limitations. China is aggressive, but not unreservedly so. It has strong ambitions, but ones that may be amenable shaping and channelling in ways that do not end up threatening vital US interests.

Pacific9DLJanuary 17, 20229DASHLINE, China, US, United States, Cold War, Mearsheimer, Asia, Europe, Britain, Washington, economy, technology, East Asia, expansionist, PRC, hegemony, Nadège Rolland, Timothy Heath, William Thompson, Cuba, Vietnam, RAND Corporation, RAND

Japan’s human rights foreign policy and the Olympic boycott

Written by Felix Kuhn

Whatever the Japanese government ultimately decides, it has already become evident that giving human rights a more prominent place in Japan’s foreign policy will bring significant challenges.

ASEAN on migrant rights: Making process, not progress

Written by Liberty Chee

As Southeast Asia, and indeed most other world regions age, without an increase in public spending on welfare, more and more migrant women will likely be called on for providing caring services.

Assessing the Biden Administration’s policy toward the Indo-Pacific

Written by Jacob Stokes

Biden’s prioritisation of allies and close partners could leave the rest of the region’s states unsure about their role and those of the region’s legacy multilateral institutions, such as ASEAN and the East Asia Summit.

In Conversation: Michael Schuman on his latest book "Superpower Interrupted"

While Xi wishes to change the world order, he has yet to elucidate an attractive and comprehensive vision for an alternative. Xi’s entire conception of foreign affairs is to strip them of values (or at least liberal ones), rendering his worldview vacant of ideas that would woo others.

The UK steps up defence diplomacy in Indo-Pacific

Written by Olli Pekka Suorsa

Unlike the Royal Navy’s much larger destroyers, the OPVs can offer more opportunities for regional engagement, including participation in multinational training and exercises, capacity building activities, and showing flag. After all, ‘showing up’ is the ‘hot currency’ in Southeast Asia.