Resilience and deterrence to guide Taiwan’s future

Written by Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy

Strengthening deterrence in the face of growing hostility and new threats is where Taiwan’s leaders and citizens must focus more of their energy, in close cooperation with trusted partners, including the EU.

East Asia9DLOctober 25, 20229DashLine, Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, Resilience and deterrence to guide Taiwan’s future, Double Tenth National Day Celebration, President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan, resilience, deterrence, EU, post-pandemic recovery, climate crisis, economic inequality, authoritarian threat, strategic dependencies, Russia-Ukraine war, PRC, People's Republic of China, democracy protection, democracy promotion, supply chains, Beijing, economic statecraft, Taiwanese independence, Indo-Pacific, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Raphaël Glucksmann, European Parliament, disinformation, transparency, technology, fact-checking mechanisms, media literacy education, people-public-private partnership, #StrongerTogether, democracy, Audrey Tang, COVID-19 pandemic, semiconductors, New Southbound Policy, bilateral relations, Brussels, Resilient Supply Chains Agreement, Supply Chains Resilience Initiative, SCRI, Russia, sanctions, Taipei, Forward Alliance, Enoch Wu

A tall order: Germany’s comprehensive China strategy

Written by Christiane Heidbrink

For the first time in history, the German government is drafting its own China strategy. Although much is still up in the air, it is becoming apparent that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to strike a balance between cooperation and tough-talking.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific9DLOctober 24, 20229DashLine, Christiane Heidbrink, Germany, China, German government, coalition, China strategy, A tall order: Germany’s comprehensive China strategy, systemic rivalry, EU-China policy, German Social Democrats, SPD, Greens, Alliance 90/The Greens, Free Democratic Party, FDP, Sino-German relations, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Green BRI, Belt and Road Initiative, Green Belt and Road Initiative, climate goals, greenwashing, climate action, environmental protection, Scholz administration, Berlin, Beijing, EU Global Gateway Initiative, G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, Supply Chain Law, supply chains, German Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation, Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, 13th Mechanical Engineering Summit, decoupling, diversification, Chinese Dual Circulation Strategy, Indo-Pacific Guidelines, Indo-Pacific, diplomatic efforts, NATO 2022 strategic concept, Jens Plötner, tough-talking

More of the same is not the answer to building influence in the Pacific

Written by Meg Taylor DBE and Soli Middleby

While all nations share an interest in promoting a peaceful, safe, and prosperous region, the independent Pacific states do not necessarily share the same geostrategic perspectives as the large powerful economies of the industrialised West.

Pacific9DLOctober 21, 20229DashLine, More of the same is not the answer to build influence in the Pacific, Meg Taylor, Soli Middleby, Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Pacific interests, geostrategic perspectives, independent Pacific states, West, industrialised West, climate change, non-renewable energy sources, exploration permits, climate adaptation finance, Pacific Resilience Facility, Green Climate Fund, China, sovereignty, Chinese investments, AUKUS, Indo-Pacific strategy, Partners in the Blue Pacific, Indopacific priorities, foreign aid, Western aid paradigm, Chinese-built infrastructure, Asian Development Bank, Papua New Guinea, Japan, United States, India, aid projects, geopolitical competition, Pacific Islands Forum, regional processes, Pacific priorities, Western aid, Chinese aid, aid intermediaries, international organisations, international financial institutions, multinational companies, independent aid agency, Chinese financiers

South Asia must proactively prepare to face climate change

Written by Manali Kumar

South Asian countries would do well to finally set aside their mutual animosities and start developing transnational and regional mechanisms to adapt to climate change and recover from disasters.

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Death penalty in Southeast Asia: Disturbing trends

Written by Susannah Patton

The mixed picture for the death penalty in Southeast Asia, especially in countries where the death penalty is being actively debated, such as Malaysia, suggests that further advocacy by Australia and other like-minded countries would be timely.

Editor's Picks9DLOctober 19, 20229DashLine, Susannah Patton, Death penalty in Southeast Asia: Disturbing trends, Lowy Institute, death penalty, Southeast Asia, myanmar, Junta, Myanmar's junta, Myanmar Junta, execution, Phyo Zayar Thaw, Ko Jimmy, political prisoners, Frontier Myanmar, Cambodia, abolitionist, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Amnesty International, death sentence, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19, Singapore, UN, United Nations, ethnic minorities, justice, Capital Punishment Justice Project, drug, drugs, War on drugs, War on Drugs, Vietnam, prison, international scrutiny, Thailand, de facto abolitionist, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Malaysia, Pakatan Harapan government, Pakatan Harapan, Philippine President Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, indonesia, civil society groups, court, Indonesia’s draft criminal code, criminal, probation, 2017 Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council, UN Human Rights Council, Australia, European Union, EU, Australia’s new Labor government

In Brief: David McAllister MEP

Europe and the Indo-Pacific face increasingly similar challenges in a number of security related areas, such as cyber security, terrorism, organised crime, nuclear security, and non-proliferation. It makes sense to work together more.

In Brief9DLOctober 17, 2022In Brief, 9DashLine, In Brief: David McAllister MEP, Tereza Novotna, European Parliament, European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister, David McAllister MEP, EPP, European People's Party, Germany, Korea, Indo-Pacific, European Union, Russia, Ukraine, Russian aggression, energy crisis, climate change, COVID-19, geostrategic, France, member states, EU Member States, oversea territories, Taiwan Strait, geopolitical, geopolitical competition, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russian war, sanctions, Moscow, cyber security, terrorism, organised crime, nuclear security, Non-proliferation, Indo-Pacific strategy, like-minded partners, ASEAN, European Council, Council of the European Union, Coordinated Maritime Presences, North-Western Indian Ocean, Maritime Area of Interest, Indian Ocean, naval exercises, Djibouti, India, Global Gateway, Europe’s Global Gateway, Global Gateway initiative, Brussels, Taipei, EU-Taiwan dialogue, European Army, Strategic Compass, Rapid Deployment Force, IN BRIEF: DAVID MCALLISTER MEP

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

Samarkand 2022 — the ‘China Dream’ of SCO Summits

Written by Giulia Sciorati

As the SCO opens to other Asian sub-regions and even the African continent, Central Asia risks losing its centrality and becoming a minor geographical area compared to the Gulf or Southeast Asia, where the national interests of SCO member states (and China, above all) are prominent.

Editor's Picks9DLOctober 12, 20229DashLine, Samarkand 2022 — the ‘China Dream’ of SCO Summits, Giulia Sciorati, Samarkand, SCO, SCO Summit, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, China, Russia, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian war, sphere of influence, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Uzbekistan, Eurasian, Samarkand Declaration, non-interference, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xi Jinping, harmonious coexistence of man and nature, bilateral, trilateral, multilateral, multilateralism, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Wang Yi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Narendra Modi, India, SCO member states, observer states, Central Asia, India-China border dispute, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Putin, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19, China-Kazakhstan joint statement, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Sadyr Japarov, Iran, Belarus, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Maldives, Kuwait, UAE, myanmar, the Gulf, North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, economy, China Dream, Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), CSTO, Peacekeeping, peacekeepers, Beijing, Moscow, post-Soviet space

The Milk Tea Alliance — an uphill battle against the authoritarian paradigm

Written by Roger Lee Huang

While the Milk Tea Alliance initially captured the imagination of global audiences, it has thus far been unable to consistently mobilise a critical mass to dislodge their respective authoritarian establishments.

Faultlines9DLOctober 10, 20229DashLine, Roger Lee Huang, The Milk Tea Alliance, an uphill battle against the authoritarian paradigm, Milk Tea Alliance, thailand, China, Facebook, Nancy Pelosi, meme, Netizens, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Protests, Taiwan, Burma, WhatsHappeningIn, Donald Trump, Hindu, Hindu nationalism, CCP, Chinese Communist Party, authoritarianism, democracy, Grey Zone, Grey Zone tactics, single-party state, military exercise, LGBT, LGBT+, WorldPride, InterPride, Thailand, repression, protests, Parinya Cheewinkulpathom, pro-democracy, monarchy, National Security Law, COVID-19, John Lee, Hong Kong extradition bill, media freedom, Social Media, Myanmar, coup, junta, Ko Jimmy, Phyo Zeya Thaw, activists, democratisation, Macquarie University, solidarity, The Milk Tea Alliance — an uphill battle against the authoritarian paradigm, Pelosi, netizens, #MilkTeaAlliance, Trump, LGBTIQ, COVID, Democratic Progressive Party

Japan-Russia relations: Stronger stance needed on energy imports

Written by James DJ Brown

The Kishida administration’s record since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is impressive, especially compared to Abe’s pandering to Putin. Yet Japan needs to go one step further by rapidly cutting imports of Russian gas.

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Why factional politics might no longer matter in China

Written by Jabin T. Jacob

Under these circumstances, what will be worth watching is the composition of the Politburo Standing Committee for clues on what Xi’s policy directions for the next five years of his rule are going to be.

East Asia9DLOctober 6, 20229DashLine, Jabin T. Jacob, Jabin Jacob, Why factional politics might no longer matter in China, China, factional politics, authoritarian, authoritarianism, authoritarian rule, regime collapse, Chinese Party, Chinese Party-state, security, defence, Communist Party of China (CPC), Communist Party of China, CPC, Chinese Communist Party, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), CCP, Xi Jingping, Xi Jinping, Xi, Xi Jinping Thought, corruption, loyalist, Surveillance, surveillance, CPC General Secretary, General Secretary, coup, military coup, Mark Twain, PRC, People’s Republic of China, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Hu Yaobang, Zhao Ziyang, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Mao, Mao Zedong, economy, globalisation, Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen Square massacre, 1989, core leader, one-party authoritarian state, Jiang Zemin’s Shanghai faction, Shanghai faction, laissez-faire capitalism, crony capitalism, Communist Youth League faction, Communist Youth League, Marxism-Leninism, Politburo Standing Committee, Tibet Autonomous Region, Liaoning, 20th Party Congress, WHY FACTIONAL POLITICS MIGHT NO LONGER MATTER IN CHINA

In Conversation with Ali Wyne

This month we enjoy a fascinating conversation with Ali Wyne where we discuss his new book America's Great Power Opportunity: Revitalizing U.S. Foreign Policy to Meet the Challenges of Strategic Competition.

Announcing our new Managing Editor: Dr Eva Seiwert

We are delighted to announce that former Associate Editor Dr Eva Seiwert will now serve as our new Managing Editor and help lead the work of our growing editorial team.

News9DLSeptember 30, 2022EVA SEIWERT, 9DASHLINE, Managing Editor, Manali Kumar

Slowing the escalatory spiral over Taiwan

Written by Amanda Hsiao and Ivy Kwek

A long-lasting solution on Taiwan will be difficult to realise anytime soon. However, avoiding miscalculation and slowing the escalatory spiral that the parties are currently engaged in are achievable outcomes that Taipei, Washington, and Beijing should prioritise.

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See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil — China’s reaction to the OHCHR’s Xinjiang report

Written by David O’Brien

In the run-up to next month’s key National Party Congress meeting when Xi Jinping will almost certainly extend his rule, possibly for the rest of his life, there can be no criticism, no focus on what is happening, no words to be spoken.

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Water security: What China's hydro plan to secure Tibetan water resources means for its neighbours

Written by Fabrizia Candido

For India, the priority should be to maintain an open channel of communication and data sharing, while pushing for a water-sharing treaty between China and other South Asian neighbours, like Bangladesh.

The Taliban don’t know what to do — Afghanistan’s challenges

Written by Tim Foxley

A collapse back into civil war is not inevitable, but the Taliban are clearly struggling to move from an insurgency to a government.

What lies beneath the iceberg, delving deeper into #GotaGoHome

Written by Nathasha Fernando

Wickremesinghe is therefore in a clear dilemma as he is not only expected to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for a sovereign debt bailout, debt restructuring, and economic recovery plan but to also appease Sri Lanka’s minorities and their broader calls for accountability.