In Iran and North Korea, China Holds Some Cards

In Iran and North Korea, China Holds Some Cards

Donald Trump made his television reputation by telling people “You’re fired.” The same bullying approach now substitutes for his international diplomacy, with Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran and cancelation of the summit with North Korea the latest examples. In both cases, Trump is convinced that “maximum pressure” will eventually bring those countries’…

The Latest Maneuvers in the Sino-American Game in South East Asia

The Latest Maneuvers in the Sino-American Game in South East Asia

The South East Asian sub-region (SEA) remains an important link in the chain of direct as well as indirect “conflict zones”, beginning on the Korean Peninsula and ending at the entrance to the Strait of Malacca, in the Sino-American standoff. There is no scoring system to keep track of “goals, points, seconds” that could be…

China’s Investment Trap has Become a Major Concern in Central Asia

China’s Investment Trap has Become a Major Concern in Central Asia

Perhaps the most curious topic of today’s Central Asian agenda is the growing dependence of local states on Chinese loans, which would often be referred to in regional media sources as “means of neocolonialism.” In recent years, China has visibly stepped up its involvement in the affairs of Central Asia states, taking advantage of both…

Will Russia’s “Energy Diplomacy” Help Vietnam and China Make a Deal?

Will Russia’s “Energy Diplomacy” Help Vietnam and China Make a Deal?

Rosneft is drilling for oil off the South China Sea coast of Vietnam in an area claimed by China. The Russian energy giant is involved in the Lan Do oilfield that narrowly sits within the southwestern border of China’s nine-dash-line but is apparently regarded by the company as being under Vietnam’s de-facto sovereignty. China officially…