Asia
You name it! Are country name changes necessary?
From Turkey to Türkiye, Czech Republic to Czechia, FYROM to North Macedonia, and potentially India to Bharat, countries changing names, or at least considering it, seems to be on…
Israel-Hamas: A globalised conflict
The atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and the war in Gaza that followed caught much of the world off guard. Most governments appeared surprised both by the…
Can Vietnam and Cambodia build a lasting peace?
Cambodia’s new Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet paid his first visit to Vietnam in December with the goal of promoting “the traditional friendship and comprehensive…
In defence of Aung San Suu Kyi
On 18 October 2023, the Brighton and Hove City Council in the United Kingdom revoked the Freedom of the City awarded to Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011. Their special…
China has a fifth station in Antarctica
China’s new Antarctic station, Qinling, has been greeted with alarm in several recent articles. Some concern and watchfulness is warranted, but strategic panic is not. Given the…
What younger voters in India think about the country’s foreign policy
In India’s election this year, younger voters aged 18-35 will comprise the largest voting bloc, in what is expected to amount to the highest youth participation ever. Reaching…
Open for business: North Korea welcomes back visitors
After three years of pandemic lockdowns, North Korea is reopening its doors to foreigners. The welcome mat was put out in March 2023, when the country welcomed new Chinese…
Prabowo’s challenge: Cabinet continuity
Indonesia’s unofficial election result put the Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka ticket ahead sufficiently to avoid a second-round showdown in the presidential race. Yet…
Japan in the shadow of China
On a trip to Japan last month, I was struck by the surreal combination of stubborn continuity and laboured change. Compared to all major Asian capitals, Tokyo seems broadly…
Curbing foreign voices continues as India’s election looms
As India gears up for its next general elections to be held in April and May, a concerning trend of curbing foreign voices has emerged, reflecting a broader erosion of democratic…