The Geopolitics of China’s Digital Silk Road
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the greatest infrastructure project in the world, has a component called the Digital Silk Road that intends to increase digital connectivity and collaboration among the participating countries.
Established in 2015, it spans a variety of industries including satellite navigation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, e-commerce, and telecommunications, stretching Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The Digital Silk Road is motivated by China’s desire to open new markets as well as to shift the global digital order away from the United States.
The Arctic Region: A New Frontier for Geostrategic Competition
The Arctic region is witnessing a surge in geostrategic competition. It has attracted the attention of several key players, each with their own interests and motivations. Russia, for example, sees the Arctic as a strategic area for resource extraction and military dominance. Meanwhile, the United States is concerned about maintaining its influence in the region in the midst of China’s increasing economic and strategic involvement. The competing interests of these nations are shaping the geostrategic competition in the Arctic and have the potential to impact global dynamics.
The New Global World Order: Aging Gracefully
The end of the Cold War marked the beginning of American exceptionalism, as we know it now. The three decades following the fall of the Berlin Wall witnessed the capricious acts of the US, from its unilateral wars to blatant violations of other international rules and norms.
However, since the 2007 economic meltdown, the doctrine of American exceptionalism has faced decadence as has the economic growth of the country. Meanwhile, other factors, such as the rise of China, the resurgence of Russia, and the nuclear proliferation of other countries kept on playing their fair share in bringing the world to a multipolar environment.
Armed Coexistence: The Dynamics of Intractable Sino-Indian Border Dispute
By applying neoclassical realism to the China-India border conflict, Stephen P. Westcott sets out on a path to provide a clear understanding of the issue. In his book “Armed Coexistence: The Dynamics of Intractable Sino-Indian Border Dispute,” he analyzes the two neighboring states’ approach to conflict resolution.
Rather than escalating tensions or seeking a compromise, both China and India tenaciously cling to the status quo. Their persistence to uphold the status quo has ensured that the Sino-Indian conflict remains unresolved, despite periodic border clashes and numerous rounds of negotiations.
The World’s Power Distribution from Pax Americana to Asianization: A New Geopolitical Landscape
A multipolar world could hardly be considered elusive, given the intensity of the geopolitical currents.
And while the US is still standing tall, for how long will it be able to do so with China taking the lead in global affairs?
The US would eventually be forced to take extreme action or risk losing its status as a global power and becoming irrelevant as the world moves to multipolarity.
The China-Central Asia Summit: A Signifier of Russia’s Declining Influence?
The first China-Central Asia Summit, hosted in Xi’an, has revealed a new regional dynamic in Central Asia. Aamir Junaid describes China’s strategic positioning in Central Asia amidst the declining influence of Russia in the region.
While Russia’s credibility as a security provider has waned due to the war in Ukraine, China has emerged as a reliable security partner for the former Soviet Republics.
Despite the economic challenges and Sinophobia in the region, the Xi’an Summit has provided insights into China’s quest to become the preferred partner for Central Asia.
Losing My Mine-d: The Dubious Cases of Reko Diq, Saindak, & Khewra
Blessed with copious amounts of natural resources, Pakistan presents perhaps one of the worst cases of resource management in South Asia. Sarmad Ishfaq assesses how mismanagement, obscured policies and agreements, and corruption have undermined the potential of the Khewra Salt Mines, Reko Diq, and the Saindak Copper-Gold Mine. Additionally, the absence of a regulatory framework, especially concerning the Himalayan salt trade, has facilitated illegal practices and unsustainable resource exploitation, ultimately harming Pakistan’s economy.
A Rising China: Contender to US Supremacy
Ayesha Zahoor contemplates the rise of the East, particularly China, and its potential to supersede the United States. The shifting global balance of power coincides perfectly with the diminishing authority of the US and the burgeoning influence of China worldwide. While the American policies of interventionism have cultivated distrust and skepticism among its allies, China’s economic prowess, and reliability in every sector have drawn states towards it.
What Does a Stable Afghanistan Mean for China?
Despite being an underdeveloped country, Afghanistan seems to have gained China’s attention. China desires a stable Afghanistan so that it can safeguard its national and cross-border security.
Moreover, China needs to have stability in its landlocked neighbor so that it can further its economic expansion.
Muhammad Shaheer Mahmood sheds light on the importance of stability in Afghanistan for China and China’s attempts to make sure that it enjoys a stable neighborhood.
The Washington Declaration: Revisiting the US-South Korean Security Commitment
The Washington Declaration is the name given to the very recent revised commitment between South Korea and the US on the 27th of April, 2023.
The declaration seeks to reinforce the US-South Korean alliance for the security interests of both in the region.
The US’s antagonism towards Chinese influence and South Korea’s uneasiness with North Korea’s nuclear expansion and missile capabilities have forced both of them to establish a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to strengthen deterrence against North Korea.
Questioning the Sovereignty of the Baltic States
France, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were outraged that China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, would question the sovereignty of Ukraine and all former Soviet Republics, including the Baltic republics.
Mr Lu’s statements have crumbled the confidence in China to serve as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, his remarks imply that the former Soviet Union nations lack legal standing in the eyes of the international community.
Waning US Hegemony, De-Dollarization, & the Incoming War with China
With the US’s foreign policy failures, its domestic rifts, and the China-led de-dollarization initiative, the current global landscape finds itself in a state of upheaval.
Sarmad Ishfaq explains that the steady decline of the US’s hegemony and the simultaneous rise of China will lead to an imminent conflict between the two, resulting in the US’s demise and the birth of a new world order.
Is TikTok China’s Weapon for Intellectual Warfare?
TikTok’s origins can be traced back to Vine and Musical.ly, but is the app more sinister than people realize?
The US certainly seems to think so.
Citing security risks, the US has introduced two bills: the ‘Deterring America’s Technological Adversaries’ (DATA) Act and the ‘Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology’ (RESTRICT) Act.
It is believed that TikTok is part of China’s larger plan of brain warfare which includes everything from misinformation operations to contemporary weaponry that can target cognitive ability.
The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
Published in 2009, “The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century”, by George Friedman offers a long-term projection for the world in the current century. These projections are based on historical trends and geopolitical analysis.
The book is a forecast for the 21st century, and a thought-provoking examination of the current geopolitical environment.
The author makes the bold claim that while the two devastating world wars characterized the 20th century, a new set of opportunities and challenges will define the current one.
The Troubled Waters of River Brahmaputra
Hafiz Mohsin Nadeem believes it is critical to comprehend the physical and environmental characteristics of the Brahmaputra river in order to fully understand the water dispute and potential conflict among multiple nations, particularly India and China.
With China focusing its efforts on the growth of hydropower, India is concerned that water may soon become China’s geopolitical weapon in the Sino-Indian disputes.
Pakistan–India Adversarial Relations: Instability for South Asia
Even with both Pakistan and India being nuclear weapon states, strategic stability in South Asia is under constant stress.
Brig. Syed Mushtaq Ahmed (R) discusses how the US is continually supporting India, to control China’s influence in the region. This means the Indians are ramping up their military capacities – and Pakistan then has to reciprocate.
He goes on to explore regional and global dynamics, and then offers viable policies for Pakistan and India, to work towards the much-needed regional economic cooperation.
Honduras and Taiwan Part Ways
On 26th March, Honduras formally announced the recognition of the ‘One-China policy’ thus severing ties with Taiwan.
China and Honduras have now decided to establish diplomatic relations.
Maryam Jilani shares the history between Honduras and Taiwan as well as China’s growing influence.
