-
1 month ago | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
The US needs to realise that global leadership isn’t free. It comes at a price.
-
Nov 8, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
The 2024 BRICS Summit late last month drew attention like no other before. It was an ideal occasion for Russian president Vladimir Putin, Chinese president Xi Jinping and other leaders to promote a vision of a world that the United States does not lead. Four new countries, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia and Egypt participated for the first time.
-
Oct 25, 2024 | 
chinausfocus.com | Sajjad Ashraf
The Philippines coast guard cutter BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of the largest vessels in its coast guard fleet, quietly left Spratly Islands’ Sabina Shoal earlier in September, after months of standoff with the Chinese. The Chinese forces successfully blocked attempts to replenish the ship. This incident is one of many, but highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, as both countries assert sovereignty over the contested area.
-
Oct 22, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
ASEAN’s smallest member Laos hosted the 44th Summit meeting of the organisation earlier in the month. The ASEAN Summit was also an opportunity for the East Asia Summit (EAS) that brings together ASEAN with US, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India and Republic of Korea. China’s President Xi Jinping, Russian President Putin and the US President Joe Biden were the notable absentees. This was a summit shadowed by transitions within the ASEAN.
-
Oct 14, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
Recent Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Summit commonly known as Quad — a grouping of Australia, India Japan and the US marks a coda of sorts for efforts by Biden, who will leave office in January. He worked hard to revive this moribund alliance as an effective tool for these like-minded states to coordinate their policies vis-a-vis China and to some extent Russia.
-
Sep 30, 2024 | 
chinausfocus.com | Sajjad Ashraf
While much of the Western world remains focused on the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts, China shifted its attention to strengthening economic engagement with Africa. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) opened in early September, the first in person meeting post-COVID, and was attended by at least two dozen heads of state or government.
-
Sep 29, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
The Philippines coast guard cutter BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of the largest vessels in its coast guard fleet, left Spratly Island’s Sabina Shaol recently, after months of standoff with the Chinese. Manila deployed the ship to the feature in April after a large amount of crushed coral was discovered there, sparking concern in the Philippines and its allies that China aims to build an artificial island.
-
Sep 23, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
With much of the Western world consumed in military supplies to Ukraine and to Israel, it was China again that stole the spotlight in economic engagement with one of the most deprived regions — Africa. Its latest, Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) which opened in the first week of September — the first in person meeting post COVID was attended by at least two dozen heads of state or government. The event was seen as a barometer of China’s state of relations with Africa.
-
Sep 9, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol, known for his hardline stand over North Korea, in his Liberation Day speech last month, unveiled a renewed reunification plan for the Korean peninsula. While the goal of reunification is part of the South Korean constitution, Yoon plan differs radically from what has been pursued by the previous administrations in Seoul. Earlier governments projected reunification on the basis of trust, reconciliation and cooperation.
-
Aug 26, 2024 | 
gulfnews.com | Sajjad Ashraf
Thailand, which has experienced a series of military takeovers, popular agitations, and political turbulence for nearly two decades, witnessed a rather unusual and orchestrated changeover of governments last week. Interestingly, the Thai voters, who have been advocating for a democratic system, were largely uninvolved in this transition.
