East Asian Policy

North Korea’s nuclear advancements have not only escalated tensions across the Korean peninsula but also presented significant challenges to broader international security. Pyongyang has remained the primary supplier of weapons to Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine, a dynamic that is described as “the tail wagging the dog”. Should Donald Trump be re-elected and hastily negotiate a nuclear deal with Kim Jong-un, it could potentially heighten the risk of nuclear proliferation in East Asia.

In 2023, South Korea, under President Yoon Suk-yeol, strengthened its alliance with the United States and improved relations with Japan, culminating in the Camp David trilateral summit. However, inter-Korean relations deteriorated, with North Korea adopting a more hostile stance. Domestically, Yoon faced significant challenges, including economic struggles and political gridlock, as the opposition-controlled national assembly blocked major legislative initiatives. The April 2024 national assembly election was crucial for the Yoon administration, weakening its ability to carry out major policy initiatives for much-needed reforms and creating further friction not only with the opposition parties but within his own ruling party.

The Beijing–Pyongyang–Moscow triangle is far from being a new invention. An inherent problem with such a political construct is that each side is pursuing its own ambitions at the expense of others, making it fragile from within. The recent geopolitical reality has summoned the triangle back from the past of the Cold War when it was first formed. But even if the emerging alliance appears to be stable from the outside, the three parties’ different aims and non-cooperative behaviour result in fragility of this construct as it was years ago.

The Japan–New Zealand strategic partnership continues to expand, partly due to their shared interests in the South Pacific region. However, their closer strategic partnership does not imply a complete alignment of their strategic interests, especially in light of the growing strategic competition in the South Pacific region. Perception gap exists as to how Japan and New Zealand would deal with the presence of China in the South Pacific region.

India and the United States lack the “political warfare” strategy that China has employed in many Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) nations. This article examines the occurrences of political warfare in Sri Lanka and Maldives, the two BRI nations, but focusing the discussion on China’s influence in Sri Lanka in five domains. In Sri Lanka, the president has shifted towards a pro-China foreign policy, while in the Maldives, a pro-China regime was installed. Amid the competing environment, despite counter-BRI strategies by India and the West through infrastructure investment, they have not been able to ward off China’s expansion through “political warfare”. This article also explores why political warfare is integral to the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy and the strategic benefits it gains from the strategy.

The dynamics of the 21st century and the regional situation in South Asia require a revisit to the theoretical framework defining Pakistan–China relations. The friendly relations between Pakistan and China can be explored under the concepts of bandwagoning as well as complex interdependence. A theoretical analysis reveals that neither of the two states is bandwagoning the other. They are, however, tied to each other under the conceptual framework of complex interdependence.

The blue carbon reservoir plays a unique role in addressing climate change and holds significant importance for China’s advancement in the “dual carbon” initiative. The mechanisms, carbon reduction potential, and potential economic value of blue carbon align with the goals of the Green Silk Road initiative. China’s conceptual frameworks, strategies and practices provide strong impetus for enhancing international cooperation and supporting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Looking ahead, integrating blue carbon into the focal points of international cooperation will contribute China’s wisdom and solutions to global sustainable development.

In autocratic regimes, democracy stands as a paradoxical beacon, feared and manipulated by dictators. This study examines China’s conceptualisation of democracy post-Communist Party ascendancy, analysing key political historical milestones—the demise of the Qing dynasty, the Mao Era and subsequent leaders up to Xi Jinping today. The research sheds light on the Chinese Communist Party’s customisation of democracy, guided by the writings of its leaders, to suit China’s unique conditions. Democracy is an abstract concept, yet in China, authoritarian rule, hierarchical social structures and traditional values have helped shape interpretations and application.