What Does North Korea Really Want Us?
The year 2016 kicked off with North Korea announcing it detonated a hydrogen bomb test. This time, Pyongyang has pushed world leaders like the US to introduce tougher sanctions to curtail the country’s nuclear capabilities. This is not the first time the evasive state has disobeyed international protocol, yet Pyongyang has …
Reporters Without Borders: The Round-up of Journalists Killed Worldwide 2015
The balance of Reporters Without Borders is cruel. Yes, a strong word, how strong must be the reaction of those who imagine the job of a reporter. The non-governmental organization (RSF) reports of about 110 journalists killed in 2015, bearing in mind that two-thirds of these victims died in countries where …
The China-Africa Summit: Chinese Expansionism?
China has pledged $60bn to African development in the China-Africa Summit on 4 December. Since 2009, China has become Africa’s leading trading partner, with exports and imports of commodities, technology, oil, textile and cars. Optimists say the weighty business deals will bring common prosperity, but should the West worry about China’s …
China-Taiwan talks – new hopes for reunification?
Leaders of China and Taiwan met for the first time since 1949 when the Kuomintang (KMT) government was driven out of the mainland by the Communists. This historical meeting marks a special occasion for the Chinese people as this could be a sign of stronger friendship and better prospects for …
The South China Sea – What’s at stake?
Tensions in the South China Sea flare up as the US sent a guided-missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles of the man-made islands China had built in the disputed zone. Washington’s bold move is in response to Beijing’s growing assertiveness in claiming the Spratly Islands. As other smaller Asian countries …
China should keep its promise to let Hong Kong become a democracy
It is been almost one year since Occupy Central shook Hong Kong and Beijing. Despite the movement’s failure, pro-democracy supporters vowed they will continue fight for universal suffrage. Occupy Central has also shown us the great divide between Hong Kong and China has existed before Occupy Central. Photo credit: pasuay …
Greece Debt Crisis: Where did the money go?
Only 10% of money sent by Europe went to the Greek population. And the rest? Greece debt crisis: Where did the money go? The biggest part of this money went to private creditors and to save the banks. Between 2010 and 2012, the rescue fund of 24 billion euros was used only in …
China-India Trade Deals and Enduring Tensions
India’s Prime Minister Narenda Modi has just returned from a landmark visit to China where the two countries signed trade deals worth more than $22 billion. From a narrow perspective it seems that common prosperity brings the two rising powers together. However, in the grander scheme of things, trade deals are not …
The Military Balance 2015: The Weapons of Today, the Wars of Tomorrow
The Military Balance, provided by the IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies), is considered an authoritative assessment of global military capabilities and defence economics. The recently released 2015 edition offers a deep insight on complex geopolitical changes that have lately affected international relationships. The most important fact underlined by the …
Putin’s Russia. If the Bear Roars Again
A few days ago Michael Fallon, the UK Secretary of Defence, said that “Putin’s Russia is a threat to Europe as great as the Islamic State”. These words underscore a situation of conflict that the Ukrainian crisis and its consequences have sharpened. Anyhow, it seems that Putin’s Russia is showing a …