David BK Tan’s Post

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson criticized the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea for making negative remarks about China during trilateral meetings. China opposes the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and interference in its internal affairs, as well as the formation of exclusive groupings in the Asia-Pacific. The spokesperson emphasized China's commitment to defending its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, while urging countries to uphold the one-China principle and oppose Taiwan independence activities. China also called for cautious actions on the Korean Peninsula issue to prevent escalating tensions. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #China Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/guDi2VAM

For the first time in five years, a UK Foreign Secretary visits Beijing for face-to-face talks with Chinese counterparts. Minister Cleverly, perhaps rightly, insisted that this in-person visit was essential for avoiding any "misunderstandings" between the two countries. The visit comes at a time when the British government is subject to internal criticism from MPs for seemingly lacking a coherent strategy. The Intelligence & Security Select Committee Report earlier this summer, for one, cited the opinion of experts who observed a singular failure to deploy a "whole-of-government" approach to China. It is, however, expected that incursions towards Taiwan and tacit support for Russia will be on the agenda. Outcomes are expected to be limited. As Prof. Steve Tsang commented to The Guardian: "China will only go as far as Xi wants it to go, and no more. Nothing Cleverly can do to change that. Xi wants Putin to stay in power and stays strong, and this will not change whatever Cleverly may have to say. If Cleverly does not know that he does not understand the first thing about Xi’s policies". #uk #china #foreignpolicy #geopolitics #nationalsecurity https://lnkd.in/e8V2zB-v

China and Russia were officially Vietnam's closest partners and allies. This year US joined that list. That was a PR coup for Biden and Vietnam. Xi's visit tries to up the ante - to be the closest of the closest. "In diplomatic ties, the upgrade is symbolic, Le Hong Hiep, a specialist in Vietnamese strategic and political issues at Singapore's Iseas–Yusof Ishak Institute, said. "Vietnam's mistrust of China runs deep, and from the Vietnamese people's viewpoint, there is little to no 'shared destiny' between the two countries, as long as China continues to claim most of the South China Sea," he said." But there are some concerns as what China wanted in the phrasing of 'shared future'. "The countries' diplomats had debated the "shared future" phrase for months, following Hanoi's initial reluctance to use it, say officials and diplomats. The Chinese term literally means "common destiny", but its translation in English and Vietnamese is "common future", which may be seen as less demanding. "One declaration, many translations," said a diplomat based in the Vietnamese capital, commenting on the interpretation of the term." This will be a point of contention - because China went away with one definition, and Vietnam another. But in the end all this is moot - really. As long as the US remains involved to 1/5 of China's impact, China cannot 'win' Vietnam over. But for all the agreements etc .... it is up to China to 'bribe' the nation of Vietnam to say yes. The Vietnamese will drive a hard bargain - more than PHP; because China needs VN politically more than VN needs China economically.

China’s President #XiJinping has lashed out at #Nato over its “flagrant” bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 as he sought to cement ties with Serbia ahead of a visit to the Balkan country. The Belgrade neighbourhood home to the former embassy was decked in Chinese and Serbian flags. At a small demonstration this week, two Serbian communist parties hung banners to welcome the Chinese president, including one suggesting similarities between Serbia and China: “Kosovo is #Serbia - #Taiwan is China”. Belgrade claims its former province broke away illegally, while Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and strives to bring it under its control. Xi’s European trip, which will also include #Hungary, is seen by analysts as aiming to exploit differences on the continent towards Russia and the US and to potentially undermine the unity of Nato and the EU on China. Chinese academics have praised Macron’s advocacy of a more independent European stance on the global stage, while Serbia and Hungary are seen as more pro-Russia despite the Ukraine war. #GlobalRivalry #China #Europe #TechWar #TradeWar #EconomicWar #Geopolitics #Diplomacy #Geostrategy #CorporateStrategy #Strategy #Politics #WorldPolitics #ForeignRelations #ForeignAffairs #ForeignPolicy #TradePolicy #EconomicPolicy #IndustrialPolicy #Globalisation #Globalism #Protectionism https://lnkd.in/gUQfqwDp

What has Xi said about the «Ukrainian crisis» and to whom? Let us turn to the database of Xi Jinping’s major speeches, which records everything the Chairman has said in recent years, with links to publications in the official press. Some of Xi’s speeches are duplicated because they were published on different dates in the Rénmín Rìbào (People’s Daily) newspaper and the Xinhua news agency. Throughout the 2023, Xi Jinping has used the phrase «Ukrainian crisis» /乌克兰危机about ten times. In most cases, the reference was no more than a formality of protocol, not followed by political decisions, administrative appointments or foreign policy agreements. The elegance of the Chinese language and of the diplomatic corps lingo is that you can replace the word «Ukrainian» with the name of any other state and nothing will change in the text. Every time Xi Jinping talks about the «Ukrainian crisis», he is actually talking about China and China’s future. https://lnkd.in/dPfS7r47

Lavrov, senior Chinese diplomat discuss situation in Ukraine, Korean Peninsula The sides reiterated their countries’ commitment to closer coordination within key international organizations and dialogue mechanisms in the interests of developing a fairer and more stable polycentric world order Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and visiting Chinese Deputy Minister Sun Weidong discussed the situation around Ukraine and the state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The diplomats discussed a range of pressing topics, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation on the Korean Peninsula," it said. "The sides exchanged views on issues of security in the Eurasian space, as well as in the Asia Pacific region amid the West’s active attempts to establish bloc-based military-political structures there," the ministry said. They also reiterated their countries’ commitment to closer coordination within key international organizations and dialogue mechanisms in the interests of developing a fairer and more stable polycentric world order. "The sides reiterated their intention to expand bilateral cooperation within BRICS under Russia’s presidency this year," the ministry said. According to the ministry, Lavrov and Sun highly assessed the current state of relations between their countries, which have reached an unprecedentedly high level and continue developing in line with the two leaders’ agreements. The meeting was held "in the traditionally friendly atmosphere of trust," it added. #business #finance #financialservices

Strategic Diplomatic Moves: India's Modi and Hungary's Orban Visit Moscow In a notable shift from tradition, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first bilateral visit of his third term was to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin. Historically, Indian Prime Ministers have made their initial visits to neighboring countries, making this a significant development for Russia, India, and Ukraine. Modi’s visit underscores India’s strategic maneuvering to counter China’s influence by offering Russia an alternative partnership. Adding to this, Hungarian President Viktor Orban's visit to Moscow, the first by a Western leader since April 2022, has stirred global attention. Orban’s visit diminishes the perception of Russia’s international isolation, especially as he attempts to position himself as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict. These diplomatic maneuvers by Modi and Orban highlight shifting alliances and the complex geopolitical landscape. Explore the implications of these visits and what they mean for global diplomacy in my latest article. https://lnkd.in/gdA-zFjv #Diplomacy #Geopolitics #India #Hungary #Russia #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #GlobalPolitics

Thrilled to share my interview with @NikkeiAsia where we delved into #China's stance on #Iran-#Israel tensions. China's opposition to any escalation underscores its delicate balancing act in the Middle East. Check out the insightful piece here: https://lnkd.in/etgUzcpB #China #Iran #Israel #geopolitics

In addition, China is not an Arctic nation, but it has been asserting itself in the region in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including: * The melting of Arctic sea ice, which is opening up new shipping routes and access to resources. * China's growing economic and military power. * The strategic importance of the Arctic for China, as it provides a gateway to Europe and North America. China's activities in the Arctic have been met with concern by some countries, who worry that China is trying to gain control of the region. This is particularly true in the case of Russia, which has traditionally been the dominant power in the Arctic. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has further complicated the situation in the Arctic. Russia has accused the United States and its allies of trying to encircle it, and it has warned that it will take steps to defend its interests in the region. This has raised the risk of conflict between Russia and the West in the Arctic. It is important to note that China has not explicitly stated that it wants to take control of the Arctic. However, its actions suggest that it is at least considering this possibility. This is a worrying development, as it could lead to increased tensions and instability in the region. The United States, Canada, and other Arctic nations need to work together to deter China from making any aggressive moves in the region. They should also work to strengthen their own military presence in the Arctic to protect their interests. Russia also needs to be careful not to overplay its hand in the Arctic. The invasion of Ukraine has already damaged its reputation and credibility. If Russia continues to act aggressively in the Arctic, it could further isolate itself and make it more difficult to cooperate with other countries on issues of mutual interest. The Arctic is a fragile region, and it is important to manage its resources and development in a sustainable way. All countries with interests in the Arctic need to work together to ensure that the region remains peaceful and stable.

Yes, it is a valid concern. Russia and China are close allies, and they have been cooperating on a number of projects in the Arctic, including the development of new shipping routes and the exploration of natural resources. If Russia were to collapse or weaken significantly, China would be in a position to take advantage of the situation and expand its influence in the Arctic. This would be a dangerous development for the West for a number of reasons. First, it would give China control over a strategically important region. Second, it would increase China's military presence in the Arctic, which could pose a threat to the United States and its allies. Third, it could lead to increased tensions and instability in the region. The West needs to be prepared for this possibility and take steps to deter China from making any aggressive moves in the Arctic. This could include strengthening its own military presence in the region, working with other Arctic nations to develop a common strategy, and engaging with China in dialogue to try to resolve any potential conflicts peacefully. It is also important to remember that Russia and China are not monolithic entities. There are different factions within both countries with different interests and goals. It is possible that some elements within Russia or China may not be happy with the other country's increasing influence in the Arctic. This could lead to internal conflict or even a split between the two countries. The situation in the Arctic is fluid and unpredictable. It is important for the West to be aware of the risks and take steps to mitigate them. However, it is also important to avoid overreacting or taking steps that could make the situation worse. #arcticsecurity