Regional Tensions

The Friendship Challenge for Xi Jinping’s China

Ng Weng Hoong
Today, Xi Jinping, in his eighth year as China’s president and seeking to expand his government’s global influence, has loaded all discussions on friendship with Beijing with complicated conditions and fine print. This can be observed in China's recent border clashes with India, as well as with regards to the new national security law passed in Hong Kong... Read More
EnglishInternationalJuly 2020Regional Tensions1 Comment 017 min read

Taiwan to Set Up Representative Office in Somaliland

Brian Hioe
In an unexpected move, the Taiwanese government announced last week that it would be exchanging representative office with Somaliland, a move toward possible formal diplomatic relations. Taiwan and Somaliland have signed an agreement for future cooperation. Somaliland's first representative to Taiwan will be academic Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud... Read More
EnglishInternationalJuly 2020Regional Tensions0 Comments 07 min read

Increased Support for Taiwan From Brazil and India Results From Tensions with China

Brian Hioe
Several recent incidents indicate how support for Taiwan from other countries sometimes occurs primarily as the result of antagonisms with China rather than genuine solidarity with Taiwan. In particular, tensions between many nations and China have been accentuated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the US-China trade war... Read More
EnglishInternationalJune 2020Regional Tensions0 Comments 06 min read

Pan-Blue Camp, Pro-Unification Left’s Nationalism is Self-Evident in Senkaku/Diaoyutai Island Naming Dispute

Brian Hioe
A proposal by the Ishigaki city government in Japan to rename the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands, in order to reaffirm Japanese claims of sovereignty over the island, has been led to nationalistic responses in Taiwan among members of the KMT and members of the pan-Blue camp. This should not be particularly surprising... Read More
EnglishInternationalJune 2020Regional Tensions0 Comments 06 min read

Attempts by China to Poach Taiwan’s Diplomatic Allies Likely to Continue into Tsai’s Second Term

Brian Hioe
With Paraguay's senate voting last month on whether to change diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, the Paraguayan senate voted to retain diplomatic relations with Taiwan by a vote of 25 to 16. However, attempts by China to poach diplomatic allies of Taiwan are likely to continue into Tsai's second term... Read More
EnglishInternationalMay 2020Regional Tensions0 Comments 05 min read

Chinese Military Increases Activity Around Taiwan During COVID-19 Pandemic

Brian Hioe
In the past three months, one has observed an increase in Chinese and American military activity in the area around Taiwan. Namely, one has observed a sharp uptick in Chinese military activity around Taiwan in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and American military activity has primarily been in response to Chinese military activity... Read More
April 2020EnglishInternationalRegional Tensions0 Comments 07 min read