By Lexi Dean China continues to assert control over the South China Sea where around one-third ofglobal shipping occurs. Amidst growing Chinese aggression in regional countries’exclusive economic zones, Indo-Pacific countries continue to step up efforts to combatthis. This past week, Taiwan’s coast guard detained a Chinese-linked ship after itstopped near an undersea communication cable that... Continue Reading →
By Sam Dantzler In December 2024, approximately 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to the front lines of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, providing support to Russian forces in various roles. Their involvement included aiding in repelling a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kursk region that began the previous August. Ukrainian forces have reported that the North... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean The proliferation of scam operations and illegal cyber-ploys across Southeast Asia gave rise to a wave of concern back in 2023. This concern led to crackdowns on these operations, which have continued this week, as Thailand received over 250 victims of human trafficking from a Myanma militia who freed workers from scam... Continue Reading →
Sam Dantzler Following Election Day 2024 in the United States, China has braced for the impact of Trump 2.0. In the months between November 5th and Inauguration Day, Beijing’s leadership has been evaluating the outcome of Trump’s election and its implications on broader Chinese grand strategy. Trump’s first term was defined by aggressive diplomatic posturing... Continue Reading →
By: Sam Dantzler Early this week, the Hangzhou-based, Chinese startup, DeepSeek released its AI model causing a stir in the larger global tech industry. Historically, American tech firms have stayed at the forefront of the AI arms race. DeepSeek has disrupted this norm, however, as the company claims its model was developed more efficiently and... Continue Reading →
By: John W. Parks Following recent industrial trends, China has begun the expansion of an innovative market into the Central Asian region. Kazakh Invest, a nationalized investment company of Kazakhstan, signed agreements with two Chinese drone producers to build manufacturing hubs in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. As of January 2025, Yesil Technology Company and... Continue Reading →
By John W. Parks Thinking of Central Asia as a roundabout, or a master key, or a distribution hub of global trade infrastructure, could not be any more correct. China, Iran, and the United States have recently ramped up their initiatives to include the Central Asian states in trade partnerships. Though the Great Powers have... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Laos this past week to discuss economic, political, and security development. Representatives and leaders attending this summit examined regional concerns such as the Myanmar civil war, cybersecurity capabilities, and free trade agreements. One of the major disputes concerning Southeast Asian nations is the... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Williams Last week China sent all three of its aircraft carriers to sea. The simultaneous sea deployment of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) demonstrates the growing capabilities of Chinese seapower. The Liaoning sailed in the Philippines Sea while the Shandong operated near Hainan island. Both 60,000+ ton vessels operated with full carrier... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean On Friday North Korea shared photos showing Kim Jong Un with scientists and military personnel surrounded by centrifuges used to enrich uranium. An analyst for South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies estimated about one thousand centrifuges in the photos which is roughly the number needed to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for... Continue Reading →
