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Trump’s Bullying Trade Tactics Will Backfire

monday 20

Karishma Vaswani

Trump’s Colombia Warning Is China’s Window of Opportunity

29.01.2025 30

Karishma Vaswani

Japan and South Korea Were Stable US Allies. Not Anymore

For decades, US security in Asia has depended on a network of allies, with Japan and South Korea the two most reliable. Washington has been able to...

24.01.2025 10

Karishma Vaswani

Taiwan Doesn’t Need Lots of Friends, Just the Right Ones

Friendship can be the ultimate Goldilocks test. Too many and you run the risk of wearing yourself down with mates you don’t trust. Too few and it...

18.01.2025 4

Karishma Vaswani

Taiwan’s Military Is Not Prepared for a Trumpian World

Taiwan has lived with the existential threat of a Chinese invasion for decades, but the reelection of Donald Trump heralds a different era. Taipei...

16.01.2025 10

Karishma Vaswani

South Korea Needs to Move on From This Crisis

South Korea’s prolonged political crisis appears to have no end in sight. It’s just over a month since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared, then...

10.01.2025 6

Karishma Vaswani

The Asian Dream Is Waking Up to Reality

How quickly is Asia’s middle class growing? Not as fast as it needs to keep pace with aspirations. Policymakers need to focus on boosting...

07.01.2025 20

Karishma Vaswani

Behind the Rise of the Asian Aunty

The Asian aunty has a lot to teach us about gendered stereotypes and how to fight them. The term, often used as a sign of respect, has also become...

02.01.2025 3

Karishma Vaswani

Asia’s 2025 Will Be a Year of Upheaval and Uncertainty

An impending trade war between the world’s two superpowers, tensions in Taiwan and the South China Sea, and a volatile North Korea are likely to...

24.12.2024 7

Karishma Vaswani

Beijing and Pyongyang Will Exploit South Korea’s Turmoil

South Korea’s political crisis shows no sign of abating. President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and impending arrest will usher in months of...

19.12.2024 10

Karishma Vaswani

The Trump-Xi Bromance Has a Chance in 2025

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump's bromance could be rekindled in 2025, if both sides play their cards right. This is positive and would help create the...

18.12.2024 20

Karishma Vaswani

The Global Spy Alliance Should Let Japan Join

Intelligence-sharing networks need reliable and trustworthy partners. Japan is an obvious choice for the Western-dominated “Five Eyes” spy...

13.12.2024 4

Karishma Vaswani

Fentanyl Curbs Would Give Xi an Easy Trump Win

Donald Trump’s trade war 2.0 with China has already begun. He says the world’s second-largest economy has failed to stop the flow of illicit drugs...

04.12.2024 9

Karishma Vaswani

South Korea’s Martial Law Recalls a Scary Past

Which countries would you imagine are most likely to impose martial law? Some of the more memorable in Asia have included Indonesia, Myanmar,...

03.12.2024 5

Karishma Vaswani

The Woman Who May Break Through Indonesia’s Boys’ Club

Indonesia is plagued by dynastic politics, partly as a hangover of its dictatorial past. With democracy increasingly entrenched in the last...

27.11.2024 20

Karishma Vaswani

Indonesia Needs to Walk a Fine Line in Trump's World

Indonesia, for decades a natural partner to the US because of similar defense priorities and democratic values, has in recent years drifted more...

14.11.2024 8

Karishma Vaswani

Trump Will Walk Into a New North Korean Headache

The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to support its war efforts in Ukraine has pushed Asia into dangerous territory. It has ratcheted up...

07.11.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

US Democracy Is Chaotic. It’s Still Asia’s Best Option

American influence in Asia has long been based on diplomacy, defense and development, but also importantly, the promotion of democratic values...

04.11.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

How Capable Is China’s Military, Really?

Corrupt and inept, or supremely advanced? The truth about how capable China’s People’s Liberation Army is somewhere in between. The recent reported...

10.10.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

The US Should Not Let Cambodia Drift Further Into China’s Grip

Sitting on trade routes that link China, India and Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s geopolitical importance far outweighs its land mass. Beijing has...

07.10.2024 10

Karishma Vaswani

To Win Back Audiences, Put More Asians Behind the Camera

Crazy Rich Asians was a standout cinematic and commercial success, but a rare one. Asian representation on screen may have improved in recent...

02.10.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

The Cold War 2.0 Is Casting a Nuclear Shadow

China’s decision to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile as global leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York was...

30.09.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

The Quad Needs More of Biden’s Hot-Mic China Moments

Some things aren’t better left unsaid. President Joe Biden’s hot-mic moment at the weekend Quad summit may have been an example of what he really...

25.09.2024 1

Karishma Vaswani

The Court Case That’s Gripping Singapore

Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party has built its reputation on honesty and integrity, while delivering superior economic progress to its...

25.09.2024 4

Karishma Vaswani

Asia’s Power Plays Aren’t Just About the US and China

Over the last few years, the clear winners of the power game in Asia have been the economic and military heavyweights, the US and China. A closely...

22.09.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

This Piece of Chinese Exceptionalism Couldn’t Last

China is fond of presenting itself as an outlier. From previously soaring growth figures, to the initial success of its Covid-Zero strategy, it has...

18.09.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

A Hotel Ban in Bali? Not a Second Too Soon

Bali is broken. These days, the jewel in Indonesia’s crown of sun-kissed islands is less paradise, more parking lot. Tourists are bringing in much-...

15.09.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

Washington’s Warning on Hong Kong Is a Wakeup Call

Hong Kong’s reputation as a top-tier global financial hub has taken another hit. A recent US advisory is urging American companies operating there...

12.09.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

Pope Francis’s Asia Trip Is All About China

Pope Francis is making an Asia-Pacific tour that’s about more than spreading the word or connecting with the devout. It is a run-through for the...

09.09.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

China’s Economic Pain Is an Opportunity for India

China’s economic slowdown is worrying officials in Beijing, and putting global CEOs on edge — but for India it’s a huge opportunity. Prime Minister...

05.09.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

China’s Port Expansion Is Also a Security Threat

China’s global port investments are now so extensive that it operates or owns at least one facility on every continent except Antarctica. This is...

02.09.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

Look Beyond Politicians To Mend US-China Ties

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s trip to China didn't yield much in terms of actual deliverables, but that wasn’t the most essential...

29.08.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

Keeping It in the Family in Southeast Asian Politics

Politics is increasingly returning to being a family business in Southeast Asia, despite its large and vibrant democracies. It’s a worrying trend....

26.08.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

Protests Won’t Change India’s Attitude Toward Rape

Protests against sexual violence are taking place across India to demand more protection for women in the world’s most populous nation. The...

21.08.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

Tim Walz Knows China. That’s Good for the US

Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, has become something of an overnight celebrity in China. Ever since Kamala Harris picked him...

11.08.2024 3

Karishma Vaswani

The Olympic Games Are Always Political for China

China has long invested heavily to push its athletes to triumph against the West, as a way of highlighting the merits of the Communist Party. These...

07.08.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

People Power Has Won in Bangladesh, for Now

Sheikh Hasina could have left gracefully. Instead, Bangladesh’s prime minister resigned and fled to neighboring India, ending her 15-year-long rule...

06.08.2024 4

Karishma Vaswani

China Has Changed Under Xi. It Can Change Again

It is easy to feel disenchanted with the political direction that China has taken in recent years, particularly under President Xi Jinping. Despite...

01.08.2024 2

Karishma Vaswani

Harris Won’t Dump Taiwan. That’s Why China Likes Trump

The Kamala Harris craze is everywhere right now, fueling a flurry of memes across social media that have driven millions of views. But one place...

29.07.2024 4

Karishma Vaswani

It’s Time to Give China’s Muscle-Flexing a New Name

A provisional arrangement between China and the Philippines, intended to smooth their troubles in the South China Sea, has quickly unraveled. Now...

25.07.2024 6

Karishma Vaswani

Xi Is Doing Things His Way. That’s Not Helping China

The world’s second-largest economy is in a slump. Foreign investment is at a 30-year low, the property sector is struggling, and the corridors of...

11.07.2024 2

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Trump’s Bullying Trade Tactics Will Backfire

Karishma Vaswani

Trump’s Colombia Warning Is China’s Window of Opportunity

Karishma Vaswani

Japan and South Korea Were Stable US Allies. Not Anymore

Karishma Vaswani

Taiwan Doesn’t Need Lots of Friends, Just the Right Ones

Karishma Vaswani

Taiwan’s Military Is Not Prepared for a Trumpian World

Karishma Vaswani

South Korea Needs to Move on From This Crisis

Karishma Vaswani

The Asian Dream Is Waking Up to Reality

Karishma Vaswani

Behind the Rise of the Asian Aunty

Karishma Vaswani

Asia’s 2025 Will Be a Year of Upheaval and Uncertainty

Karishma Vaswani

Beijing and Pyongyang Will Exploit South Korea’s Turmoil

Karishma Vaswani

The Trump-Xi Bromance Has a Chance in 2025

Karishma Vaswani

The Global Spy Alliance Should Let Japan Join

Karishma Vaswani

Fentanyl Curbs Would Give Xi an Easy Trump Win

Karishma Vaswani

South Korea’s Martial Law Recalls a Scary Past

Karishma Vaswani

The Woman Who May Break Through Indonesia’s Boys’ Club

Karishma Vaswani

Indonesia Needs to Walk a Fine Line in Trump's World

Karishma Vaswani

Trump Will Walk Into a New North Korean Headache

Karishma Vaswani

US Democracy Is Chaotic. It’s Still Asia’s Best Option

Karishma Vaswani

How Capable Is China’s Military, Really?

Karishma Vaswani

The US Should Not Let Cambodia Drift Further Into China’s Grip

Karishma Vaswani

To Win Back Audiences, Put More Asians Behind the Camera

Karishma Vaswani

The Cold War 2.0 Is Casting a Nuclear Shadow

Karishma Vaswani

The Quad Needs More of Biden’s Hot-Mic China Moments

Karishma Vaswani

The Court Case That’s Gripping Singapore

Karishma Vaswani

Asia’s Power Plays Aren’t Just About the US and China

Karishma Vaswani

This Piece of Chinese Exceptionalism Couldn’t Last

Karishma Vaswani

A Hotel Ban in Bali? Not a Second Too Soon

Karishma Vaswani

Washington’s Warning on Hong Kong Is a Wakeup Call

Karishma Vaswani

Pope Francis’s Asia Trip Is All About China

Karishma Vaswani

China’s Economic Pain Is an Opportunity for India

Karishma Vaswani

China’s Port Expansion Is Also a Security Threat

Karishma Vaswani

Look Beyond Politicians To Mend US-China Ties

Karishma Vaswani

Keeping It in the Family in Southeast Asian Politics

Karishma Vaswani

Protests Won’t Change India’s Attitude Toward Rape

Karishma Vaswani

Tim Walz Knows China. That’s Good for the US

Karishma Vaswani

The Olympic Games Are Always Political for China

Karishma Vaswani

People Power Has Won in Bangladesh, for Now

Karishma Vaswani

China Has Changed Under Xi. It Can Change Again

Karishma Vaswani

Harris Won’t Dump Taiwan. That’s Why China Likes Trump