The 11th summit between the EU and South Korea in Brussels produced a joint statement condemning Pyongyang-Moscow military cooperation and advancing the bilateral Security and Defense Partnership. Key takeaways: The EU and South Korea issued their strongest joint language yet on Russia-North Korea military cooperation, calling on both Moscow and Pyongyang to halt arms transfers,… Continue reading EU and South Korea close ranks against a common threat
Excluded from Interpol, Taiwan is building a network of bilateral legal cooperation mechanisms to combat transnational crime, protect its nationals from extradition to China, and expand its international space. Key takeaways: Without access to Interpol databases, intelligence-sharing tools, and Red Notices, Taiwan must rely on bilateral channels to address cross-border crime. While Taiwan has informal… Continue reading Bilateral cooperation helps Taiwan to offset Interpol exclusion
Putin’s latest visit to China was both ceremonial and routine. While nothing occurred during the visit that might suggest a crisis in bilateral relations, the “partnership without limits” is not without its critics in Russia. Key takeaways: The Russian political elite is aware of Russia’s deepening existential dependence on China, especially when it comes to… Continue reading The Xi-Putin summit: Russian elites chafe at Beijing’s grip, but Moscow can’t afford to walk away
Paradiplomacy offers Taiwan a viable way to expand engagement with Europe by navigating diplomatic constraints imposed by European states’ One-China policies. But Taiwan has yet to fully utilize the tool. Key takeaways: Taiwan’s network of paradiplomatic partnerships with European cities and regions is quickly growing. With seven city-to-city partnerships, Poland is currently the most active… Continue reading Sister cities, strategic gaps: Taiwan’s uneven paradiplomacy in Europe
As official dialogue between Beijing and Taipei remains frozen, rhetorical rebuffs and military exercises have become a dangerous new form of communication. This context can be conceptualized as a strategic “game”, with the classical “Game of Chicken” and “Prisoner’s Dilemma” serving as two possible models. Because each game involves different incentives and strategic calculations, understanding… Continue reading The perilous language of silence: Brinkmanship in the Taiwan Strait
