The nuclear phase-out is undermining Taiwan’s energy security, but it may be politically difficult for the DPP to change course. Right after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration came to power in Taiwan in 2016, it began pursuing its energy transition vision: increasing the share of renewable energy, expanding the use of LNG, and cutting… Continue reading Taiwan’s Energy (In)security: Between Green Ambitions vs. Fossil Fuel Realities
Ukraine should be wary about accepting Chinese offers to fund post-war reconstruction of the country. On February 24th, the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing announced a 12-point plan that it said could solve the conflict. One of those points was to promote a post-conflict reconstruction of Ukraine in which China would assume… Continue reading Anticipating China’s Role in a Post-War Ukraine Following the Current Beijing-Moscow Dynamic
What were the main drivers of Slovakia’s approach towards Asia-Pacific in 2022? How were these relations impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Matej Šimalčík answers these questions in his contribution to Yearbook of Slovakia’s Foreign Policy. Over the years, Slovakia’s engagement with the Asia–Pacific region has been shaped by a combination of international (structural)… Continue reading Slovakia and the Asia–Pacific amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Yearbook of Slovakia’s Foreign Policy 2022)
The persistent internal political deadlock in Bulgaria diminishes even further prospects for focusing policy attention on major international questions, specifically concerning the Indo-Pacific. Sofia risks becoming a weak link in Western strategies for countering the Chinese authoritarian threat. Bulgaria’s domestic political stalemate, characterized by multiple ineffectual elections incapable of producing a stable regular government, is… Continue reading Bulgarian elections and the Indo-Pacific: Worlds apart
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, started with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which grew into a full invasion on February 24, 2023, and also affected the states of the V4+Japan format. Although the European part of the format is more affected compared to Japan, in general, it can be said that Japan is… Continue reading The Impact of War in Ukraine on V4 + Japan
