Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has broken a barrier that stood for centuries — but her victory signals continuity more than change. A conservative shaped by Shinzo Abe’s legacy, she inherits a fractured political landscape and a public exhausted by corruption and stagnation. Her rise is historic, yet her agenda suggests Japan is… Continue reading A woman takes power in Japan for the first time in history. Is there really reason to celebrate?
Key takeaways: Neither Indonesia nor Vietnam has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and both continue to deepen cooperation with Moscow. Indonesia and Vietnam explicitly include Russia in their hedging strategies, pursuing independent foreign policies to strengthen their international standing. Russia relies primarily on security, energy, and nuclear diplomacy to consolidate its presence in the region.… Continue reading The Russia card: How Jakarta and Hanoi leverage Moscow amid great power rivalry
With an exhibition glorifying North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine opening in Moscow and South Korea signing new arms deals with Poland to bolster its defenses against potential Russian aggression, Ukraine is increasingly emerging as a proxy battlefield between the two Koreas. Key takeaways: The support of the two Koreas for opposing sides in the… Continue reading Ukraine as a battlefield in an inter-Korean proxy war
This paper explores the challenges of Sino-Russian alignment to liberal international order (LIO) in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on Southeast Asia. Rather than being based upon common interests or values, the alignment between Russian and Chinese interests is pragmatic and expedient in the context of contemporary international affairs. China is traditionally an important player… Continue reading The challenges of Sino‑Russian alignment to the liberal international order in Southeast Asia
An extended US review has cast uncertainty over the future of AUKUS, unsettling the partnership just as the United Kingdom and Australia formalize their commitments through the Geelong Treaty. Key takeaways: An ongoing review by Washington of AUKUS has unsettled the submarine pathway, reviving doubts about Washington’s willingness and capacity to follow through. The Geelong… Continue reading Testing AUKUS: America’s uncertainty, Britain’s bet, and Europe’s choices
