Geopolitics
ARTICLES
[ Frontline ] What Is the Fatemiyoun Brigade and Why Does It Make the Taliban Nervous?
In the new FRONTLINE report Leaving Afghanistan, correspondent Najibullah Quraishi investigated how Afghanistan’s neighbors — particularly Iran, through its proxy militia, the Fatemiyoun — are looking to fill the void as America withdraws. Quraishi spoke to Taliban leaders and former fighters who claimed Iran is mobilizing the Shia Fatemiyoun within Afghanistan. In return, a Sunni Taliban leader…
[ SCMP ] China pledges support for Taliban in Afghanistan, but demands end to ETIM ties
Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells delegation there is no room for links with terror group it blames for Xinjiang attacks Taliban spokesman says meeting in Tianjin covered political, economic and security issues as well as peace process China has pledged support for the Taliban’s role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, while demanding that it cuts ties with the East Turkestan…
The lack of leadership in the UN exposed by the Myanmar crisis
As the monsoon season hits Myanmar, floods turning the plight of the Burmese facing the double threat of both persecution by the military-rules regime and COVID-19 virus into a hellish triple threat. Despite the obvious problem with the military overthrowing the election results, and mandating a one year postponement of a re-election (which there is…
[ USNI News ] Two Iranian Warships Spotted Near English Channel
Two Iranian warships are nearing the English Channel, according to satellite photographs reviewed by USNI News. The ships are thought to be headed to the Baltic Sea to represent Iran in a July 25 naval parade off the coast of St. Petersburg to commemorate the 325th anniversary of the Russian Navy
[ The Geopolitics ] The Philippines’ Maoist Guerillas Vow to Resist ‘Imperialist China’
…although the network holds deep historical and ideological affinities with Chinese Maoism, they now view contemporary China as a capitalist and imperialist power that is actively violating Philippine sovereignty using a variety of coercive economic and military means, thus making the Chinese state an adversary to be resisted. The recent 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)…
[ The Guardian ] Pakistan detains five Chinese trawlers for alleged illegal fishing
Pakistan has detained five Chinese trawlers on suspicion of illegal fishing near its strategic port city of Gwadar, as a wave of protests swept across the region led by fishers concerned about losing control of their fishing grounds to China. The Chinese trawlers, loaded with fish, were taken into custody by the Pakistan Maritime Security…
[ Nikkei Asia ] US does not support Taiwan independence: Kurt Campbell
U.S President Joe Biden’s point man on Asia is “astonished” by China’s determination to play the leading role on the global stage and will “step up” its engagement in Southeast Asia to hold back such a trend. But the administration does not support Taiwan independence and understands the sensitivities involved, Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell said…
[ Reuters ] Indonesia, Thailand consider booster shots amid doubts over Sinovac vaccine
But the challenges facing Southeast Asia are much bigger. Many countries in the region rely heavily on Chinese vaccines due to tight supplies of Western products, and have low vaccination rates of less than 10%. They are also battling a record-breaking surge in new cases and deaths, led by the highly contagious Delta variant, while…
[ EastAsiaForum] Why are Chinese troops assembling on the Myanmar border?
Source: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/07/03/why-are-chinese-troops-assembling-on-the-myanmar-border/ There is now potential for international escalation as Chinese troops are reported to be assembling in Jiegao, an important border town, which is not unexpected during periods of elevated tension. The troops are said to have rapid response capabilities if it is deemed necessary to guard the Kyaukpyu pipelines. The pipelines are a significant part…
[ SCMP ] Taiwan asserts island’s sovereignty after US restates opposition to independence
“We support a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan. We do not support Taiwan independence,” Kurt Campbell, the White House Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, said in response to the question “how much love is too much?” when it came to stronger US ties with Taiwan. The comment, at an event hosted by the Asia Society, was…
[ Today ] Singapore to reclaim land around Pedra Branca to build facilities to improve maritime safety and security
The Housing and Development Board will reclaim land around Pedra Branca The development work will improve facilities on the island, let vessels berth and allow more facilities to be set up It will take a few years to complete The work, announced in 2019, had been postponed owing to a sovereignty dispute with Malaysia Pedra Branca…
[ WeeklyBlitz ] Rohingya militancy group ARSA silently gets organized
Dhaka Post reporters Adnan Rahman and Joshim Uddin in their report said, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has already recruited over two thousand members from the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, where it has approximately 150 female jihadists. Majority of the ARSA recruits are based in Kutupalong and Balukhali areas in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf district. According…
[ DW ] As Lebanon nears collapse, EU debates sanctions
Lebanon continues to unravel as its economic and political crisis worsens. The country has not had a government for almost a year now and its economy is in the process of collapsing after decades of mismanagement and corruption. Over the past month, there have been stories both absurd and horrifying coming out of the small Mediterranean nation. For…
[ Financial Times ] Senior Nato officer warns of China’s ‘shocking’ military advances
“It is quite shocking how quickly China has built ships, how much China has modernised its air force, how much it has invested in cyber and other forms of information management, not least facial recognition,” said Peach — who is stepping down on Friday after three years as head of Nato’s military committee — in…
[ Asia Times ] New age rebels rock and roil Myanmar’s junta
The future for Myanmar thus looks bleak, with only a split within the Tatmadaw likely able to bring about fundamental change. But there are no signs yet of that happening as Myanmar’s resistance shifts from peaceful protests to more violent means. The most the “new rebels”, alone or together with ethnic allies, may be able…
[ Myanmar Now ]Tanker carrying jet fuel due to arrive in Yangon on Saturday
A tanker ship carrying airplane fuel is scheduled to arrive in Yangon on Saturday after departing from Singapore’s Jurong Island on Tuesday, according to data from several marine tracking websites. The Panama-registered tanker SANTYA is loaded with Jet A1 fuel, which can be used both for commercial aviation and military aircraft, documents seen by Myanmar…
Kashmiri Freedom Fighters conducted drone strikes on India Air Force’s Jammu Air Force Station | Lashkar-e-Taiba commander captured
According to a tweet by Aerospace & Open Source Intelligence Board (Pakistan Strategic Forum), Kashmiri Freedom Fighters utilised two drones to drop improvised explosive devices onto the India Air Force’s Jammu Air Force Station (Jammu AFS) at around 1am local time on 27 June 2021 The drones reportedly flew 14.5km from the border to the…
[ Asia Times ] China returns fire at Australia in the WTO
China in November announced tariffs of up to 218% on Australian wines, which it said were being “dumped” into the Chinese market at subsidized prices. The crackdown virtually closed what had been Australia’s biggest overseas wine market, with sales falling from A$1.1 billion (US$840 million) to only A$20 million, according to official figures.
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