Author Archives: montecyril

The joint naval exercises between Russia and the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), South-east Asia’s regional block, along the Strait of Malacca, last week, was an indicator that South-east Asian countries are intent on drawing in a third power in the region to stabilise the effects of the US-China rivalry in the region. TheContinue reading “Russia-Asean joint navy drills: checkmate AUKUS or checkmate China?”

Winter has set upon mountainous, rugged Afghanistan. In August 2021, the US withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving it in the hands of a combative Taliban, that while being resilient, relentless and unyielding in war, had not the wherewithal to rule a bankrupt country. Now, according to UN statistics, 23 million people in Afghanistan are faced withContinue reading “Afghanistan: Of Taliban, terror and a humanitarian crisis”

Late last month (in November), China pledged 1.5 billion dollars in development aid, over the next three years, to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The aid would go into helping the ASEAN in fighting epidemics and revive their economies, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a virtual meeting with heads of state andContinue reading “China’s promises of `good neighbourliness’ is only to covet neighbours’ goods”

We all wonder, at some point of our life, about what our purpose in life is. For some of us, this becomes more pertinent as we grow older, when we learn to let go of our attachments and we become dispassionate about the material world. For others, it is is yet too difficult to letContinue reading “Transmigration and the alchemy of the soul”

On Wednesday, 17 November, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) said in its 2021 Annual Report to Congress that China has or is close to achieving an initial capability to invade Taiwan, one that remains under development but that China’s leaders may employ at high risk — while deterring, delaying, or defeating UnitedContinue reading “US-China relations: Cold War or Icy Peace?”

There’s more fish in the dish than the ordinary connoisseur may reckon. But the good old gourmet can belch his benevolent belly he’ll never have to put up with the poor man’s mess. It’s the one without the dough that has to make do with the eating house that’s lived much of its life asContinue reading “Laugh off the restaurant bill!”

Chinese President Xi Jinping has managed to consolidate his general secretaryship of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for a lifetime, or until he is overthrown, with the adoption of a landmark resolution on the party’s ‘major achievements and historic experiences’ by the CCP on 11 November. Only twice before has the CCP passed such aContinue reading “China must be censured for human rights abuses”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s telling off French President Emmanuel Macron for “sledging” Australia comes as an appropriate stand against the French president for failing to acknowledge the exigencies of the Australian predicament given the situation in the Indo-Pacific. On 1 November, Mr Macron accused the Australian Prime Minister of lying to him about theContinue reading “Of populist Macron, pragmatic Morrison and traitor Turnbull”

On 23 October, China’s National People’s Congress approved a new border law asserting that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are “sacred and inviolable”. The new border law which becomes operational from 1 January next year, stipulates that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable”. UnderContinue reading “China’s new border law meant to intimidate”

Late last month (in October), Australia’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) representative came out strongly against China for the latter’s imposing restrictions against Australian goods in what seemed like political retaliation for Australia’s volition on issues relating to the Asia-Pacific. Australia’s representative to the WTO, George Mina, said China had “increasingly tested global trade rules” withContinue reading “Australia resilient despite China’s reprisals”