Neorealism, a cornerstone of international relations theory, is a comprehensive lens through which to analyse state behavior in a disordered world. States, whether driven by survival or ambition, are expected to balance power (Waltz 1979) or maximise it (Mearsheimer 2001), yielding predictable patterns of interaction across the global stage. Yet the empirical record disagrees, as … Read more
March 26, 2025 HONG KONG/ BANGKOK – Five years after Chinese smartphone maker Oppo debuted in its home market, the company ventured overseas in 2009 and introduced its products to Thailand. Oppo hasn’t looked back since. Not only did it capture a large market share in Thailand, it also succeeded in branching out across Southeast … Read more
March 25, 2025 JAKARTA – The last time we wrote about the fragile Gaza truce, we questioned how long it might last. And now that we know the answer, we must pick up where we last left off. The world must put an immediate end to the war of attrition ravaging Gaza. Whatever justifications were … Read more
March 25, 2025 SINGAPORE – Amid a strained geopolitical outlook, Singapore and the rest of Asean can “cooperate more intensively” on trade to help stabilise the regional order in the Asia-Pacific, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on March 24. “After all these years of cooperation, our share of intra-Asean trade, as a share of … Read more
resident Prabowo Subianto appointed 31 new envoys on Monday, consisting of career diplomats and political appointees, while still leaving several key positions vacant, prompting analysts to question the former military general’s long-term plans. The newly minted ambassadors will be stationed across a wide range of countries from Asia and Europe to the Middle East, some of which double … Read more
March 24, 2025 MANILA – The Philippines has reasserted its sovereignty over North Borneo (Sabah) in a communication to the United Nations secretary general, as it reaffirmed its claim to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan Region. In a March 19 note verbale to the UN secretary general, the Philippine Permanent Mission to … Read more
March 20, 2025 BANGKOK – Scam centres along the Thailand-Myanmar border are still operating with up to 100,000 people working there, the top police general leading Thailand’s operations against the fraud compounds reported. Based on early assessments of some of the 5,000 people rescued from scam hubs in the Myawaddy area, hundreds went there voluntarily, … Read more
March 20, 2025 JAKARTA – While the world marked the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a few weeks ago, reaching a ceasefire and achieving peace remains to be seen. Washington has decided to increasingly engage with Moscow, starting with excluding Ukraine from peace talks in mid-February, followed by voting along with Russia and … Read more
“`html Pacific Islands Media Portrayal: A matter of Balance Pacific Islands Media Representation: A Matter of Balance Table of Contents Pacific Islands Media Representation: A Matter of Balance The Call for Understanding the Pacific Islands Misrepresentation Concerns in Media Coverage Vanuatu’s CBI Program: A Case Study The Paradox of Progress Media Reporting: Skewed Perceptions? Analysis … Read more
In an era of increased geopolitical competition, there are growing calls for policy makers and citizens in Australia and New Zealand to improve their understanding of the Pacific Islands region. Traditional media in both countries play an important role in this task. However, some are concerned that while media reporting on the region and its … Read more