Debt Traps from China, Western Stringency, and the Future of South Asian Democracy

04/17/202204/17/2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events China, debt trap, IMF, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Introduction If one were to look at two events in South Asia – the economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the downfall of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaaf (PTI) government in Pakistan, one of the points which clearly emerges is that both the South Asian nations have moved closer to China, and there are pitfalls … Continue reading Debt Traps from China, Western Stringency, and the Future of South Asian Democracy

Hegemony is hard to do: China, globalization, and “debt traps”

07/06/201807/06/2018 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events Belt and Road Initiative, Boao, China, debt, economic development, Global Times, hegemony, Malaysia, multilateralism, One Belt One Road

As a result of an increasingly insular United States, with US President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs, China has been trying to find common cause with a number of countries, including US allies such as Japan, India and South Korea, on the issue of globalization. While unequivocally batting in favor of an open economic world … Continue reading Hegemony is hard to do: China, globalization, and “debt traps”

Why developing countries need to reduce their economic reliance on China

05/14/202205/14/2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events China, debt trap, multilateralism, South Asia, Sri Lanka, trade not aid

After the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lankan Prime Minister on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Wickremesinghe, who is the sole member of the United National Party (UNP), will be holding the position of Sri Lankan PM for the sixth time. While the new Sri Lankan PM is a seasoned … Continue reading Why developing countries need to reduce their economic reliance on China

Southeast Asia, China, and Trumpian foreign policy in 2019

01/16/201901/16/2019 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics ASEAN, ASEAN Studies Centre, Belt and Road Initiative, China, diplomacy, hegemony, isolationism, Mahathir Mohammad, multilateralism, southeast Asia

A survey titled, ‘State of Southeast Asia: 2019’ conducted by the ASEAN Studies Centre (between November 18 and December 5, 2018 and released on January 7, 2019) at the think-tank Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute came up with some interesting findings. The sample size of the survey was over 1,000 and consisted of policy makers, academics, business persons, and members of … Continue reading Southeast Asia, China, and Trumpian foreign policy in 2019

How the United States can woo Africa away from China

12/23/201812/23/2018 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics Africa, Belt and Road Initiative, China, debt, Indo-Pacific, John Bolton, multilateralism, United States

On December 13, 2018, US National Security Advisor John Bolton, while speaking at the Heritage Foundation, highlighted the key aims and objectives of ‘Prosper Africa,’ which shall probably be announced at a later date. The emphasis of this policy, according to Bolton, would be on countering China’s exploitative economics unleashed by the Belt and Road Initiative, … Continue reading How the United States can woo Africa away from China

China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the limits of ‘Cheque Book Diplomacy’

09/25/201809/25/2018 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, China, China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, CMEC, cooperation, debt trap, diplomacy, geopolitics, knowledge problem, Mahathir Mohammad, Myanmar

On September 9, 2018 Myanmar and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for establishing the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), as part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The corridor will traverse a distance of approximately 1700 kilometres and seeks to connect Kunming (in China’s Yunnan Province) with Myanmar’s key economic points – … Continue reading China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the limits of ‘Cheque Book Diplomacy’

Pakistan-China ties and CPEC

09/12/201809/13/2018 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics China, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, diplomacy, geopolitics, Imran Khan, Mahathir Mohammad, Pakistan, Wang Yi

Abdul Razak Dawood, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Adviser on Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment, told the Financial Times that the previous Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz ) government did not get a good deal for Pakistan in CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), and that Pakistan has lost out as a result of poor negotiations. Dawood also … Continue reading Pakistan-China ties and CPEC

China and the liberal vision of the Indo-Pacific

08/12/201808/12/2018 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics Belt and Road Initiative, China, connectivity, cooperation, geopolitics, Global Times, hegemony, India, Indo-Pacific, Mike Pompeo, multilateralism, Quad

Mike Pompeo’s recent speech (titled ‘America’s Indo-Pacific Economic Vision’) at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC, has been carefully observed across Asia. Beijing has understandably paid close special attention to it. Pompeo emphasized the need for greater connectivity within the Indo-Pacific, while also highlighting the role which … Continue reading China and the liberal vision of the Indo-Pacific

How will Imran Khan’s electoral triumph affect Pakistan’s relationship with China?

08/01/201808/01/2018 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics China, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, corruption, CPEC, geopolitics, Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, PML-N, PTI, Shahbaz Sharif, South Asia

All eyes are on how Imran Khan will fulfill the ambitious promises which he and his party (Pakistan-Tehreek-i-Insaaf, or PTI) have made for creating a ‘Naya Pakistan’ (New Pakistan). Khan, who will take his oath as Prime Minister on August 11, 2018, needs to hit the ground running given the myriad of economic (Pakistan’s external debt … Continue reading How will Imran Khan’s electoral triumph affect Pakistan’s relationship with China?

Two visions of multilateralism are competing in the Indo-Pacific

05/25/202205/25/2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events China, connectivity, cooperation, Indo-Pacific, multilateralism, trade

The Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), signed by a total of 13 countries on May 23, 2022, in Tokyo, is being dubbed by many as a means of checking China’s economic clout in Asia and sending out a message that the US is keen to bolster economic ties with its allies and partners in the … Continue reading Two visions of multilateralism are competing in the Indo-Pacific

“Building Back A Better World”: Can it challenge the BRI?

06/15/202106/14/2021 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events B3W, Belt and Road Initiative, China, Indo-Pacific, Joe Biden, multilateralism, Quad

Introduction Ever since taking over as President, Joe Biden has reiterated the need for the US and its allies to work together to check China’s economic rise by providing alternatives to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project as well as its burgeoning technology scene. During his State of the Union address in April … Continue reading “Building Back A Better World”: Can it challenge the BRI?

The view from New Delhi: Pakistan and the coronavirus

04/15/202004/15/2020 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events China, coronavirus, foreign aid, Imran Khan, International Monetary Fund, multilateralism, Pakistan

Introduction The number of cases arising out of coronavirus in Pakistan continues to rise steadily. As of April 14, 2020, there were well over 5,000 cases (5,716) and deaths due to the virus totaled 96. China is providing assistance to Pakistan in dealing with the virus, and apart from medical assistance in the form of … Continue reading The view from New Delhi: Pakistan and the coronavirus

Coronavirus and the BRI

03/22/202003/22/2020 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events Belt and Road Initiative, China, coronavirus, CPEC, debt trap, diplomacy, geopolitics, Pakistan, pandemics, recession

The Corona Virus epidemic has shaken the world in numerous ways. The virus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan (Hubei province), has led to the loss of over 12,000 lives globally. The three countries most impacted so far have been Italy (4,825 lives lost), China (3,287 lives lost), and Iran (1,500 lives … Continue reading Coronavirus and the BRI

A short note on Ethiopia and the African continent

10/15/201910/15/2019 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics Abiy Ahmed, AfCTA, authoritarianism, connectivity, economic growth, Ethiopia, free trade, geopolitics, globalization, narrative, political reform, terrorism

Introduction Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. He is the 12th winner from Africa. The Nobel Committee stated that Abiy had been awarded the Nobel for his efforts towards resolving the border conflict with Eritrea (in September 2018, Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace deal in … Continue reading A short note on Ethiopia and the African continent

Italy and the Belt and Road Initiative

03/11/201903/11/2019 Tridivesh Singh Maini Current Events, Politics Belt and Road Initiative, China, connectivity, cooperation, economic development, geopolitics, international relations, Italy, Michele Geraci, populism

There has been a growing scepticism with regard to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project in many quarters, due to the lack of transparency with regards to terms and conditions as well as the economic implications for countries which are part of the project. A report published in April 2018 by the Center for … Continue reading Italy and the Belt and Road Initiative