China’s massive, continent spanning OBOR project is attracting increasing support from Asian governments, including many that have long had poor relations with China.  This development has to be understood in terms of the regions’ enormous infrastructure deficit, the lack of alternative funding, and the changing reality of Asian geopolitics and economic relations.   China has become the principal...Read More

Thanks to its waning relationships in the West, Russia is developing ever closer ties with key Asian allies, most notably India. Russia wants friends but is prepared to be regarded as an enemy. The country’s sinister image was reinforced last year when its military undertook simulated attacks across northern Europe, prompting the head of the...Read More

On 17 April (2009), the second meeting of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and AAF (Asia Forum) meeting took place in Singapore. This one-day conference was organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and was attended by some 300 representatives of the region’s governments, private sector and think-tanks. Given the timing of...Read More