https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/7/indonesia-joins-brics-group-of-emerging-economies
Even as the US seeks to expand its Eastern footprint and re-establish and strengthen military ties with Indonesia - the new Prabowo regime is seeking a path of triangulation.
https://reihotakeuchi.substack.com/p/the-new-japanese-prime-ministers
Ishiba who assumed the office of prime minister in October is important because he represents new thinking in terms of Japan's role in the Asia-Pacific and its relationship with the United States. A member of the Far-Right Nippon Kaigi faction (which has a significant presence in the ruling LDP), he seems to represent two tendencies - one, to strengthen Japan's relationship with Washington and build a NATO-type alliance in the Pacific, and two, resentment of US domination and a wish for Japan to re-establish its autonomy and take its place among the great powers.
The article began relating events surrounding the Balochi insurgency in southwest Pakistan but as it progressed I realized it was an anti-China piece critical of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The port of Gwadar has been an object of interest for some time and tangible evidence of the breakdown of US-Pakistani relations. India is also less than keen on the project.
https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/06/talibans-successful-opium-ban-bad-afghans-and-world
https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-farmers-livelihood-taliban-bans-opium/31803532.html
The United States Institute for Peace or USIP is a mouthpiece for the US government. The fact that this federal agency is required to have both the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense on its board reveals it to be a sham. It does not promote or stand for peace. It cannot with these kinds of imperialist and militarist connections.
At the end of February 2024, Ferdinand 'BongBong' Marcos spoke before the Australian Parliament. It was an important speech, especially for the East Asian theatre and though described as 'historic' it was hardly covered in the West.
Two decades into the twenty-first century Mongolia is
something of an outlier, an outpost nation that straddles North and East Asia
and by some accounts represents the eastern edge of Central Asia. Within this
vast zone, Mongolia (it could be said) represents the last hope of Western
influencers.
Led by the United States, NATO is attempting to expand into
the Asian theatre in preparation for war with China. NATO is opening an office
in Japan, and the US in addition to strengthening ties with Australia, the
Philippines and other nations, is preparing to negotiate for new bases in Papua
New Guinea.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/04/10/indonesia-us-war-games/
Even as the War in Ukraine rages on and the eye of the world
is focused on the NATO frontier, there are storm clouds forming over Asia and
signs that US militarism is preparing to assert itself on the Chinese frontier
as well. Far from being passive, the Biden administration has been at the
forefront of the re-assertion of the US Empire.
From the moment he was elected in 2017, the US has not been
happy with South Korean president Moon Jae-in. A member of the Korean Left and
insufficiently militant, he represents the political heritage in South Korea
that has been resistant to US domination – the same faction which began to
openly rebel from US control in the late 1980's. In South Korea and the rest of
the world, this period marks South Korea's embrace of democracy and the setting
aside of US-sponsored authoritarian rule.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Comprehensive_Economic_Partnership
With the turn of the calendar the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) went into effect on 1 January 2022. Initially meant
to counter the US attempt to re-shape Asian diplomacy and trade by means of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the RCEP represents a geopolitical and
diplomatic victory for Beijing – another sore blow to US hegemony in the
Asia-Pacific.
German parliamentarian and MEP David McAllister speaks for a
large section of the European ruling class. There is both an air of opportunism
and necessity underlying his commentary – his plea for Europe to expand its
interests into the Asia-Pacific region.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/01/russia-asean-naval-drills/
The move by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
to hold joint naval drills with Russia is a slap in the face to China but on a
far greater level to the United States which has earnestly sought to court these
nations since the Obama era. It sends a clear signal that the ASEAN members are
not willing to simply bow to the US, nor are they willing to trust Washington
to any quantifiable degree. They're going to hedge their bets and keep all
options open – which for the US represents a diplomatic defeat.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/10/28/india-tests-ballistic-missile/
As China intensifies its missile programmes, India is keen to
do the same. While Beijing's primary focus is on the US Navy and in particular
its fleet of aircraft carriers, an East Asian War would almost certainly
involve India. Beijing and New Delhi have been on edge for decades and thus
India is pursuing this technology and as with all tests – sending a signal.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58647485
Conscientious Objection is an ancient practice in the Church.
With few exceptions the testimony of the Early Church is near universal –
Christians were opposed to warfare and participation in the military and other
forms of government violence.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/30/philippines-us-military-deal/
During the course of his tenure, Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte
has lashed out at Washington. Angry at the long years of US domination of his
country and the hypocritical condemnation by Washington of his administration
for its brutal policies – he may at last be shifting gears. While he officially
is maintaining his 'independent' foreign policy, his days of cozying up to
China may be at an end. Time will tell but signals suggest Manila may be
pivoting back into the American camp.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/8/us-warns-china-over-moves-on-philippines-taiwan
These types of articles appear almost daily. The US continues
to rattle its sabre and draw lines in the sand – and yet faint lines that can
easily be withdrawn. Washington is pushing for war but it's clear there's still
a good degree of timidity.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/20/japan-must-speed-up-defense-says-minister/
Though it is often presented as a preventative measure, a
type of peace through strength, the truth is militarism always results in conflict.
And Japan has been rattling the sabre for some time. The Japanese Right is
eager to re-arm and re-assert its traditional role in the Asian theatre. They
view Japan as a great power on par with Western nations and now 75 years after
its defeat in WWII – it's time for Japan to re-assume its place.
There have been repeated hints made in Western media that Beijing is somehow behind the coup in Myanmar (Burma). While the ruling party (CCP) of China is undoubtedly an evil organisation, I was immediately sceptical of the claims. Once again, just because Xi Jinping is an evil persecutor of the Church does not mean that we as Christians need to hop on to the Western propaganda bandwagon. We need to hold the truth and remember that just because the Chinese government is evil – it does not follow that Western powers like the US or UK are somehow 'good'.
I hate to admit it but in this case Beijing does have a
point. Actually their statements are rather restrained – Beijing has only
touched upon the tip of the iceberg.
