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Articles by Cherry Hitkari
How China’s analysts view the US-Iran war
This article was first published on Pacific Forum and is republished with permission. Read the original here. The United States and Israel launched a “pre-emptive” joint missile attack on Iran on Feb.
Tokyo, Manila moves arouse Chinese concerns about Asian mini NATO
Manila’s adoption of Japan’s “one theater concept” has further escalated tensions with China.
Tokyo, Manila moves arouse Chinese concerns about Asian mini NATO - Asia Times
2 hours ago A military exercise drawing together 19 nations and 35,000 forces begins in Australia MELBOURNE, Australia — The largest-ever war fighting drills in Australia, Exercise Talisman Sabre, is underway and expected to attract the attention of Chinese spy ships.
Bring women to the table to talk ocean sustainability
Oceans are essential to global food supplies. And collectively, the G20 nations constitute 45 per cent of the world’s coastlines and 21 per cent of its exclusive economic zones. This makes the grouping a critical forum for not just climate regulation and global connectivity but also for attaining sustainable economic growth.
The Solomon Islands PM’s Foreign Visits: More Than a Balancing Act
Caught in the eye of a geopolitical storm, the Solomon Islands is back in the news, this time over newly elected Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s first foreign visits since taking office in May. Manele, who took off for Australia in late June, is set to visit China this week, followed by a trip to Japan.
Can Zelenskyy’s Swiss Summit bring peace for Ukraine?
From a surprise visit to Asia’s premier security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore to hopping on flights bound for Qatar, the Philippines and France, to clinching a 225 million USD military aid package and an apology for delay from the American President: it has been quite a busy week for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His chief aim being to rally as many nations as possible to attend the upcoming peace conference in Switzerland.
Blue Pacific Initiative needs to step up its game
June 2024 will mark the two-year anniversary of the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) Initiative, launched by the US with four other member states (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom) and three partner countries (South Korea, France, and Germany). Meanwhile, US political divisions not only threaten a halt to Ukraine funding or a government shutdown, scenarios that dominate the headlines.
The Sad Truth behind Nauru’s diplomatic switches
Switching allies Lai Ching-te was yet to wind up celebrations of his Presidential victory when Taiwan woke up to the news of Nauru breaking off diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognising Beijing.
Lai Ching-te and the Challenges Ahead for Taiwan
Securing Presidential victory in one of the major democratic elections this year was just the beginning of what Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has to deal with. Cross-Strait Blues No prizes for guessing— relations with China dominated the elections as the three major political parties deliberated on how to manage tensions across the 110 mile Strait.
VESSEL REVIEW | Pyotr Velikiy – Russian river cruise ship with 310-guest capacity - Baird Maritime
Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation, via its Lotos Shipyard division, has completed the main construction phase of the river cruise ship Pyotr Velikiy (“Peter the Great”). The newbuild is owned by Moscow River Shipping Company and is to be operated by Mosturflot. It belongs to the Project PV300VD series of river cruise ships derived from the Project PV300 series designed by local naval architecture firm Marine Engineering Bureau.
VESSEL REVIEW | Marin Mainiku – New inter-island ferry for Kiribati owner - Baird Maritime
China’s Zhoushan Ningxing Shipbuilding has handed over a new Ro-Pax ferry to Kiribati National Shipping Line (KNSL). Marin Mainiku has an LOA of 39 metres, a draught of 2.2 metres, a depth of 3.6 metres, a gross tonnage of 441, and capacity for 49 passengers, six vehicles, and six 20-foot containers. Loading and unloading of freight will be done using a large bow ramp. When sailing on passenger-only voyages, the ferry can transport up to 150 people.
COLUMN | What are the consequences of the offshore surge? Tidewater’s triumph provides Chinese yards with boom, and starts North Sea exodus [Offshore Accounts] - Baird Maritime
One of the delights of the offshore market recovery has been the surge in charter rates for platform supply vessels (PSVs) around the world. Tidewater’s triumphant presentation at the Barclays CEO Energy Conference earlier this month showed the potency of the market recovery that the company has driven ever onwards and upwards after its acquisition of the Swire Pacific Offshore and Solstad PSVs fleets.
Focus on Passenger Vessels
Baird Maritime ends the month of September by devoting this entire week to the passenger vessel sector. We review a variety of vessels, the notable inclusions being a whale-watching boat for Alaskan waters, an inland river cruise ship for a Russian operator, and an inter-island ferry for Kiribati. Ferries • Ro-Pax • Marine Tourism • Cruise • River/Lake Operations The vessels’ propulsion systems are also varied.
OPINION | How China sees its conflict with the Philippines
Tensions are high again in the South China Sea. While Beijing attempts to tighten its grip on the region with a new ten-dash line, a multi-billion dollar military modernisation drive is underway in the Philippines. Manila’s resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre warship, deliberately grounded in 1999 at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal and now serving as a Filipino outpost, is at the eye of the storm.
How China sees its conflict with the Philippines
Tensions are high again in the South China Sea. While Beijing attempts to tighten its grip on the region with a new ten-dash line, a multi-billion dollar military modernisation drive is underway in the Philippines. Manila’s resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre warship, deliberately grounded in 1999 at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal and now serving as a Filipino outpost, is at the eye of the storm.
India-China Maritime Race and Its Potential Implications
Throughout history, military technology has played an important role in shaping warfare and states behavior towards each other as they looked to exploit technological advancements and innovations to make progress in war zones.
How China's BRI changed the world over the past decade
China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 as a sizable infrastructure development initiative to connect Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes through a network of various projects. According to data from the World Bank, the BRI covers 71 economies geographically located along BRI transport corridors, including China, which accounts for 40 percent of global merchandise exports and 35 percent of global foreign direct investments.
Charting a green Belt and Road
Initially conceived as the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seeks to connect "the vibrant East Asian economic circle at one end and developed European economic circle at the other" and enhance intra- and inter-regional connectivity through a series of land and maritime infrastructure projects, trade agreements and investments that span cooperation in cyberspace, blue economy and...
Charting a green Belt and Road
Editor's note: Cherry Hitkari, a special commentator for CGTN, is an Advisory Board member at Modern Diplomacy. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
Great power politics pulling at Pacific unity
The Pacific Islands have consistently sought a stronger regional voice since the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum in 1971, most recently manifesting in the Blue Pacific Continent. But now increased attention from great powers threatens such regional efforts.
How China sees Russia's Wagner fiasco
“Within a day, with not a single shot fired and not a drop of blood seen, the ‘armed rebellion’ that attracted global attention was settled.” That’s how one Chinese news commentary described the Wagner incident that shook Russia. However, in the aftermath of the short-lived uprising, views in China remain diverse and often conflicting. The official response from China has been muted.
Shangri-La: A missed chance for US-China dialogue
The speech by China’s Defence Minister Li Shangfu’s at the latest Shangri-La Dialogue has caused a further stir in regional relations, with commentaries in China hailing Li for pushing back against Washington’s “interference”, while to many in the West, his words reflected Beijing’s growing belligerence. But it was the missed opportunity of any high-level military-to-military dialogue between China and the United States on the sidelines that marked the bleakest moment for this conference.
Can more bricks at BRICS build a new world order?
Applications from 19 countries it to the desk of the BRICS South African Ambassador seeking formal and informal membership. While this clearly marks the shift of the axis away from Global North, will an expanded BRICS inaugurate a new world order?
If Paris sneezes, will Europe catch cold?
The Austrian Chancellor Metternich once said “Quand Paris s’enrhume, l’Europe prend froid” (“When Paris sneezes, Europe catches cold”). With the French President Emmanuel Macron Beijing in early April, can France lead the rapprochement between the European Union and China?
Can Lula walk the tightrope between Washington and Beijing?
In every presidential administration, there is a correlation between space policy evolution and significant events. The process of developing space policy in the United States lacked foresight. Every government seemed to start again when it came to the development of space policy. In this article will see space policy evolution divided into two historical periods.
Modernisation, Chinese Style
Recent events on the Korean Peninsula have only resulted from and added to the era of hostilities between North and South Korea. Amidst a series of reactions and counteractions from both the countries, the inter-Korean relations have suffered, leading to security concerns and uncertainty for not just the Northeast Asian region but the entire world.
As Taliban sits on a powder keg, Biden has other priorities
“Together, we did what America always does at our best. We led.”, said US President Joe Biden as he summed up American foreign policy in his 2023 State of the Union Address. However, what remained conspicuously absent from one the most important events in Washington’s political calendar was any reference to the Taliban.
A Balloon and Two States
A Chinese balloon floating in American airspace has finally persuaded US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to postpone his much awaited visit to Beijing. The Incident The balloon was first spotted on February 1, 2023 by the Canadian defence authorities which stated that its movement was being monitored by NORAD in alliance with American partners.
Australia-Laos relations and the need for a broader Indo-Pacific Endeavour
Fostering a good bilateral relationship has been the key dynamic between Australia and Indonesia. The two countries have been cooperating with each other in order to achieve national enhancement in various aspects such as security, culture, and economy. Specifically, in aspects of economics, the two countries are aware of their potential and how they are complementary to each other.
Where will Imran’s march lead Pakistan’s Politics?
The Taliban movement is still the terrorist organization with a radical Islamist ideology. With the support of Pakistani military the organization is also a global jihad supporter that, however, prefers not partaking in it and to limit itself only to funding other global terrorist organizations. Even so, we can talk about some evolution within the movement, which is like developing some rationality.
Can China build a “community” for shared oceans?
While China’s growing naval presence has garnered much attention, awareness about its global maritime governance model remains limited. President Xi Jinping has spoken about “building a maritime community with a shared future” as part of a vision for what he has called a Community of Common Destiny.
Russia and the end of North Korea’s Tong-mi bong-nam strategy
During the Samarkand summit which was held during September 15-16, the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) signed the landmark Samarkand Declaration, advanced Iran’s accession, start the process for Belarus to become a full member, while approving Bahrain, Maldives, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Myanmar as dialogue partners.
Factionalism in the Chinese Communist Party: From Mao to Now
North Korea became a nuclear-weapons state in 2006 after successfully performing a nuclear test. It is estimated that it has a nuclear weapons stockpile of 30 to 40 warheads. North Korea was a signatory to NPT until 2003, when it dropped out. North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in October 2006, and after six-party discussions, North Korea agreed to shut down all its key reactors and allow IAEA inspections, but it conducted its second nuclear test in May 2009.
China’s Taiwan Policy in the “New Era”
Beijing’s latest white paper on Taiwan is a marked shift in tone from the more accommodating versions past.
China’s Taiwan policy in the “new era”
After a spree of military exercises to protest US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, China has released a white paper to “reiterate” its stance on Taiwan in the “new era”. The document is not only the first white paper on Taiwan since Xi Jinping assumed power, delivered amid the in cross-Straits relations in recent decades, but also significantly departs from the strategy Beijing had defined in the previous two white papers, issued in 1993 and 2000.
Marcos tries the balancing act with Beijing and Washington
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. By Cherry Hitkari Manila— When Ferdinand Marcos Jr (aka Bongbong Marcos) won the Philippines presidency in May, his victory was quickly read to be a highly favorable development for China. But several factors obstruct close ties.
A Game of Brinkmanship: Pelosi’s Taiwan visit and what China is likely to do
Global politics is taking new shifts with ever evolving strategic calculus by global powers. The recent, Russia Ukraine crisis has emerged as pivotal in international politics of 21st century on which future geo-political decisions will be made or assessed. These crisis also hold significance as it is in-between global powers and whites are directly effected by it. The future trajectory of global politics very much lies on the outcome of Russia Ukraine crisis.
Bongbong Marcos tries the balancing act with Beijing and Washington
When Ferdinand Marcos Jr (aka Bongbong Marcos) won the Philippines presidency in May, his victory was quickly read to be a highly favourable development for China. But several factors obstruct close ties. For a start, Marcos, son of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, contested the elections alongside vice presidential candidate and former president Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Caprio, and has vowed to continue the “independent foreign policy” of his predecessor.
How Korean War Continues to Shape South Korean Politics
The Korean War (1950-53) which marked North Korea’s unilateral attempt to reunify the Korean peninsula by absorbing South Korea had far reaching implications for both Pyongyang and Seoul. While up North it led to the formation of a security state dominated by the personality cult of the Kim family, it shaped political forces down South in several ways which continue to be felt even seven decades after the guns have silenced.
Commentary: Quad leaders have a problem with China and North Korea's relationship
Commentary When Quad leaders gathered earlier this year, North Korea's missile launches were on their minds. But their main focus, while not explicitly named, is clearly China, says this academic. 10 Jun 2022 06:00AM (Updated: 10 Jun 2022 06:00AM) NEW DELHI: North Korea at least waited until United States President Joe Biden had left Asia before launching another volley of missiles to splash into the sea.
The Pyongyang problem for the Quad
North Korea at least waited until US President Joe Biden had left Asia to splash into the sea. American officials had braced for a potential show of force by Pyongyang as Biden toured the region last month for meetings culminating with the “Quad” nations, India, United States, Japan and Australia.
Extending the Olive Branch: China-Australia Relations
It is the third time Beijing has extended an arm of friendship towards Canberra since the new Australian Labour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assumed power. The desperate move comes at an interesting juncture of geopolitical and economic tensions between the two nations.
Holding on to Uncle Sam: US-Taiwan Relations
The bilateral ties between the United States of America and Taiwan or the Republic of China (ROC) have developed through a peculiar and complex course. The relationship, however ambiguous, continues to form a crucial aspect of security relations in East Asia.
Strange Allies: North Korea-Iran Relations
Although Beijing has extended firm diplomatic support to Russia during the Ukraine conflict, it appears unwilling to back Moscow in a whole-hearted manner to avert Western sanctions due to the fear of secondary sanctions.
The Lingering Shadow of Militarism on South Korea
It has been three and a half decades since South Korea made its historic transition to democracy and its leaders vowed never to let the military take over the reins of governance ever again. While much water has flown down the bridge since then, the shadow of Militarism of the yester years continues to linger. The Era of Militarism South Korea’s post colonial political history has been divided into Six Republics, each marked by a major Constitutional amendment.
Of Global Security and Common Destiny
China’s ‘Community of Common Destiny for Mankind’ (人类命运共同体) or ‘Community for Shared Future of Mankind’ is back in the news as President Xi Jinping brought up the phrase yet again at the Boao Forum this year. Interestingly, Xi presented a plan of a Global Security Initiative emphasising on our “common destiny”. What are the motives and how far can it go? What is Community of Common Destiny for Mankind?
Balancing the Rights of Nature and Economic Development: The case of Boric’s Chile
Diplomatic manoeuvring by Russia and Ukraine on the issue of a peace agreement, or at least a ceasefire, naturally raise the question of a possible lifting of Western sanctions against Russia. American officials have already made it clear that Washington will lift the previously-imposed sanctions if the current military operation is ceased. The US is trying to use sanctions as an incentive to push Moscow to engage in negotiations.
The Imran Debacle and Challenges for Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Original
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan becomes yet another Prime Minister in the South Asian nation’s history who failed to complete a full five year term. Losing the no confidence motion in the National Assembly this week, Imran Khan has left behind a trail of foreign policy challenges for the new government. The Dramatic Rise and Fall Imran Khan won the Prime Ministerial elections in 2018 by securing 110 out of 294 seats in the 2018 elections which were quickly alleged to be .
The 2022 Presidential Elections in the Philippines
As the Philippines go down to vote for a new President on May 9, let’s have a look at how democracy functions in the archipelago and what can be expected from the upcoming elections.
A Decade in Power: Reviewing Kim Jong-un’s Economic Policies
An average person primarily knows North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un for two things: the nuclear bombs and his ruthless rule. As he finishes his first decade in power in April this year, let’s have a look at a much lesser scrutinised aspect of Kim’s rule, the economic policies. A Rough Start Little was known about Kim Jong-un when he was announced as his father’s “Great Successor” in December 2011.
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