Category: Geopolitics
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China’s Strategic Calculations in Indonesia’s 2024 Political Year: Investments, Elections, and Geopolitical Stakes
China’s role in Indonesia’s 2024 political year is not limited to economics but extends into geopolitics and diplomacy. This essay analyzes how Beijing positions itself through massive investments, imported workers, and strategic influence over elections. By monitoring political coalitions, safeguarding mega-projects, and navigating South China Sea disputes, China seeks continuity and protection of its long-term…
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China’s Debt Dilemma and Its Global Consequences
Introduction The rise of China has been one of the defining stories of the 21st century. After a relatively closed economy in the late 1970s, China has emerged as the world’s second-largest economy and a formidable global actor. Many have hailed its growth model—driven by manufacturing, exports, and increasingly by digital innovation—as a miracle. Yet…
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Has China Won? Kishore Mahbubani on America’s Strategic Dilemma in the 21st Century
Kishore Mahbubani’s Has China Won? opens with a bold provocation: can America truly lose to China? Drawing lessons from history, Mahbubani argues that the United States risks misreading China by framing it as merely a communist adversary, rather than a civilization-state playing the long game of wei qi. With American soft power in decline and…
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A Family Affair in the Kingdom: Javanese Nepotism from Court to Republic
A satirical yet rigorous tour of Javanese “family power,” from royal courts and political marriages to today’s dynasties. The essay dissects how KKN undercuts meritocracy, public services, and trust—then maps realistic reforms toward fair, expert-led governance. Culture matters, but so do rules that reward competence over surname.
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US–China Trade War: Economic Impacts, Global Reactions, and the Future of Made in China
The US–China trade war is reshaping global supply chains, tariffs, and technology markets. From iPhone production shifts to ASEAN diplomacy, this article explores economic impacts, public narratives, and the future of “Made in China” products amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
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US–China Trade Tensions and Indonesia’s Strategy under Prabowo Subianto
The escalating trade tensions between the United States and China are reshaping global politics and economics. For Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto, this rivalry presents both risks and opportunities. This article explores how Prabowo’s sovereignty-driven vision seeks to balance economic growth, military strength, and diplomatic independence in the face of a new Cold War dynamic…
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Is War in Southeast Asia Inevitable? Geopolitics, History, and Rising Tensions
Is war in Southeast Asia inevitable? History shows the region has long been scarred by conflict, from the Srivijaya and Majapahit kingdoms to the Vietnam War. Today, China, India, and the US are reshaping the balance of power, with the South China Sea emerging as a dangerous flashpoint. Smaller ASEAN states face immense pressure as…