China
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Outsourcing Gambling: The Rise of Chinese Digital Betting and Digital Crimes in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian border states are experiencing a boom of Chinese-operated gambling syndicates. This proliferation of casinos and digital crimes parallels China’s ingenuine crackdown and criminalization of cross-border gambling. Both Chinese and Southeast Asian states play significant roles in propping up these syndicates, calling for attention and intervention of the international…
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China’s Semiconductor Investment Defies Economics—But Makes Perfect Strategic Sense
In 2024, China launched the third instalment of its National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, a $48 billion investment vehicle to turbocharge the nation’s semiconductor industry, even as it continues to lag behind industry leaders. The country has decided to double down on what appears to be an economically irrational…
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Can a Mediation Court Rebrand a Repressed City? China’s Soft-Power Gamble in Hong Kong
In May 2025, China launched the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong, branding it as an alternative to Western dispute resolution forums like the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). While analysts have focused on its legal structure and geopolitical goals, less attention has been paid…
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Drama in Manila: Duterte vs Marcos Feud Determines Future of the Philippines
The escalating rivalry between former President Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has evolved into a defining moment for Philippine politics and foreign policy. As the country grapples with the fallout of Duterte’s arrest and deepening political polarization ahead of the 2028 presidential race, the contest between the…
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Persian Gulf’s AI-ization: Playing Both Sides in a Bipolar Tech World
Guest Article by Mostafa Bushehri Caught between Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, the Gulf is betting its oil fortune on becoming the world’s next AI super-node. “We are in the age of a huge industrial revolution that will change the rules of politics, economics, and societies,” declared Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad…
Sino-Southeast Initiative 