One significant outcome of the European financial crisis was the impact on Europe-Asia relations. For the first time in history, Europe started taking Asia seriously. But now, the crisis in Ukraine has overtaken the foreign policy agenda, to the detriment of Europe’s relations with Asia,...
Hong Kong is now into its third week of mass protests, with no clear end in sight. But how is the rest of the world reacting to the situation in Hong Kong? Given Hong Kong's status as a former British colony, parliamentarians and ministers from the...
China will be able to ease fears that it is buying political influence with its proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), if it can have the multilateral bank headquartered in an ASEAN financial capital and not a Chinese city, says SIIA Chairman Simon Tay. China’s initiative for...
At the end of September, the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines announced they were holding a German man and woman hostage. The group also threatened to kill one of their captives by October 17 unless their demands were met - including Germany’s withdrawal from...
Financial institutions, retail chains and consumers should play a part in encouraging sustainable corporate practices, the SIIA chairman Simon Tay told Channel NewsAsia on Talking Point. “At the macro level, we can see that the traders and producers are starting to care (about sustainable practices). The...
When Japanese and American trade negotiators met in Washington DC last week, their bilateral discussions mattered to many other countries. The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has grown to include twelve countries that represent some 40 per cent of global GDP and about one-third of all...
As Singapore gears up for its 50th anniversary of independence next year, the country and its people are looking with anticipation to its leaders for the key directions and focus that will shape its future in the next five decades and beyond. Indeed, much global attention...
MEDIA freedom and out-of-bound markers were issues raised last night at a dialogue on Singapore's future as the country turns 50 next year. The dialogue, organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and attended by about 20 of its members, was on the sort...
Chinese President Xi Jinping just concluded his rounds in South Asia, with recent visits to India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to build on bilateral ties as well as to deepen economic cooperation. Back home, China also unveiled its economic plans for Asia through forums like...
After Scottish voters delivered a relatively clear decision in the referendum on independence for Scotland, the bargaining for further powers to be devolved to the Scottish government has already begun. This was promised by the leaders of the three main Westminster parties in the lead...