REG-DIP

In the dynamic landscape of international relations, few regional organizations have managed to navigate the complexities and challenges as adeptly as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

On 20 July Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that Henry Kissinger had recently celebrated his 100th birthday and had visited the People’s Republic of China more than a hundred times. The combination of these two “hundreds” makes this time’s visit to the People’s Republic of China particularly significant. 

On July 27, 2023, Bill Nelson, a NASA Administrator, sparked concerns in Argentina during his visit to that country. His remarks about China’s achievements in lunar and Martian exploration and the competition with China being termed a “space race” raised eyebrows among Argentine officials and the public. Analysts speculated that Nelson’s comments might be an attempt to undermine Argentina-China space cooperation, particularly the joint operation of the Neuquén Deep Space Station. 

South Korea is trying to benefit from the tripartite coordination mechanism with Washington and Tokyo to confront the dangers of its northern neighbor in light of Pyongyang’s continued military escalation. However, Washington’s goal of forming an alliance between the three countries to confront Beijing faces some doubts, given that Seoul does not see Beijing as an enemy like Tokyo. As for Japan, it is clear that it will continue to coordinate with Washington to support its efforts to curb Chinese military expansion in the East Asia and South Pacific region. 

Recently, the Chinese PLA Northern Theater Command and Russian naval and air forces conducted a joint China-Russia “Northern/Interaction-2023” exercise in the Sea of Japan, as part of their annual cooperation program. The exercise garnered significant attention, as it involved main warships, support ships and naval aviation units from both nations. Key aspects of the exercise included joint fire strike training and coordinated maritime operations, focusing on safeguarding strategic sea passages, enhancing operational capabilities, strengthening strategic coordination and ensuring security in international waters and airspace. Overall, the exercise conveyed three important messages: 

The Republic of Türkiye, formerly known as “Turkey”, has long been a member of NATO, and linked with Europe and the USA for its national defense needs. In recent years Türkiye, like Indonesia, has adopted a stance of self-reliance in its defense; this includes building up a base of defense-oriented manufacturing companies.

Children across the world born in the year 2000 are now reaching mature age by 2030. This generation, born in a computerized age of immense global connectivity, knows far more and beyond than any previous civilization at that age. 

Annual foreign ministers’ meetings focusing on East Asian cooperation were successfully held in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 11 to 14. The international community closely observed the discussions and outcomes of these meetings, which covered a wide range of topics and resulted in the passage of over ten documents. Notably, the Joint Statement on the 20th Anniversary of China’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the guidelines on expediting the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) garnered significant attention. 

France’s recent riots in 2023 are a clear manifestation of the systemic issue of institutional racism that plagues the country and demands urgent attention and action. In 2023, France witnessed a wave of riots and protests that shook the nation to its core. While these events were sparked by a specific incident, such as police brutality or a discriminatory act, they represent a much deeper and systemic problem: institutional racism.

On June 28, the Japanese Defense Ministry unveiled Defense Technology Guideline 2023, which serves as a comprehensive framework outlining Japan’s objectives, roadmap, and key tasks for advancing defense technology. This guideline represents a significant part of Japan’s national security strategy and provides a strategic direction for the country’s military technology innovation and development over the medium and long term. 

Transnational crime is an issue that directly intersects with human security. The development of the world is still ongoing and offers various conveniences in all respects for human life. But at the same time, this convenience also has consequences for the security of the world community and requires them to be more careful about possible adverse impacts that may occur.