https://www.scmp.com/rss/323990/feed Peter TC Chang is a research associate at the Malaysia-China Friendship Association and a former deputy director in the Institute of China Studies at University Malaya. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang With the coming summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump back on schedule for May, the two leaders present two starkly different paths for the world: one defined by a “community with a shared future” and the other driven by unpredictable impulses of rivalry and division. While Trump postponed the April summit to engage Xi without the distractions of the war he launched on Iran, a swift resolution before their meeting does not seem likely – despite the newly... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349273/can-community-shared-future-prevail-over-zero-sum-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349273/can-community-shared-future-prevail-over-zero-sum-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide electoral victory on Sunday signals a troubling shift: Japan’s unsettling turn to the right. In a post-US-led world order, safeguarding Japan’s security will require reaffirming, not abandoning, its post-war pacifist constitution. At the recent World Economic Forum annual meeting at Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a telling admission about the US-led international rules-based order: it was never truly fair. Canada benefited from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343064/takaichis-anti-china-stance-wont-bolster-japans-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3343064/takaichis-anti-china-stance-wont-bolster-japans-security?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang Beyond disrupting China’s global initiatives, Washington’s aggressive execution of a revived Monroe Doctrine risks undermining US President Donald Trump’s own stated aim of safeguarding the western hemisphere and Western civilisation. The 2025 US National Security Strategy warned that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” due to immigration, essentially urging a revival of European nationalism. Echoing similar anxieties at home, US conservatives – through initiatives such as Project 2025 – seek... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340723/how-trumps-revival-monroe-doctrine-undermines-us-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340723/how-trumps-revival-monroe-doctrine-undermines-us-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang US President Donald Trump’s hopes for a grand deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping are being undercut by American allies’ self-interested amplification of the “China threat”. This year’s Nanking massacre memorial was particularly poignant in light of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial remarks on Taiwan. Beijing warned that any attempt to challenge the post-war international order or undermine established historical truths would be “doomed to failure”. Meanwhile, Singaporean... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338033/if-trump-wants-deal-china-he-must-rein-us-allies-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338033/if-trump-wants-deal-china-he-must-rein-us-allies-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang Amid the climate crisis, China’s quiet leadership in the fight for a sustainable future offers a reason for optimism, particularly for the Global South. After two weeks of contentious negotiations, Cop30 in Brazil concluded with an uneasy deal that sidestepped any mention of fossil fuels, exposing deep divisions and mounting frustrations. Indeed, even as Cop30 convened, the world was already suffering “summit fatigue”. After decades of lofty declarations and limited follow-through, many question... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3333752/trump-casts-pall-over-cop30-chinas-quiet-leadership-inspires-hope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3333752/trump-casts-pall-over-cop30-chinas-quiet-leadership-inspires-hope?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:30:10 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang With the Philippines set to succeed Malaysia next year as chair of Asean, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations faces challenges both within and beyond the region. It must remain united and continue to resist taking sides in the great power rivalry. The 47th Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur was a fitting finale to an exceptional year as the bloc’s profile continued to rise. Adding to this was the admission of East Timor – an important milestone that completes the Asean family and underscores... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3331935/can-asean-maintain-its-neutrality-manila-takes-chair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3331935/can-asean-maintain-its-neutrality-manila-takes-chair?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:30:14 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang Eighty years on, the Global South’s pursuit of a just world order remains overshadowed by the unresolved legacies of the second world war. At China’s Victory Day parade last week, President Xi Jinping warned that the world stands at a crossroads – between peace and war. He urged nations to learn from history to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe that engulfed the world eight decades ago. In the lead-up to the commemoration, concerns intensified over Japan’s perceived lack of genuine remorse for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3324772/chinas-victory-day-parade-heralds-new-vision-old-wounds-linger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3324772/chinas-victory-day-parade-heralds-new-vision-old-wounds-linger?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang The inaugural summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China, recently held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, went beyond underscoring Asia’s growing geoeconomic prominence – it also served to position the continent as a catalyst for a cultural renaissance. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, the current Asean chair, has long maintained the principle of neutrality as essential to maintaining the bloc’s centrality. One... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3312347/beyond-trade-asean-gcc-china-summit-heralds-asias-cultural-renaissance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3312347/beyond-trade-asean-gcc-china-summit-heralds-asias-cultural-renaissance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang As an American pontiff with deep ties to the Global South, Pope Leo XIV represents a powerful counterbalance to US President Donald Trump’s world view. The pope’s dedication to the marginalised and support for diversity could inspire and help lead to a more equitable and inclusive world order. Given the United States’ status as a global superpower, the idea of an American pontiff has often been met with reservation. Leading up to the conclave to choose the next pope after the death of Pope... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3310259/pope-leo-stands-counterpoint-trumps-polarising-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3310259/pope-leo-stands-counterpoint-trumps-polarising-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Peter T. C. Chang Peter T. C. Chang US President Donald Trump’s unpredictability and the tariff war are complicating the tense transition of the world’s economic centre from the Global North to the Global South. However, an America at war with itself could make this shift even more volatile. In April, Harvard University sued the Trump administration over its threats to freeze research funding. While Columbia University chose to comply with the White House, Harvard is fighting back in a defiant stand to defend academic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3308548/trumps-unpredictability-and-fractured-us-are-dangerous-mix?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3308548/trumps-unpredictability-and-fractured-us-are-dangerous-mix?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 12:30:09 +0000 As Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Southeast Asia, a lesson from the Ming era remains relevant. Without united and open engagement, the Global South risks falling once again to imperialist subjugation. Following a stopover in Vietnam, Xi arrives in Malaysia on Tuesday on a state visit before concluding his Southeast Asian tour in Cambodia. This three-nation trip comes at a pivotal moment as both the region and the broader international community continue to grapple with the repercussions of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3306342/xi-jinping-visits-malaysia-lessons-ming-dynasty-could-be-useful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3306342/xi-jinping-visits-malaysia-lessons-ming-dynasty-could-be-useful?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:30:09 +0000 US President Donald Trump’s assault on American universities is pushing the country’s intellectual landscape further towards the right in an upheaval that is altering the dynamics of the US-China great power rivalry. After facing the threat of a US$400 million reduction in federal funding, Columbia University has yielded to Trump’s demands to curb antisemitism and reform its Middle East studies department, among other changes. Liberal critics have decried Columbia’s compliance as an erosion of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3303651/how-trumps-assault-us-universities-reshaping-rivalry-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3303651/how-trumps-assault-us-universities-reshaping-rivalry-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:30:08 +0000 US President Donald Trump’s assault on American universities is pushing the country’s intellectual landscape further towards the right in an upheaval that is altering the dynamics of the US-China great power rivalry. After facing the threat of a US$400 million reduction in federal funding, Columbia University has yielded to Trump’s demands to curb antisemitism and reform its Middle East studies department, among other changes. Liberal critics have decried Columbia’s compliance as an erosion of... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3303731/how-trumps-assault-us-universities-reshaping-rivalry-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3303731/how-trumps-assault-us-universities-reshaping-rivalry-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:31:47 +0000 US President Donald Trump’s penchant for shaking things up is fracturing the Global North. The Global South must remain steadfast in its commitment to peaceful development and seize this moment to advance a more equitable and just global order. One of the central focuses of last week’s “two sessions”, China’s annual parliamentary meetings, is the increasingly prominent role of private technology companies in driving the country’s development. Indeed, a decade after the launch of the “Made in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3301538/how-global-south-can-rise-above-fray-west-fractures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3301538/how-global-south-can-rise-above-fray-west-fractures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:30:08 +0000 The inhumane destruction of Gaza is a stark reminder of the failures of a crumbling world order led by the United States. The Global South must seize the moment to pull together and work towards realising a shared future for humankind. Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly relocate Palestinians and transform Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has sparked global outrage. Many condemned the plan as a potential second Nakba, echoing the catastrophic displacement of Palestinians from their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3299156/ashes-gaza-global-south-must-build-another-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3299156/ashes-gaza-global-south-must-build-another-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:30:07 +0000 US foreign policy is torn between president-elect Donald Trump’s transactional nationalism and the establishment’s fixation with global primacy. To achieve a more inclusive and equitable world order, the Global South must strategically counterbalance these contrasting American tendencies. This year, Malaysia will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), under the theme of “inclusivity and sustainability”. The new year also marks Malaysia’s entry into the Brics grouping as a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3293002/how-global-south-can-resist-us-hegemony-and-its-isolationism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3293002/how-global-south-can-resist-us-hegemony-and-its-isolationism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 21:30:07 +0000 For all the anticipated unpredictability and chaos, Trump 2.0 may offer the world a reprieve from ideological entanglement and military intervention. However, this respite could be short-lived, as the United States may quickly revert to its familiar pattern of ideological and military overreach. US president-elect Donald Trump has threatened Brics nations with tariffs if they attempt to undermine the dominance of the US dollar. He has also issued similar threats against China, Mexico and even... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3290325/trump-20-could-offer-reprieve-us-hegemony-only-briefly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3290325/trump-20-could-offer-reprieve-us-hegemony-only-briefly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:30:09 +0000 Trump 2.0 could signal the end of an era defined by US-led globalisation. To tackle the urgent crises confronting humanity, the international community must stay committed to the principles of open engagement and pursue globalisation 2.0 – charting a path independent of American leadership. This week, world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the G20 summit. But its significance – and Biden’s presence in particular – has been overshadowed by Trump’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3287413/trumps-re-election-could-mark-end-era-dominated-us-led-globalisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3287413/trumps-re-election-could-mark-end-era-dominated-us-led-globalisation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:30:07 +0000 The emergence of Brics – a bloc of developing economies named after early members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – reflects the Global South’s aspiration for a more inclusive and equitable world order. Rather than hinder this effort, the Global North should emulate the Global South policy of open engagement. At stake is not just the creation of a fairer economic system but also our collective ability to address urgent global challenges such as climate change, pandemics and the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3283572/brics-leads-global-south-open-engagement-us-has-much-learn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3283572/brics-leads-global-south-open-engagement-us-has-much-learn?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Oct 2024 21:30:08 +0000 Neutrality is essential to maintaining Southeast Asia’s stability and prosperity. To uphold Asean’s centrality, the region must remain steadfast in resisting the pressure to choose sides. As Malaysia seeks membership of Brics, the emerging economies bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to attend the grouping’s summit in Kazan, Russia, later this month. This, plus his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3281384/asean-neutrality-remains-key-regional-peace-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3281384/asean-neutrality-remains-key-regional-peace-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:30:08 +0000 Neutrality is essential to maintaining Southeast Asia’s stability and prosperity. To uphold Asean’s centrality, the region must remain steadfast in resisting the pressure to choose sides. As Malaysia seeks membership of Brics, the emerging economies bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to attend the grouping’s summit in Kazan, Russia, later this month. This, plus his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3281698/asean-centrality-remains-key-regional-peace-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3281698/asean-centrality-remains-key-regional-peace-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:44:32 +0000 China’s technological expertise has the potential to transform the world, but its expanding educational influence has left some feeling marginalised and threatened. To address these concerns and harness China’s soft power as a positive force for change, it’s essential to adopt a multilingual approach and foster trust among different cultures. In June, China’s Premier Li Qiang visited Malaysia to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A key indicator... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3277529/chinas-education-exports-malaysia-trust-and-sensitivity-are-key?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3277529/chinas-education-exports-malaysia-trust-and-sensitivity-are-key?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Sep 2024 03:00:11 +0000 As its soft power is increasingly challenged, the United States appears to be relying more on its hard power to uphold its vision of a rules-based international order. In contrast, China is establishing the socioeconomic and civilisational foundations of an equitable world order through its vision of a “community with a shared future”. On Sunday, amid rising concern that a broader regional conflict is in the offing, Israel and Hezbollah engaged in their most intense cross-border strikes since... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3276119/chinas-soft-power-making-its-mark-us-doubles-down-military-might?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3276119/chinas-soft-power-making-its-mark-us-doubles-down-military-might?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:30:42 +0000 Widely seen as an economic powerhouse, China is also emerging as a facilitator of peace. However, for better or worse, it is the actions of the United States that will ultimately determine the trajectory of the ongoing global conflicts. The killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and the retaliation against Hezbollah in Beirut risk expanding the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war. Nonetheless, Israel remains undeterred. In July, during his address to a joint session of Congress,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3273370/despite-chinas-diplomatic-rise-us-still-holds-key-wars-ukraine-and-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3273370/despite-chinas-diplomatic-rise-us-still-holds-key-wars-ukraine-and-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 21:30:08 +0000 China’s rise has rekindled civilisational pride among some overseas Chinese communities, including those in Malaysia. However, Malaysian Chinese have also forged a distinctive localised cultural identity, intertwined with an unmistakable sense of national belonging as Malaysians. Beijing has long recognised overseas Chinese as an essential bridge linking China to the outside world. In recent years, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council has intensified its efforts to strengthen... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3266676/malaysias-chinese-retain-deep-rooted-sense-national-belonging-despite-pride-chinas-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3266676/malaysias-chinese-retain-deep-rooted-sense-national-belonging-despite-pride-chinas-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 03:00:15 +0000 Despite numerous foreign policy missteps, the US continues to portray itself as the champion of freedom and rights. But the Gaza crisis may ultimately shatter America’s facade as the guardian of the rules-based world order. As pro-Palestinian protests erupted across US university campuses, senators and wealthy donors alike began pushing for a clampdown, testing an American core value: freedom of speech. Sure, freedom has its limits, but determining when a peaceful demonstration turns into a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3263661/growing-pro-gaza-movement-exposing-hypocrisy-us-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3263661/growing-pro-gaza-movement-exposing-hypocrisy-us-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 May 2024 21:30:08 +0000 As disputes in the South China Sea risk escalating into open conflict, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must reassert its centrality to prevent the region from becoming a theatre of war, and a pawn on someone else’s chessboard. With pro-Palestinian encampments proliferating across US campuses, comparisons to the anti-Vietnam war protests of the 1960s have emerged. The Biden administration’s reluctance to rein in Israel’s destruction of the Gaza Strip has divided the nation and sparked... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3261604/asean-must-calm-south-china-sea-waters-or-risk-asias-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3261604/asean-must-calm-south-china-sea-waters-or-risk-asias-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2024 21:30:26 +0000 The US is gripped by a debilitating fear of China, and unless this Sinophobia is addressed, it could lead to profound uncertainties for the world. Earlier this month, during their first phone conversation since the San Francisco summit last November, US President Joe Biden discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping their collaboration on pressing issues such as narcotics control, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI), even as he defended the imposition of hi-tech sanctions on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3258540/americas-sick-obsession-china-will-ruin-itself-and-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3258540/americas-sick-obsession-china-will-ruin-itself-and-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Apr 2024 01:30:15 +0000 The complexities brought about by human migration and cultural diversity have given rise to ethno-religious nationalism worldwide. However, in an era where the well-being of the global community is intricately intertwined, turning inward is not a sustainable solution. Instead, building bridges between civilisations is key to safeguarding the fate of humankind. President Xi Jinping has unveiled three initiatives – the global development, security and civilisation initiatives – that shape the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3255141/rising-tide-ethno-religious-nationalism-threatens-civilisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3255141/rising-tide-ethno-religious-nationalism-threatens-civilisation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:30:12 +0000 With its diminishing soft power, the US remains resolved to preserve its dominance by leveraging hard power. Meanwhile, nations in the Global South must persevere in transforming the current world order through peaceful means. Harvard University president Claudine Gay has resigned after a firestorm of controversies, including claims of her inadequate response to antisemitism on campus, yet the Gaza crisis remains a hot-button issue at the university. Administrators are now wrestling with the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3252000/global-south-shows-its-ready-challenge-unfair-us-led-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3252000/global-south-shows-its-ready-challenge-unfair-us-led-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Feb 2024 21:30:21 +0000 The Gaza conflict has severely eroded the moral standing of the US. If Donald Trump were to return to power, he could exacerbate this with his “Make America Great Again” priorities, compounding the great power rivalry with China. But what the world needs is an America that not only upholds its founding principles but is willing to get along with others to shape a more equitable global order. In Taiwan, the potential victory of presidential hopeful William Lai Ching-te, seen as pro-independence,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3247849/world-seeks-very-different-sort-us-leadership-whats-offer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3247849/world-seeks-very-different-sort-us-leadership-whats-offer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:46:25 +0000 The recently concluded Cop28 UN climate change conference took place while two major wars are being fought. Until we can foster peace among ourselves, achieving a harmonious coexistence with nature seems improbable. A key focus of the Dubai summit was to establish a “loss and damage” fund to help developing countries cope with and recover from the devastating impact of climate change. There is no denying that the world’s most impoverished countries are being hit the hardest by global warming and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3244982/climate-action-first-we-must-stop-fighting-among-ourselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3244982/climate-action-first-we-must-stop-fighting-among-ourselves?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Dec 2023 21:30:12 +0000 The trauma and devastation inflicted upon Gaza is likely to take generations to heal. But the widespread global sympathy for the plight of Palestinians might be doing greater, possibly irreversible, damage to the credibility of both Israel and the United States. The September 11 attacks thrust the West into a confrontation with the Islamic world. When China re-emerged as a global player, attention shifted towards a perceived civilisational divide between the West and the Confucian East. Then... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242449/how-devastation-gaza-could-hurt-israel-and-us-irreversibly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3242449/how-devastation-gaza-could-hurt-israel-and-us-irreversibly?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Nov 2023 11:30:11 +0000 China’s Belt and Road Initiative has evolved into an endeavour powered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and now offers the potential to tackle global challenges, particularly the environmental crisis. But, unless the international community can overcome its divisions and collaborate for the common good, humanity remains vulnerable to the perils of climate change. In response to geopolitical uncertainties, Beijing pushed its dual circulation strategy in 2020, raising questions about its belt... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3236033/western-bias-against-chinas-belt-and-road-hobbling-climate-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3236033/western-bias-against-chinas-belt-and-road-hobbling-climate-action?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Sep 2023 02:00:25 +0000 The stability of US democracy is facing existential challenges. Apart from the risk of a power transfer crisis at home, America is also grappling with a tense reconfiguration of the world’s geopolitical centre away from the Global North. Nations in the Global South must continue to advocate for collaboration over confrontation to facilitate a peaceful transition from the Western-centred world order to a more equitable one. Despite having five prime ministers in as many years, Malaysia’s stance... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3233344/us-democracy-crisis-global-south-must-ensure-peaceful-transition-more-equitable-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3233344/us-democracy-crisis-global-south-must-ensure-peaceful-transition-more-equitable-world-order?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Sep 2023 17:30:09 +0000 At the heart of the Oppenheimer tragedy lies the transformation of scientific knowledge into weaponry, bestowing upon humanity the chilling capacity for self-inflicted obliteration. Unless humankind rises above its mutual hostilities, there is a risk that even our power to self-terminate might fall under the control of a malevolent artificial intelligence. The US’ dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to be profoundly controversial due to the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3231047/oppenheimers-story-cautionary-tale-age-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3231047/oppenheimers-story-cautionary-tale-age-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:15:15 +0000 Amid a worsening environmental crisis compounded by a tense great power rivalry, a sense of gloom is permeating the 21st century. Unless the divided world collaborates to respond to the exigencies of our time, our worst fears may materialise as a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the West, democratic backsliding and upheavals in US domestic politics are aggravating feelings of apprehension. And the prolonged Ukraine war is casting a heavy air of weariness over the Global North. Meanwhile, the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3229508/america-driven-fear-china-danger-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3229508/america-driven-fear-china-danger-all?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:30:14 +0000 Artificial intelligence (AI) could evolve into an existential threat to human civilisation. But it is the risk of a US-China war that poses the most immediate danger to humankind. As we did 75 years ago when formulating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the global community must work together, to pull the 21st century back from the brink of an AI-assisted, but human-instigated, catastrophic world war. In the letter calling for a pause in AI development, technological leaders warned that... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3222980/biggest-threat-humanity-isnt-ai-us-china-hostility-leading-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3222980/biggest-threat-humanity-isnt-ai-us-china-hostility-leading-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2023 17:30:21 +0000 In their recent meeting in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the strong ties between their countries. Importantly, both leaders appear to share a mission to build civilisational bonds in an increasingly fragmented world – a crucial endeavour with far-reaching consequences for how humanity deals with the challenges confronting the 21st century. Anwar’s Malaysia Madani vision aims to, among other things, promote an inclusive, pluralistic... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3217129/xi-and-anwars-commitment-build-trust-between-civilisations-portends-better-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3217129/xi-and-anwars-commitment-build-trust-between-civilisations-portends-better-future?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:30:08 +0000 Asean supports a free world but it is not taking sides in the US-China rivalry because it could lead to an unjust and catastrophic war, misguidedly waged in the name of liberal democracy. The US policy of “strategic ambiguity” has for decades facilitated development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and Beijing is unlikely to seek reunification by force, unless it is provoked by Taipei’s moves towards independence. But, from Washington’s perspective, the relative stability of the past few... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3213646/asean-wants-no-part-us-china-rivalry-or-unjust-war-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3213646/asean-wants-no-part-us-china-rivalry-or-unjust-war-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Mar 2023 19:30:09 +0000 President Xi Jinping’s December state visit to Saudi Arabia marked a milestone in the improving relations between China and the Islamic world. But recent events in Malaysia suggest that China must not only strive for “common prosperity” but also strengthen its cultural bonds with Islamic civilisation. After waiting for decades, Anwar Ibrahim is finally prime minister of Malaysia. But the reformist leader faces a formidable political opposition led by the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS)... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3209835/china-invests-developing-islamic-economies-it-must-steer-clear-sensitive-identity-politics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3209835/china-invests-developing-islamic-economies-it-must-steer-clear-sensitive-identity-politics?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:00:11 +0000 After the 2022 summit season in Southeast Asia, the US and China remain locked in a geopolitical tussle. But a middle-power movement is taking shape that could help prevent the tense rivalry from breaking into a world war. In the November US midterm elections, Americans voted to deny the Republican Party a “red wave”, handing President Joe Biden a rare electoral success. Buoyed by this domestic victory, Biden travelled to the G20 Summit and struck a cordial note with Chinese President Xi... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3202977/amid-us-china-rivalry-middle-powers-are-coming-together-build-bridges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3202977/amid-us-china-rivalry-middle-powers-are-coming-together-build-bridges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:30:20 +0000 Over the past decade, Xi Jinping has transformed China into a global power. But grave challenges lie ahead and unless the US can be won over, Xi’s quest for “a community of shared future for humankind” may remain elusive. With the 20th party congress poised to extend his presidency for an unprecedented third term, Xi’s already considerable impact on China and the world is likely to become even more significant, for better or worse. In the West, Xi is deemed as part of a rising wave of autocratic... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3195535/china-wants-its-moment-world-stage-can-it-convince-us-share?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3195535/china-wants-its-moment-world-stage-can-it-convince-us-share?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:00:11 +0000 The US and China are edging closer towards a dangerous showdown. Asean and its like-minded counterparts must take the side of peace to save the world from the unthinkable consequences of such a war. Following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial Taiwan trip in early August, six other American delegations have visited the island, aggravating the delicate cross-strait dynamics. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has warned that America and China may “sleepwalk into conflict” if... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3192322/asean-must-choose-peace-keep-us-china-tensions-spilling-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3192322/asean-must-choose-peace-keep-us-china-tensions-spilling-over?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Sep 2022 01:15:10 +0000 The US is battling threats from within and without. Unless they can be freed from the Manichaean world view of good vs evil, Americans will face enormous difficulties coexisting peaceably with each other, and with China. An exceptional superpower, the US is also afflicted with flaws peculiar to itself. The American obsession with firearms and inability to deal with gun violence has confounded the world. Every country faces the abortion dilemma but none has experienced the same social-political... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/united-states/article/3187829/how-americans-good-vs-evil-world-view-has-divided-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/united-states/article/3187829/how-americans-good-vs-evil-world-view-has-divided-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:30:22 +0000 Science is a double-edged sword that sometimes has been misused to inflict harm. Growing US-China hi-tech rivalry is compounding the risks and ills technology can inflict upon humanity. In June, a new team of Chinese astronauts arrived at China’s space station, Tiangong, for the final phase of its construction. Meanwhile, the US-led International Space Station is expected to cease operations by the end of 2030, and Nasa has yet to announce a replacement plan. A recent study published by the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3184620/climate-change-nuclear-catastrophe-out-control-ai-how-us-china-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3184620/climate-change-nuclear-catastrophe-out-control-ai-how-us-china-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jul 2022 19:30:10 +0000 Many countries in the Indo-Pacific are reluctant to pick sides in the increasingly bitter US-China rivalry. Unless Washington accepts this, it could find itself out of sync with an Asia ready to work alongside a rising China. Even as Russia wages war against the free world, the United States still sees China as the greatest challenger to its global leadership. Washington is determined to contain this threat at Beijing’s doorstep – that is, in the Indo-Pacific. Last month, in his first trip to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3180618/us-must-accept-southeast-asia-wants-china-play-central-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3180618/us-must-accept-southeast-asia-wants-china-play-central-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jun 2022 19:30:23 +0000 As the US pulls back, China is leaning in, drawing Middle East states into its “community with a shared future”. Beijing’s geoeconomic strategy will not promote liberal democracy in the region but it could restore socioeconomic stability in some of the conflict-ridden countries. The Ukraine war has galvanised the West. But others, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, are reluctant to join the US-led sanctions against Russia. For these traditional American allies, the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3177142/chinas-no-strings-attached-approach-middle-east-may-work-better-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3177142/chinas-no-strings-attached-approach-middle-east-may-work-better-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 May 2022 17:30:13 +0000 The Ukraine war has plunged the world into a period of instability. But, without the political fortitude for pragmatic compromises, the swift restoration of peace that the international community yearns for will remain elusive. As Russia continues its open assault on Ukraine, the 20th-century Cold War gloom is once again casting a long shadow over Europe. This ominous turn of events coincided with the 50th anniversary of US president Richard Nixon’s visit to China. Commentators could not help... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3169578/ukraine-crisis-us-and-china-must-restore-pragmatism-nixon-and-mao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3169578/ukraine-crisis-us-and-china-must-restore-pragmatism-nixon-and-mao?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Mar 2022 19:30:22 +0000 It is a gross travesty of justice that the richest 10 per cent is taking home 52 per cent of global income, as revealed in the World Inequity Report 2022. Both US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have vowed to deal with the worsening inequities, but the divergent American and Chinese views of individualism are generating disparate outcomes. In extolling the vision of a “community with a shared future for humankind”, Xi declared China’s commitment to establishing a new world... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3161549/fate-chinese-and-american-billionaires-reveals-divergences-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3161549/fate-chinese-and-american-billionaires-reveals-divergences-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Dec 2021 17:30:09 +0000