Author

Picture of AsiaCentre

AsiaCentre

Founded in 2005, Asia Centre is an independent research institute that holds debates and issues publications on matters relating to international, strategic, economic relations, as well as the political and social transformations underway in the Asia-Pacific region. At the crossroads of university research as well as public and private decision-making, Asia Centre researchers identify critical regional issues and analyse them in-depth, taking into consideration both local and global dimensions. Asia Centre’s programs are developed with a vast network of partners, companies and major specialist centres in Europe, North America and Asia. The Centre carries out joint operations with these groups, for a better interpretation of ideas and issues. The conclusions of these meetings, such as the results of the work carried out using original sources by our researchers, are widely distributed through the Centre’s publications as well as through international journals, books and media.

Other analyses

Taiwan cooking oil scandal: Why Isn’t Beijing Adding Fuel to the Fire? • Isabelle Feng

31 July 2026 No Comments

In this new piece, Isabelle Feng looks back at the tainted cooking oil scandal that has affected Taiwan for several weeks, and at Beijing’s measured response to the affair. She examines the protests held in Taipei on 25 July, the coverage of the event by Chinese state media, and reactions observed on Chinese social media. She puts this episode in perspective alongside the history of food safety scandals in mainland China and the question of freedom to protest on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Read More »

Memo – China, the South Pacific and contemporary geopolitics

.PDF
howard-follas-JwdbXwqMqVw-unsplash

Table ronde n°15 de l’Observatoire Chine, 25 janvier 2017, avec le Pr. Anne-Marie Brady (Wilson Center, Washington DC / University of Canterbury, New Zealand)

There is a sense of crisis in the Pacific Ocean, as the level of China’s ambitions have reached that of the United States (US), and can be compared to the maritime expansion of the US in the 19th century, or of Spain in the 16th century. In this context, the fourteen Pacific island countries, which are micro-states with sizeable maritime territories, are highly prone to future conflicts. Although the Pacific is rather low in China’s priorities, China remains a major player with economic, political, security and strategic interests in the region.

  • An involvement driven by the competition for diplomatic recognition
  • China’s rise in the South Pacific: “A perfect storm”
  • China’s aid policy to the Pacific
  • China’s Pacific diplomacy
  • Outcome for the interests of other major players in the South Pacific
  • Questions and Answers
asiacentre.eu