DIPLOMACY

What Happened: In 2017, Djibouti – Africa’s smallest country – made headlines by becoming the host of China’s first overseas military base. But Beijing’s presence in the strategically vital country stretches far beyond that military presence, to include massive commercial investments and a ballooning loan footprint.

Our Focus: “The Sino-Djibouti strategic partnership is much more than establishing a naval base; it strengthens Djibouti’s position as a critical entry point in,” writes Dr. Mordechai Chaziza, a senior lecturer at Ashkelon Academic College, Israel. “Most of Djibouti’s major infrastructure projects, which have been valued at $14.4 billion, are funded by Chinese banks.”

What Comes Next: While Djibouti’s government has eagerly embraced Chinese funding for projects that match its “Vision Djibouti 2035,” external analysts are increasingly concerned about the debt burden on the small country. Djibouti is thus an important test case for the narrative of China’s supposed debt trap diplomacy in Africa.

INTERVIEW

Cherian George, co-author of “PAP v PAP: The Party’s Struggle to Adapt to a Changing Singapore” on the challenges facing Singapore’s ruling party, the PAP: “The biggest revelation for me, though, is how many ordinary middle-of-the-road Singaporeans – not just the politicized minority – were prepared to question and contradict PAP ministers openly online.”

Northeast Asia

Taiwan has been a rare success story in the fight against COVID-19, keeping the total number of cases under 900 with just seven deaths, all while avoiding a full lockdown. That success, however, now faces an intense test, thanks to a growing cluster of cases linked to a hospital in Taoyuan.

South Asia

At a time when many have called the efficacy of the Narendra Modi government’s “Neighborhood First” policy in managing India’s relations with smaller South Asian countries into question, New Delhi has found a new strong hand to play: COVID-19 vaccines. India has enthusiastically embarked on a “Vaccine Maitri” drive to deliver indigenously manufactured vaccines to its neighbors, earning the country plaudits across the world.

Southeast Asia

This week Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party is holding its five-yearly National Congress, the apex event of the country’s political calendar. The conclave, which caps off a year of hidden internal politicking, will lay out the development agenda for the coming five years, as well as formally selecting leaders to fill the country’s top political posts.

Central Asia

Since Kazakhstan’s January 10 elections, four domestic NGOs have been fined and had their operations suspended by the tax authorities. The four were among seven groups that pushed back against government pressure in December with a defiant statement that the tax authorities were being used to “attack” them. The attack may not be over yet.

SOCIETY

Tracked by year, the number of incidents of Chinese netizens angrily demanding boycotts over missteps by foreign brands and stars – and the offending party’s response.

SECURITY

Shinoshounin: literally merchants of death in Japanese, it refers to arms dealers – including at times the Japanese government itself.

The Diplomat Asks

Don’t forget to register for our next webinar on Feb. 3, a discussion on China-Africa relations.