Views from Down Underer

Episode 35: Danger of planning for peaked China? US urged to dropped obsession of being Number 1

Two articles published in prominent foreign policy magazines from well-known observers of international affairs of the Asia-Pacific.  Ryan Haas in his article suggested that US planning policies on the basis of peaked China is not a good idea.  Second article is a letter from Singapore to the next US president urging the US to stopped being so obsessed with being number 1.

Episode 34: Japan PM Kishida steps down, Thailand has new PM, Jokowi maneuvering behind the scenes, and NZ PM Luxon's speech at Lowy in Sydney

Japan PM Kishida steps down and opens up new leadership contest within the LDP.  Is it 'plus ca change' in the case of Japanese politics?  Clan politics seem to be the name of the game in two Southeast Asian countries -- Thailand and Indonesia.  Thailand's new PM is the formerly exiled Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter and the Shinawatra family seem to be on the mend with other significant actors in Thailand.  Indonesia's outgoing president Jokowi was supposed to be the outsider but now seems to be ensuring that his family/clan will be signficant insiders in Indonesian politics.  Lastly, NZ PM Chris Luxon gave an important foreign policy speech in Sydney.  So now that Luxon talks the talk, the question remains is can he also walk the walk considering the difficult economic situation NZ finds itself in today. 

Episode 33: Hullaballoo of the upcoming US elections: observations from the ground

The US election in November is creating lots of anxieties globally.  Despite the excitement with the Kamala Harris candidacy, questions remain about what is likely to happen the day after the first Tuesday of November.  What does a Harris presidency mean Asia-Pacific?  What does a second Trump administration mean for international relations of Asia-Pacific?

Episode 32: Geography, International Relations Theory, and Understanding the International Relations of the Asia-Pacific

Theories of international relations have been constructed from experiences of continental Europe.  Yet, in the Asia-Pacific it seems like a uneasy fit because of the complex geography of the region.  In this episode, Dr Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center in Washington DC explains to us her research on geography and its implications to coalition-building in the Asia-Pacific region.  

Episode 31: UK Foreign Minister visits India, Trump playing the race card again, Central Bank and the inflation-interest rate conundrum

UK foreign minister David Lammy visits India very early into the new Labour government term in the hopes of resetting UK-India relations and mark by a focus on the importance of trade and economics.  Trump in an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists made a controversial comment on presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' Black and Indian dual identities.  Trump's comment shows an ignorance of identity code-switching.  Lastly, global central banks seem to feel that the worse of pandemic era inflation is at an end but when to start moving interest rates downward is still more art than science.  

Episode 30: Joe Biden out and Kamala Harris in, Bangladesh riots, Japan's population decline, NZ PM's low approval rating, and Olympic spying scandal

US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and VP Kamala Harris is in the race.  Is this the shot in the arm that the Democrats are looking for? Will the Democrats be able to retain the White House?  Deadly riots in Bangladesh due to student protests on job quotas.  Is there more to these riots that what meets the eye?  Japan reported a 15th year of population decline.  What are the implications of continued shrinking population?  NZ PM Luxon has been on the job less than 12 months and already his approval ratings have dropped.  Why?  Paris Olympic has started and even before the Olympic flame has been lit in the opening ceremony, a spying scandal involving the Canada's women football team has dented the idea of 'fair play' that the Olympics stand for.

Episode 29: Modi visits Putin and the continuing saga of the US election campaign season

Indian Prime Minister Modi visits Putin in Moscow.  Is India playing both sides or is this what is called 'strategic autonomy?'  Days before the Republican National Convention, there was an attempted assassination of ex-president Donald Trump who is also the Republican presidential nominee.  In the RNC convention, Trump selected a young Ohio politician who seems to be a younger version of Trump.  Meanwhile Democrats are trying to advise Biden to drop out of his reelection bid...which he did on Sunday...that surprised his VP Kamala Harris who he has endorsed as the Democratic nominee.

Episode 28: UK 2024 general election: Another one bites the dust? Or too hard to say I am sorry?

We discuss the huge Labour party victory and the calamitous Conservative party defeat in the UK general election of 2024.  

Episode 27: Fallout of the Biden/Trump debate, Russia-North Korea defense pact, China feared and US humble

We discuss the fallout of the Biden/Trump debate for our region, is Plan B now Plan A?  Putin and Kim Jong-Un signed a mutual defense pact, what are the implications for regional security?  ISEAS study that re-analysed the Southeast Asian survey and inferred that China's power is recognised but feared meanwhile NYT article suggests that US is a more humble superpower in China's neighbourhood of the Asia-Pacific.

Episode 26: NZ's "independent" foreign policy? Modi's Taiwan overtures? The end of petrodollars?

What is independent about NZ's independent foreign policy?  Is it myth or reality? Is it tautological? Does using the term prevent true discussion of NZ's foreign policy direction? Modi's response to a congratulatory message from Taiwan's president drew the expected protest from the PRC.  Are there meanings behind these overtures?  Saudi and US are ending a 50-year long agreement to price Saudi oil in US dollars and Saudi's commitment to use its oil revenues to purchase US Treasury bonds.  This news barely made the headlines! What are the implications?