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The Mecca Pact and Beijing’s Multipolarity Trap: Why China Should Worry About a Deal It Appears to Welcome — The Mecca Pact and Beijing’s Multipolarity Trap: Why China Should Worry About a Deal It Appears to Welcome

This piece by Jagannath Panda in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs analyses two critical questions on the Mecca pact: does a pact that visibly weakens Washington’s hold on Gulf security automatically serve Chinese interests, or does it merely flatter Chinese vanity? And can Beijing live with a multipolar regional environment it did not design, does not lead, and cannot steer, especially when that world is taking shape on its own western flank, among nations whose religious identity touches China’s rawest domestic nerve? The author argues that in the short run, the answers please Beijing; but in the long run, they should trouble it deeply. The Mecca Pact is not the strategic gift to China that surface analysis may suggest. It may, in fact, be one of the more quietly damaging developments Beijing has faced in a decade of otherwise favorable drift in the Middle East, writes Panda. Read this piece in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs here.

Webinar Report: LGBTQ+ in South Korea and Learning Opportunities from Taiwan — Webinar Report: LGBTQ+ in South Korea and Learning Opportunities from Taiwan

The Stockholm Korea and Taiwan Centers of the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), alongside Macoll Consulting Group, held a one-hour webinar in celebration of Pride Month on June 9, 2026, during which LGBTQ+ rights in South Korea and Taiwan were discussed. Horim Yi, Co-Executive Director of Rainbow Action Korea and Executive Director of Marriage for All Korea, and Joyce Teng, Board Member of ILGA Asia (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – Asia), were our two speakers, with Macoll’s Senior Associate Jayoung Son as the keynote speaker and ISDP’s Josephine Ørgaard Rasmussen, Korea Center project manager, serving as the moderator. The webinar’s objective was to identify tangible policy proposals for how to promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people in South Korea while comparing the existing political and legislative landscapes in Taiwan, intending to lay the groundwork for collaboration in the pursuit of promoting LGBTQ+ rights. Read the report of this webinar discussion here.

China’s Maritime and Military Strategy in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean — China’s Maritime and Military Strategy in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean

J. Mohan Malik writes in this FOCUS ASIA paper for ISDP that China’s strategy in the Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean is best understood as an integrated geostrategic, economic, and military project that combines port infrastructure, connectivity corridors, and incremental naval presence. While framed under the Maritime Silk Road, this approach steadily expands China’s capacity to secure sea lanes, project power, and shape the regional order, writes Malik. The Bay of Bengal corridor—linking Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—serves as a critical subsystem connecting the South China Sea to the Arabian Sea and beyond. China’s Indian Ocean strategy has evolved from commercial access to sustaining an operational maritime presence, driven by three factors: (i) China’s growing dependence on energy imports and trade; (ii) the PLA Navy’s “far seas protection” doctrine, which emphasizes safeguarding overseas interests and maritime trade routes; and (iii) a layered engagement strategy that combines commercial infrastructure (ports and logistics), political agreements, and long-term leases for naval access with potential basing rights, argues Malik. Download and read this paper here.

South Korea’s Cyber Security Challenges and Learning Opportunities from Estonia — South Korea’s Cyber Security Challenges and Learning Opportunities from Estonia

In this blog post, Melita Phachulia and Josephine Ørgaard Rasmussen examine South Korea’s persistent cybersecurity vulnerabilities, offering solutions drawn from Estonia's world-leading digital governance system. The piece focuses heavily on resolving Korea's centralized digital paradox by adopting elements of Estonia’s distributed and federated model. The authors conclude by outlining three actionable policy recommendations to deepen ROK-Estonia bilateral cooperation, particularly on future efforts to tackle AI-powered cyberattacks. Download and read this co-authored piece by Phachulia and Rasmussen here.

Trilaterals and the Reorganisation of Northeast Asia’s Regional Order — Trilaterals and the Reorganisation of Northeast Asia’s Regional Order

In an era of intensifying competition over the international order in Northeast Asia, both major and non-major states have increasingly sought to use trilateral mechanisms distinct from bilateral and multilateral forms. In this context, this co-authored article by Sung Chul Jung, Jagannath Panda and Jae Jeok Park discusses various types, origins, and influences of trilateral relations in international politics, as well as current and historical trilateral relations that have contributed to the emergence and transformation of regional orders. First, it categorizes trilateral relations into four types: (1) three partners, (2) three rivals, (3) two partners against one rival, and (4) two rivals competing for one (potential) partner, encompassing cooperative and conflictual relationships among all three parties and three bilateral relations, and clarifying each type’s characteristics and dynamics. Read and download the article here.

Beyond Cable Protection: Taiwan’s Undersea Infrastructure Resilience in the Age of AI — Beyond Cable Protection: Taiwan’s Undersea Infrastructure Resilience in the Age of AI

Yi-Chieh Chen writes that Taiwan has adopted a comprehensive approach to strengthening the resilience of its undersea infrastructure through legal reforms, enhanced surveillance and backup communication capabilities, and calls for international cooperation. She writes further that Taipei seeks to increase its strategic importance within global digital networks by positioning itself as a hub for semiconductor production, AI development, and international communications connectivity. Despite these efforts, significant structural challenges remain. Resource constraints related to energy and water supply may limit the expansion of AI infrastructure and reduce Taiwan’s attractiveness for future undersea cable investments, while dependence on international cable repair arrangements creates vulnerabilities during periods of disruption. Yi-Chieh Chen argues that addressing these challenges will be essential for strengthening Taiwan’s long-term undersea infrastructure resilience and strategic position in the age of AI. Read this brief here.

Why Taiwan Matters More Than Ever for India’s Indo-Pacific Outlook — Why Taiwan Matters More Than Ever for India’s Indo-Pacific Outlook

Jagannath Panda writes for Taiwan Insight at the University of Nottingham that a stronger India–Taiwan partnership should not be interpreted simply as a response to China’s rise. Such an interpretation would not only underestimate the intrinsic value of the relationship but also overlook the broader transformation taking place across the Indo-Pacific, writes Panda. While China will inevitably remain an important strategic variable, India’s engagement with Taiwan is increasingly being shaped by considerations that extend beyond Beijing. That said, China cannot be ignored, writes Jagannath Panda for Taiwan Insight. Read this piece here.

‘Boundaries between climate policy, industrial policy, trade policy, and defense procurement have become analytically and institutionally inseparable’: An Interview with Göran Roos — ‘Boundaries between climate policy, industrial policy, trade policy, and defense procurement have become analytically and institutionally inseparable’: An Interview with Göran Roos

In an era in which decarbonization is reshaping global supply chains, industrial policy, and economic security, understanding its implications for energy systems and critical minerals has become increasingly urgent. That urgency has been reinforced by Sweden’s mineral strategy, launched in July 2026, which explicitly positions securing access to metals and minerals as a matter of security policy and a key pillar of strategic autonomy. In an interview with ISDP’s Tristan Eng, Göran Roos outlines how decarbonization has evolved into a central pillar of industrial strategy, economic security, and geopolitical competition. The discussion also explores the restructuring of global supply chains and Sweden’s emerging role within Europe’s industrial and resource strategy. Read this full interview here.

Events »

24 Aug

Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part VIII: Open Science under Pressure: Germany’s Experience with Research and Innovation Security Challenges
31 Aug

Silk Cage Series – Webinar VI: Ports, Power, and Political Access: China’s Strategic Grip over Sri Lanka
3 Sep

Hai-Eu Dialogue Series – Part I: Institutional Opening Up: Advancing Free Trade Port Governance and Connectivity
22 Sep

Will China deliver? China’s next decade and the consequences for Europe: Final Conference – EuroHub4Sino
Brussels

Publications »

The Mecca Pact and Beijing’s Multipolarity Trap: Why China Should Worry About a Deal It Appears to Welcome

Jagannath Panda

Webinar Report: LGBTQ+ in South Korea and Learning Opportunities from Taiwan

Alice Baravelli, Nerea Alvarez Ariztegui, Josephine Ørgaard Rasmussen, Yi-Chieh Chen and Lars Vargö

China’s Maritime and Military Strategy in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean

Trilaterals and the Reorganisation of Northeast Asia’s Regional Order

Jagannath Panda

Beyond Cable Protection: Taiwan’s Undersea Infrastructure Resilience in the Age of AI

Why Taiwan Matters More Than Ever for India’s Indo-Pacific Outlook

Jagannath Panda

ISDP Spotlight

Internship Opportunity at ISDP’s China Center – Fall 2026 — Internship Opportunity at ISDP’s China Center – Fall 2026

Every semester, ISDP runs an internship program that is open to university students and recent graduates. The Stockholm China Center is looking for an intern to join the center for the fall 2026 semester. The internship lasts between 4-6 months at the main office in Stockholm, and the desired start date for the fall semester is from September, with some flexibility due to the short notice. ISDP’s internships are typically full-time (40 hours per week) and unpaid, with flexibility for studies and thesis writing. We look forward to receiving your application no later than August 23, 2026.

ISDP Co-hosted the ICES Inaugural Annual Conference in Brussels — ISDP Co-hosted the ICES Inaugural Annual Conference in Brussels

On 10 and 11 June, ISDP participated in the inaugural Annual Conference of the Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES) in Brussels. Convened by ICES and co-hosted by ISDP and two other partners, the conference brought together leading diplomats, academics, and researchers for critical dialogues on EU-China relations amid great power competition and global order reconfiguration.

Trends in China-India Relations: The Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs hosted a panel discussion with Dr. Ivan Lidarev and Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh — Trends in China-India Relations: The Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs hosted a panel discussion with Dr. Ivan Lidarev and Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh

On June 8, 2026, the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) hosted a panel discussion with Dr. Ivan Lidarev, a research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Dr. Abhishek Pratap Singh from the University of Delhi. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Jagannath Panda, the Head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at ISDP.

Looking back at Professor Ryosei Kokubun’s visit to Stockholm — Looking back at Professor Ryosei Kokubun’s visit to Stockholm

ISDP had the great pleasure of welcoming Professor Ryosei Kokubun, Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow, to Stockholm last week. During this stay, ISDP arranged a roundtable discussion on “Managing Sino-Japanese ties in the contemporary East Asian context” during which he presented future perspectives of the geopolitical balance in the East Asia region, highlighting the complex relations between China and Japan.

Roundtable with Dr. Shan-Jan Sarah Liu: Taiwanese Women’s Experiences in Taiwan’s Military — Roundtable with Dr. Shan-Jan Sarah Liu: Taiwanese Women’s Experiences in Taiwan’s Military

On June 4th, the Stockholm Taiwan Center had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable discussion with Dr. Shan-Jan Sarah Liu. The roundtable discussion was moderated by Yi-Chieh Chen. Dr. Shan-Jan Sarah Liu is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Gender and Politics at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh. The discussion explored Dr. Liu’s findings from her research on Taiwanese women’s experiences in the military and was joined by ISDP research staff and experts from Stockholm’s academic community.

Niklas Swanström and Jagannath Panda participated in the 11th Ulaanbaatar Dialogue (UBD) International Conference — Niklas Swanström and Jagannath Panda participated in the 11th Ulaanbaatar Dialogue (UBD) International Conference

ISDP, represented by Dr. Niklas Swanström and Dr. Jagannath Panda, participated in the 11th Ulaanbaatar Dialogue (UBD) International Conference held in Ulaanbaatar. The Dialogue focused on critical themes such as security challenges and opportunities for peace in Northeast Asia, preventive diplomacy and mediation pathways, artificial intelligence and emerging security risks, regional connectivity between Northeast and Central Asia, and green power corridors linking the two regions.