ISDP Voices

In April this year, The Financial Times exposed that He Wei Dong was under investigation for alleged corruption. As a vice-national-level leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, he held the highest military rank, 上将 (upper commander/ General), within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Due to his extraordinarily high rank, his absence from […]

Introduction  The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s cuts to national cybersecurity in recent months risk compromising situational awareness, incident response and analysis. Combined with the department’s controversies, and more broadly, the second Trump administration’s negative posture towards globally shared norms, these reductions can seriously erode trust in the U.S.-Japan cyber intelligence-sharing relationship, which relies […]

South Korea’s democratic system is being dramatically reshaped by the intricate dance between law and politics. The judicialization of politics, and in reverse, the politicization of the judiciary has blurred the lines between rightful accountability and political vengeance. With 30 impeachment motions, the ousting of a sitting president, and an upcoming court ruling involving a […]

Introduction With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths, with children under the age of five constituting 33  percent of deaths, food safety represents one of the most critical health challenges. It is also estimated that annually, low- and middle-income countries lose an estimated US$110 billion in productivity and healthcare costs […]

India’s engagement in the Middle East has often been characterized by a balancing act, navigating complex regional dynamics while pursuing its strategic, economic, and security interests. India in recent years has expanded its cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries while exercising a cautious approach towards Iran. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to […]

The Northern Trade Corridor, beginning in China’s north-east and traversing the Russian landmass to Europe, had long been a staple of east-west trade. However, with the strict sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union (EU), China has had to rely on alternative means to transport its goods to the lucrative European market. This has […]

Introduction “Without nature, we have nothing” was a resounding statement made by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 15 in 2022, highlighting the importance of alignment of human development with biodiversity conservation. At the same event, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted, which set 23 targets and […]

The world order seems to be unraveling. The uncertainty in the transatlantic relationship is a major factor that may shape international security in the coming time. Notwithstanding its substantial role in the founding of global systems after the Second World War, the U.S.-Europe relationship has been revealed as dichotomous with both sides taking diverging political […]

As of 2024, Taiwan produced 60 percent of the world’s semiconductors and 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors. This impressive feat is spearheaded by the island’s largest chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), whose crucial components are used to power “everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to artificial intelligence and quantum computing applications”. […]

Since annexation in 1950, Tibet has been an important part of China’s geostrategic outlook and an important source for China’s energy security and hydro-hegemony. Numerous dams have been constructed across the plateau, with more planned, including the “monster” Medog Hydropower Station. There is also extensive mining across the plateau, and it is a water source […]