ISDP Voices

Introduction With a culture rooted in Confucian traditions, where personal value is inseparable from social rank and lifelong comparison, South Korea’s dynamic and vibrant modern lifestyle masks the strain of a hyper-competitive society. This is particularly so among young people. From early childhood, students are evaluated by academic performance, which determines access to prestigious middle […]

As a key U.S. ally, Japan has been slowly but naturally involved in a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) in recent years. The AUKUS partnership was established in September 2021 by the three countries to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. Although it is not a formal […]

After almost three years on hold, the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan recently announced plans to advance construction of the upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), agreeing to broaden collaboration in industry, agriculture, mining, and green energy. The question that arises is whether China is exporting infrastructure or a worldview? As Beijing speaks the language […]

Recent remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026 showcased growing concern among middle powers over the durability of the post-WWII international order. Carney’s call for a foreign policy grounded in “value-based realism” was not a mere rhetorical expression. It reflected a structural shift in international politics in […]

The Hidden Fragilities of Global Connectivity In 1866, around a decade after the installation of the very first undersea cable, messages between Europe and America could transmit six to eight words per minute, and charged US$5 per word – equivalent to more than US$100 in 2026 value. Today, the development of key system components in […]

On January 24, 2026, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that Gen. Zhang Youxia, Vice-Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), and Gen. Liu Zhenli, CMC member and Chief of the Joint Staff, had been placed under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law.” The announcement was exceptional in both timing and rank. […]

The announcement on January 24, 2026, that General Zhang Youxia—China’s most senior uniformed officer and allegedly Xi Jinping’s closest military ally— was placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law” represents a watershed moment in Chinese civil-military relations. This purge is the second removal of a sitting Vice-Chairman, and the sixth removal of […]

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remain a major global health challenge, affecting more than one billion people worldwide. NTDs cause chronic pain, visible disfigurement, disability, stigma, and long-term economic exclusion, primarily among populations already facing poverty, weak health systems, and climate vulnerability. Households lose an estimated USD 33 billion each year due to NTD-related health costs […]

Shadow fleet – also referred to as dark or ghost fleets – describe a specific type of illegal maritime activity carried out by states to evade sanctions, improve their economies, and broadly disrupt the international order. Their deployment is not new: Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela were previously the main nations engaged in such activities […]

To maintain the dynamism of the nearly $1 trillion ASEAN digital economy, regional integration is no longer optional. Member-states have recognized that enabling local firms to tap regional network effects and other distinctive features of the digital economy are essential for sustaining competitiveness and growth. ASEAN member-states have repeatedly endorsed this ambition through various instruments, […]