Global Research Asia News

Khudai Khidmatgar — Taking the Message of Inter-faith Harmony to More and More People By , February 11 2025

Khudai Khidmatgar, an organization founded in memory of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in India in 2011, has been organizing several meetings for inter-faith harmony in various parts of the country in collaboration with various like-minded organizations with continuity. 

Important roads

The Philippines: Navigating the Fine Line Between Defense and Diplomacy By , February 11 2025

The recent announcement that the Philippines is ramping up its military spending[1] has sparked a mixture of concern, intrigue, and heated debate. At the heart of this decision is the nation’s increasingly volatile geopolitical situation, especially in light of its

Indonesia Joins BRICS: What Does It Mean for West Papua? By , February 07 2025

Indonesia officially joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa consortium) on January 6 — marking a significant milestone in its foreign relations. In a statement released on January 7, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that this

Albanese Government Bans DeepSeek from Official Devices on Security Grounds By , February 07 2025

The Albanese government is banning DeepSeek – the Chinese artificial intelligence model – from all government systems and devices on national security grounds.

It says this is in line with the actions of a number of other countries and is

Peace as a Way of Life By , February 04 2025

The White-West notion of peace is largely associated with the absence of war. Even the origins of the peace symbol stem from the denuclearization movement. But what do we mean when we talk about peace?

*

If someone were to

India Should Adopt Protective Himalayan Policy By , January 28 2025

Civil Society magazine has recently published a series of interviews with eminent persons who are very well-informed regarding the Himalayan region. One of them, Sonam Wangchuk, the famous environmentalist from Ladakh, told the magazine how even really needed steps like

High Risks of Large Dam Projects in the Himalayas By , January 24 2025

Various countries are building large dams on Himalayan rivers. Apart from local factors this often gets discussed in terms of the conflicting interests of various countries. In the process the wider reality of dams in Himalayan region being inherently risky

ASEAN Should Hope for the Best But Prepare for the Worst in 2025 By , January 24 2025

As 2025 ASEAN Chair, Malaysia faces significant challenges, including Myanmar’s crisis, South China Sea tensions and geopolitical shocks from the US–China rivalry. To ensure ASEAN makes it through the year not only unscathed but even stronger, Malaysia should use its

Rising Deforestation Threatens Rare Species in Indonesia’s Ancient Lake Poso By , January 24 2025

The forests around the ancient Lake Poso in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province are being lost to mining, oil palm plantations and smallholder farm expansion, threatening both unique species and local residents.

The lake and its surroundings are designated as an

Myanmar’s Self-Proclaimed President Wants Ukrainian-Like Military Aid By , January 23 2025

No one can say with confidence what’ll happen other than predict that the conflict might pass a turning point later this year, though it’s unclear whether that would be in the Tatmadaw’s or the anti-government forces’ favor.

President of Myanmar’s

Justifying the Egregious: John Howard and Spying on East Timor By , January 21 2025

Bugging, in the context of intelligence, is natural for the buggee.  Those who approve it and engage in such a practice, however, get riled when the favour is returned in all its rich naturalness.  In the murky stock exchange of

Water Conservation Helps to Promote Sustainable Farming and Quench Thirst in Drought-prone Patha Area By , January 21 2025

Patha,  the plateau  area of Chitrakut district in Uttar Pradesh, is an area that has been often in news due to water scarcity. When I visited this area over four decades back at the time of a severe drought there

China Continues to Shift Exports to Global South By , January 16 2025

China’s exports grew 10.7% year-on-year in December, outpacing November’s 6.7% gain and beating analyst forecast of 7.3% growth.

Restocking in anticipation of tariffs accounted for a small part of the gain, but the main driver of Chinese exports remains the

Neoliberalism and Agriculture: Who Is at the Root of India’s Agricultural Crisis? By , January 16 2025

The roots of the agricultural crisis in India lie in a variety of factors that collectively make the situation more challenging for the country’s farmers. Despite agriculture being the backbone of the Indian economy, it often receives inadequate attention. The

Chinese Military Might vs Washington’s Asymmetrical Tools of Empire By , January 16 2025

Over the past few months China has achieved several breakthroughs in terms of military power in both quantity and quality including the introduction of new aircraft, increased production rates of existing aircraft, and the launching of a new amphibious assault

Making Sense of South Korea’s Senseless Martial Law Declaration By , January 15 2025

Abstract

On 3 December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, the first time such an order had been given since the country democratized in 1987. Koreans and international observers alike are puzzled as to why Yoon

India’s Massive River Links Project Can Disrupt River Ecology Like Never Before By , January 13 2025

Viswamitra sage: (Addressing Beas and Satluj rivers)—You move like chariots to the sea, through the power of Indira. You are full of water and wish to unite with each other.

The rivers: we, who are full of water, move along

2025 Might be a Tumultuous Year for South Asia By , January 09 2025

The future of Indo-US relations under Trump 2.0 will ultimately play the largest role in determining the degree of tumult that South Asia experiences next year.

South Asia is generally thought of as a comparatively stable region whose primary problems

China’s Metal Storm Poised to Shred Hypersonics By , January 09 2025

China has unveiled a hyper-fast machine gun that could revolutionize defense against hypersonic missiles, posing a bold challenge to conventional missile defense systems.

This month, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Chinese scientists are developing a groundbreaking machine gun,

Towards Comprehensive Food and Farming Policy By , January 08 2025

There is increasing realization that while various countries have varying levels of success in their food and farming policies, on the whole, at world level, the existing farming and food system is going more and more under the control of

Victoria Australia’s Proposed Anti-protest Law a Fundamental Attack on Civil Liberties By , January 07 2025

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s announcement on December 17 of “strong action” supposedly needed “to fight hate” is a declaration of war against all supporters of free speech and the right to protest.

It is the latest in Victorian Labor’s attempt

US-India: Diamonds Are Not Forever. Modi’s Gift to Biden By , January 07 2025

The US state department disclosed on Thursday in an accounting of gifts received from foreign leaders during 2023 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s was the “priciest” gift that President Biden received, rather, his wife Jill Biden received — a diamond

Construction Workers in Delhi Struggle to Meet Their Basic Needs By , January 07 2025

The largest number of workers in Delhi are construction workers. Women are also employed in construction work in significant numbers. However their presence in more skilled work like that of masons is negligible.

Recent interviews with several construction workers in

Driving Hindutva and Culture of Commodification of Identity By , January 06 2025

In the 1959 Hindi movie “Dhool Ka Phool” (Flowers of the Dust), there is a song written by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung by Mohammad Rafi, which can be translated as: “you will neither become a Hindu nor a Muslim; you

Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs: A Campaign Shrouded in Violence and Deception By , January 02 2025

Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency (2016–2022) marked one of the darkest periods in modern Philippine history. His aggressive war on drugs, touted as a necessary step to save the nation from the clutches of narcotics, left an indelible mark of violence and

Jesting on the Environment: Australian Mining Gets a Present By , December 26 2024

Mining magnates seem to have it all.  Far more significant than royalty, such figures are the unelected captains of industry who know that governments will do whatever they can to accommodate their wishes and whims.  True, the official rhetoric might

Revolutionising the Self. Colin Todhunter By , December 19 2024

Bindu Art School in Chengalpattu, a couple of hours by road from Chennai in South India, was set up in 2005 in the Bharatapuram leprosy colony. It was started by Austrian artist Werner Dornik and activist Padma Venkataraman

Werner, …

Not Just a Showman: Raj Kapoor Gave Us Four All-time Great Films Within Six Years By and , December 17 2024

This being the birth centenary year of Raj Kapoor many writings remembering his contributions have appeared recently and the most frequent tribute paid to him has been to remember him as the greatest showman of the Hindi film industry. In

The Arakan Army’s Capture of the Bangladeshi Border Could Prompt a Crisis with Dhaka By , December 17 2024

China, Pakistan, and the US could take advantage of this to expand their military influence in Bangladesh at the expense of India’s legitimate national security interests.

Lost amidst the news of Syria’s epic collapse was the Arakan Army’s (AA) capture

The “China Threat” Theory and Okinawa By , December 17 2024

Abstract

In this article Izumikawa Yuki, an international relations expert, dispels two core misconceptions undergirding the notion that China is a particularly belligerent state that unilaterally engages in aggressive behavior threatening the national security of Japan. The first is that

Lights, Camera, Legislation: The Blurred Lines Between Politics and Entertainment in the Philippine Congress By , December 17 2024

The Philippine Congress, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, has long been a pivotal institution in shaping the country’s laws and policies. Yet in recent decades, the composition of its members has raised serious concerns about the

Indian Farmers Unite in Groups to Increase Income, Yield and Innovation By , December 11 2024

Several small farmers of an OBC community in Mahuari village have formed a group called Pragtisheel (translated as progressive). In the course of just three years or so they have achieved significant increase in income and yield and also experimented

In India, Brighter Schools Make Learning a Happier Experience By , December 11 2024

Any visitor to Dihri school, located in a remote village of Hussainabad block of Palamau district, is in for a surprise. There are big-screen TV sets in some classrooms with inverters and one can easily connect to any lesson of

Ding Dong, Australia’s Misinformation-Disinformation Bill Is Dead By , December 11 2024

Regulating speech at law is much like regulating breath.  At what point is an intake of air deemed inappropriate to the body and worthy of rationing?  When will exhalation be allowed?  The very idea that speech requires ordering and control

Australia Has Long Aligned with the US on Sanctions. With Trump’s Return, This Is an Increasingly Dangerous Approach By and , December 03 2024

Last month, US Republican lawmakers renewed calls to sanction officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in retaliation for the arrest warrants it issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

In contrast, Australian Foreign

US Decline, APEC and Geo-Economics the Chinese Way By , December 03 2024

The 35th summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which consists of 21 countries from the Americas and Southeast Asia, held last week in Peru, showed that the balance of power is changing rapidly. It is noticeable that the U.S. is

Fencing the Ocean: Australia’s Social Media Safety Bill By , November 25 2024

The Australian government is being run ragged in various quarters. When ragged, such a beast is bound to seek a distraction. And what better than finding a vulnerable group, preferably children, to feel outraged and noble about?

The Albanese government,

Paddy Harvesting and Food Security of Landless Farm Workers By , November 22 2024

I recently travelled in the rural area of Atarra (in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh) at a time when paddy harvest was in full swing. Although mechanization of harvesting has started in this region with some harvesters being brought here

Duterte’s War on Drugs: A Legacy of Bloodshed, Arrogance, and Deception By , November 19 2024

The Philippine Senate and House of Representatives are currently embroiled in intense investigations into the “war on drugs” carried out during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. These hearings aim to shed light on the brutal campaign that left over 30,000

Those Who Protect the Poor Also Need Protection in Difficult Times By , November 19 2024

The poorest and most vulnerable sections of the population living in remote villages frequently face injustice and sometimes even violence. Those responsible for this injustice and violence use their resources and influence to try to turn the scales of justice

Trump-proofing the East Asia Economy Through Elusion By , November 12 2024

East Asia could stand to gain in the short term from protectionist measures that US President-elect Trump is anticipated to level against China and Mexico. But long-term benefits will only come to East Asian economies if they proactively assert themselves

Myanmar’s Rakhine State Faces Famine, Says UN By , November 12 2024

Myanmar’s Rakhine state, which is home to the Rohingya minority and engulfed in a conflict between government forces and a powerful ethnic group, could face an imminent acute famine, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned.

In a damning

The Musings of Shigeru Ishiba: Visions of an Asian NATO By , November 12 2024

Japan’s new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, is stirring the pot – notably on regional security matters.  He has proposed something that has done more than raise a few eyebrows in the foreign and defence ministries of several countries.  An

Environmental Concerns in Samoa After NZ Navy Ship Sinks By , November 07 2024

Samoan residents are calling for compensation from the government of Aotearoa New Zealand, following the sinking of a NZ Navy vessel in their waters last month.

The HMNZS Manawanui, a NZ Defence Force (NZDF) ship, ran aground off the

Malaysia Works on Draft Resolution to Expel Israel From the UN By , November 07 2024

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his country, among others, is drafting a resolution proposing Israel’s expulsion from the UN “should there be a violation of laws, rules and decisions in issues involving Palestine.”

Anwar told the Malaysian parliament on …

The Chains of Continuity: How Political Dynasties and Nepotism Hinder Progress in Philippine Governance By , November 04 2024

Introduction

The Philippines, a nation rich in culture and history, also bears the weight of an enduring political reality that has marred its government and hampered societal progress: political dynasties and nepotism. These two forces are deeply embedded within the

Australia Relies on Israeli Weapons, Which Means It Now Relies on Genocide By , October 30 2024

A month after the UK suspended 30 arms licences out of 350 on account of the weapons being used in violation of international law in Gaza, Australia has announced its own review of its arms sales to Israel. Australia says

India-China Cooperation and the End of QUAD’s Imperialist Agenda By , October 30 2024

The simmering border conflict between India and China in the Himalayan region has come to an end, with both nations committing to cooperate in resolving their border disputes. Both countries recognise that such conflicts hinder the progress of peace and

US Government Behind Campaign Violating North Korean Airspace By , October 30 2024

North Korea has recently warned against the use of drones over its sovereign airspace to spread subversive propaganda.

CNN in its October 11, 2024 article, “North Korea accuses South of flying drones over Pyongyang,” reported,

“North Korea accused South

Welfare of Punjab Closely Linked to Strong Commitment to Environmental Protection By and , October 28 2024

Punjab has an exceptionally pervasive environmental crisis which can be seen in acute form even in relatively remote villages. In future the big steps towards enhancing welfare and sustainable well-being of people must be based in environmental protection and regeneration.

Philippines-based US Missiles Targeting China to Stay Indefinitely, Destabilizing Asia-Pacific Region By , October 25 2024

In 2023, the United States started a series of “temporary” deployments across the increasingly contested Asia-Pacific region, sending virtually every major branch of its military to “contain” China (the usual euphemism used by the Pentagon planners to describe their

US-Provoked Escalation Between Two Koreas Ruse to ‘Justify American Military Presence’ on Peninsula By and , October 24 2024

In the latest escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) placed artillery units along the border on high alert after accusing South Korea of launching drones over Pyongyang to disseminate anti-North leaflets, calling

Why the Once Fabled Health of Punjabis Is in Decline By and , October 24 2024

A widespread tendency in India used to be to identify Punjab’s villages and Punjabi farmers with good health and strength but in recent years a lot of news from rural areas of Punjab relates to a range of serious health

Nepal’s Fight for Sovereignty, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the US’ New Cold War Against China By , October 22 2024

On 27 February 2022, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact was ratified by the Nepal Parliament following a motion proposed by the Prime Minister of the coalition government, Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of Nepali Congress Party and a staunch supporter

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Japanese Atomic Bomb Survivors’ Group for Its Efforts to Free the World of Nuclear Weapons By and , October 22 2024

The 2024 Nobel peace prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation created by survivors of the two US atomic bombs that were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

The Norwegian Nobel

Don’t Neglect Rural Landless and Farm Workers of Punjab. They Need Justice. By and , October 22 2024

The rural discourse in Punjab has not given the due attention to a very significant share of the population—the rural landless sections including farm workers who have the least resource base and hence constitute the most vulnerable and poorest segment

Weak Endeavours: The Meekness of Australia’s Anti-Corruption Body By , October 21 2024

The warning signs of the Australian National Anti-Corruption Commission’s ineffectiveness were there from the start. The enacting legislation that brought it into existence, for instance, limit public hearings to “exceptional circumstances”, a reminder that the authorities are not exactly happy

Warlordism in the Philippines: A Barrier to Real Democracy and Economic Progress By , October 21 2024

Introduction

Warlordism in the Philippines is a deeply entrenched issue that pervades not just rural areas but also influences the national political landscape. Often characterized by strongman rule, patronage politics, and violent enforcement of authority, warlordism has distorted the country’s

India: Barmer Women Workers’ Struggle Reflects Wider Woes of Rural Employment Scheme Workers By , October 15 2024

India is among very few developing countries to have a rural employment guarantee scheme. Apart from providing employment during the lean farm work season, this scheme can make a big contribution to important needs like water and soil conservation. Workers

Japan’s New Government By , October 15 2024

On October 1, Shigeru Ishiba was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister. The government resigned in full and the new head immediately started forming his cabinet. These changes were expected, since the day before Ishiba won the election of

Australia’s Labor, Coalition Push Toxic AUKUS Nuclear Waste Law Through By , October 15 2024

Labor and the Coalition teamed up on October 10 to push through another law to facilitate its controversial AUKUS nuclear submarine plan.

NSW Green Senator David Shoebridge said the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Act 2024 will allow high-level naval

Australia’s Nuclear Future and the Legal Ramifications of Ratifying TPNW By and , October 15 2024

5 March marks the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, LSJ speaks to Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) about the reasons Australia has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of

Australian Senator Unleashed Absolute Hell Over the Global COVID Scam By , October 09 2024

“We know and we knew this was all bullshit.”

Listen to Australian Senator Malcolm Roberts unleash absolute hell over the Global Covid Scam.

“People are waking, we are going to hound you down – the people that are guilty.”

“It

Jailing Peace Protesters in Japan: Lessons From the “Tent Village” Case By , October 09 2024

Abstract

This article describes the arrest and prosecution of three peace protesters during the Iraq War era.  It places these events within the broader context of the campaign to revise Japan’s Constitution, especially Article 9, to allow for the deployment

Urgency of Checking Fast-Increasing Risks of Land-Subsidence By , October 04 2024

On May 1 this year a highly tragic incident on a highway in Guangdong province of China received worldwide attention. Over 20 cars fell down one after the other in very quick succession as an 18 meter section of a

Handmaiden to the Establishment: Peter Greste’s Register of Journalists By , October 04 2024

When established, well fed and fattened, a credible professional tires from the pursuit.  One can get complacent, flatulently confident, self-assured.  From that summit, the inner lecturer emerges, along with a disease: false expertise.

The Australian journalist Peter Greste has faithfully

Might v Right in the South China Sea: The Tension Between China and the Philippines By , October 02 2024

The dispute in the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS) has been dragging on for years. It involves several Southeast Asian countries plus China. The Philippines has asserted its rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) — local term for the

Presidential Marxism: AKD and the Sri Lankan Elections By , October 01 2024

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, known with convenient laziness as AKD, became Sri Lanka’s latest president after a runoff count focusing on preferential votes.  The very fact that it went to a second count with a voter turnout of 77% after

Bangladesh’s Western-appointed Leader and “Youth Leaders” Take Victory Lap at Clinton Global Initiative in US By , September 30 2024

Muhammad Yunus, benefiting from years of US backing has assumed leadership over Bangladesh after US-backed regime change earlier this year;

He introduces “youth leaders” he was clearly working with throughout the unrest, noting how secretive the movement’s leadership was;

Traveling

China’s Rail Diplomacy in Southeast Asia By , September 26 2024

Abstract

After a decade of effort, China has established its geopolitical influence in Southeast Asia through its rail projects, which will grow further as more lines are completed. Chinese rail projects, especially those involving high-speed rail (HSR) systems, are and

Australian Campus Life Killers: Ending Face-to-Face Lectures By , September 26 2024

The bells are tolling for the demise of the university classroom – at least its physical manifestation. Administrative barbarians are readying their knives and brandishing their drivel-fed visions about pedagogy, a word they scant define, let alone spell.  They find

India’s Military Support to Israel Is a Hideous Mistake By , September 25 2024

It came as a disappointment that the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud dismissed a joint petition filed by a distinguished group of intellectuals that the supply of arms from India to the Israeli military during

Socialist Alliance Condemns Australia’s Abstention on UN Motion to End to Zionist Occupation of Palestine By , September 25 2024

By abstaining on the latest United Nations General Assembly resolution against Israel’s occupation of Palestine, the Australian government has failed Palestinian people, international law and to support peace and justice in the world, Socialist Alliance national co-convenor Sam Wainwright told 

US Starts Arms Race in the Indo-Pacific Region. The Deployment of Typhon Missile Systems in Japan By , September 24 2024

The United States’ plans to deploy Typhon missile systems in Japan represent a significant escalation in military strategy within the Indo-Pacific region. This move, coming in the wake of the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, raises numerous

If You Remember This Man, Your Faith in Peace Will Never Die By , September 23 2024

These are difficult times for those who believe firmly in creating a world based on peace. Every day the world appears to be drifting more and more towards conflicts and even the threat of the third world war. In these

Beyond Irritation: Bali’s Tourism Scourge By , September 17 2024

Like eager lice on a ripe scalp, tourists have become a much-reviled feature of various economies.  While cash and contributions come in their wake, such an industry depletes, drains and pollutes the very site it idealises.  International tourism does

Australia’s Childish Fantasies: Age Verification for Social Media By , September 16 2024

The Australian government has been in a banning mood of late.  In keeping with an old, puritanical tradition, the killjoys and wowsers have seized the reins of power and snorting a good deal while doing so.  In important matters such

The Anatomy of Philippine Religiosity: A Christo-Paganistic Influence on Filipino Culture By , September 12 2024

Philippine religiosity is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon deeply rooted in a blend of Christian and pre-Christian beliefs. This syncretic nature, often termed “Christo-Paganistic,” has had profound effects on Filipino culture, shaping various aspects of life in ways that are

Protecting the Merchants of Death: The Australian Police Effort for Land Forces 2024 By , September 12 2024

September 11.  Melbourne.  The scene: the area between Spencer Street Bridge and the Batman Park-Spencer Street tram stop. Heavily armed police, with glinting face coverings and shields, had seized and blocked the bridge over the course of the morning, preventing

The Philippine Justice System: Dehumanizing the Weak, Glorifying the Powerful By , September 10 2024

The Philippine justice system has long been criticized for its deeply entrenched flaws, particularly in how it deals with different segments of society. For decades, marginalized groups and leftist political activists have found themselves on the receiving end of a