By Julian Fischer-Lhamon The Turkic peoples have long been separated politically as well as geographically by Russia, Persia, and the Caspian Sea. In spite of, or rather because of, this separation, a great sense of Turkic identity has spread and survived over the centuries between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia. Although Turkish nationalists have dreamed... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Williams Last week China sent all three of its aircraft carriers to sea. The simultaneous sea deployment of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) demonstrates the growing capabilities of Chinese seapower. The Liaoning sailed in the Philippines Sea while the Shandong operated near Hainan island. Both 60,000+ ton vessels operated with full carrier... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as president of Sri Lanka last week in a political upset against an opponent that citizens blamed for failing to alleviate economic suffering. Dissanayake’s campaign focused on support for economic growth and renegotiating a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would help ease economic... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean Last month university students led demonstrations that escalated into mass protests calling for the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s rule. After fifteen years of power, the Prime Minister fled Bangladesh to India. Hasina’s government was accused of human rights abuses, beatings, and utilizing teargas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition during these protests. A... Continue Reading →
By Julian Fischer-Lhamon After fourteen years, a German Chancellor has finally visited Kazakhstan again. Olaf Scholz’s visit was highly anticipated, with groundwork being laid already last year with a visit by Germany’s foreign minister and president. Scholz met with not only Kazakhstan's president, Tokayev, but also leaders of the other central Asian countries. Despite other... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Williams On September 20 the Chinese and Japanese governments announced an agreement to eventually restart Japanese seafood exports to China. This announcement marks progress in China’s easing opposition to Japan’s release of water from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean in 2023. Both China and Russia enacted seafood import bans on Japan... Continue Reading →
By Julian Fischer-Lhamon Historically, tensions between Turkey and Russia have remained tense over the centuries. Their shared interest in the Black Sea, the Crimea, and Russia’s desire for unrestricted access to the Mediterranean have led to them facing off against each other in the Crimean War, the First World War, and very nearly again in... Continue Reading →
By Lexi Dean On Friday North Korea shared photos showing Kim Jong Un with scientists and military personnel surrounded by centrifuges used to enrich uranium. An analyst for South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies estimated about one thousand centrifuges in the photos which is roughly the number needed to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for... Continue Reading →
Written by Lexi Dean | April 22, 2024 Real estate businesswoman, Truong My Lan, was sentenced to death last week over her role in Vietnam’s largest fraud case. Death penalties are not uncommon in Vietnam’s system, but they are rare in financial cases. She was arrested in 2022 after illegally controlling Saigon Joint Stock Commercial... Continue Reading →
Written by Kevin Williams | April 8, 2024 Sky Sword II missile On April 9 Taiwan’s military is scheduled to test their new mobile air defense system, the Sky Sword II (locally called Tien Chien II). The Sky Sword II system comprises of wheeled ground vehicles equipped with missile firing units (MFU). Taiwan’s new system,... Continue Reading →
The Patterson Journal of International Affairs 