China’s Claim To Taiwan And The Rethinking Of Status Quo
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te stated that it is “impossible” for the People’s Republic of China to become Taiwan’s motherland. China’s desire to claim Taiwan began shortly after the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan during the civil war. Xi Jinping, China’s president, has a vision that China will “surely
Addressing Demographic Transitions: Securing a Future for Children
On World Children’s Day, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released its flagship report, The State of the World’s Children 2024. This report delves into the pressing challenges that children may face by 2050. Among these challenges, global demographic shifts stand out as a transformative force reshaping childhood.
The Lasting Impact of U.S. Foreign Policy On Guatemala’s Struggle For A Strong Democracy
Following decades of governance by a vicious anti-communist military dictatorship, in 1985, Guatemala established a representative democracy. Despite the regime change, the country has continued to experience many social and political challenges, including corruption, high crime rates, and poverty. To fully understand the reasons for these issues, as well as
Türkiye’s Role In The Ongoing Israel-Hamas War
On September 2, 2024, a group of Turkish mobs, chanting “Yankee, Go Home,” assaulted two American marine officers. (The phrase “Yankee, Go Home” often symbolizes public anger against the US military and its imperial-like presence in other countries). The individuals responsible for the assault are part of the Turkish Youth
Weaponizing Language: How Strategic Rhetoric Undermines The Enforcement Of International Court Decisions
In the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, both sides have regularly used inflammatory language to misconstrue the nature of the conflict and promote their respective narratives and objectives. This manipulative language has become especially noticeable following rulings brought by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the judicial wing of the United Nations,
The Smog Dilemma: A Case for Bold Action in India and Pakistan
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution kills around 4.2 million people every year. Air pollution is one of the top leading factors for death, yet still, major reform has not been implemented. Recently, Punjab, a province of Pakistan, executed a health emergency caused by toxic smog covering
The Coming Disaster In The Euphrates-Tigris Basin
Water scarcity in the Middle East is a significant and growing issue, especially in places where multiple states share a water source. Since the 1960s, the three main consumers of water from the Euphrates-Tigris Basin, Türkiye, Iraq, and Syria, have experienced significant tension and conflict over water usage. Simultaneous development
A Shift in U.S.-Africa Relations? Trump’s Re-Election Sparks Concerns Over Foreign Policy Direction
On 5 November 2024, the United States of America held its highly anticipated presidential and Senate elections, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as the main candidates running for presidential office. Ultimately, with over 290 votes, Trump won the presidency while the Republicans also gained the majority in the Senate,
Mexico’s Constitutional Debate
On 30 October 2024, after the Mexican Senate passed a judicial reform that would change how judges are appointed, eight out of 11 Supreme Court justices resigned. Instead of being a justice for life, the controversial judicial reform declared that judges from all levels of government would now be elected
1,000 Days Of War In Ukraine: A Call For Peace And Reconciliation
The war in Ukraine has reached 1000 days since it began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated dramatically with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February of 2022. This has been the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, and it has devastated Ukraine. The conflict has led
Navigating Taiwan-China Tensions Amid Political Transition
On May 14, Taiwan reported Chinese military activity near the island. This comes at a particularly unique time, just a week before a new Taiwanese president takes office. Such military maneuvers, often termed “combat patrols,” are not unusual in the contested waters between Taiwan and China. Tensions have escalated notably
Closure Of Aid Corridor In Darfur: Navigating The Challenges Of Displacement, Conflict, And Humanitarian Aid
As the conflict between warring parties in Sudan extends into its second year, the resulting surge in population displacement has created the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. Nearly 2 million displaced Sudanese have fled to unstable regions in Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Violence erupted around El Fasher as the
South China Sea: Why Are China And Philippines Tensions Heating Up?
Tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea have escalated significantly, making the region a critical flashpoint. The core of the conflict lies in two highly contested maritime features within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which Beijing claims. These features include the Scarborough Shoal, rich
Key Takeaways: China’s XI European Tour to France, Serbia, and Hungary
On May 10, 2024, China’s President Xi Jinping concluded his first tour of Europe in five years, during which he advocated for a greater multipolar world while addressing trade investments amidst the Russia-Ukraine war. This tour was a symbolic time for China’s relationships with France, Serbia, and Hungary, as it
High Alert: The Future Of European Politics After The Attempted Assassination Of Slovakian P.M.
On 15 May 2024, Robert Fico, the longest-serving Prime Minister of Slovakia following his return to office last year, was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt after a political event in Handlova, a city in central Slovakia. The suspect was charged with premeditated murder by Slovakian authorities and is
