Why Cambodia Has Started Distancing Itself From Vietnam (February 5, 2025, The Diplomat) (Subscription required)
In the year and a half since Hun Manet’s succession, the new government has begun to articulate its priorities, including one notable shift in policy – Cambodia’s apparent deviation from its close relationship with Vietnam.
Hamas frees 6 hostages but questions cloud the future of the Gaza ceasefire (February 22, 2025, The Associated Press)
Hamas on Saturday released the last six living hostages under the first phase of its ceasefire with Israel with a week remaining, as growing questions over the next phase clouded the future of the fragile deal.
What Is ASEAN? (January 15, 2025, Council on Foreign Relations)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization that brings together disparate neighbors to address economic and security issues, but the group’s impact remains limited.
As Georgia slides into authoritarianism, protesters vow to keep fighting Russian pivot (February 15, 2025, CNN)
Two years ago, two days of protests were enough to force Georgia’s government into an embarrassing U-turn. It had tried to introduce a “foreign agents” bill but backed down after fierce demonstrations sparked by the bill’s first reading. But the protesters’ victory was short-lived. The government revived the bill last year – and this time would not back down. The parliament approved it in May, despite huge opposition on the streets.
An Existential Oval Office Moment for Jordan—and All Arabs (February 14, 2025, Arab Center Washington DC)
More than any other recent event in the Middle East, this meeting’s content, body language, and implications exposed the deeper Arab and Middle Eastern existential realities that are largely ignored by the superficial analyses of the western and Israeli mainstream media and political elites. These existential realities relate to the behavior and condition of Jordan and other Arab states, the Palestinians, Israel, and the United States in the region.
Hundreds of foreigners freed from Myanmar's scam centres (February 13, 2025, BBC)
More than 250 people from 20 nationalities who had been working in telecom fraud centres in Myanmar's Karen State have been released by an ethnic armed group and brought to Thailand.
China’s stunning new campaign to turn the world against Taiwan (February 9, 2025, The Economist)
China’s latest diplomatic push appears to be designed to secure global support for its broadening campaign of coercion against Taiwan. That campaign includes the threat of imposing a quarantine or inspection regime on Taiwan (huge Chinese military drills in October practised a blockade).
China, the West, and the Global Culture War (February 9, 2025, Hungarian Conservative)
‘Debates connected to the culture war, including even on such amorphous issues as the West’s slide into spiritual nihilism or the loss of its inner will, are directly relevant to international politics and even international security. Western strategic thinkers must take these issues into account just as analysts in Beijing or Moscow do. To do otherwise would be a potentially dangerous mistake.’
DeepSeek: how China’s embrace of open-source AI caused a geopolitical earthquake (February 12, 2025, The Conversation)
This story is not just about technological prowess – it could mark an important shift in global power. Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has framed DeepSeek’s emergence as a “shot across America’s bow”, urging US policymakers and tech executives to take immediate action.
MSC: Can China replace the US as world leader? (February 16, 2025, Deutsche Welle)
As Donald Trump removes the United States from international forums, China is expected to move into the gap. But is China capable of replacing the US? And does it even want to?
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Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio
Blessing Asia
In October-2022 more than 500 Christian leaders from across Asia gathered in Thailand for the Asia 2022 Congress, sponsored by the Lausanne Movement and various partnering organizations. I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress virtually and was mightily blessed. From Bible exposition to K-pop worship, and through seminars and workshops, the participants were encouraged by the stories of what God is doing in countries all over Asia. Clearly, God is on the move.
A beautiful vision was portrayed in a video of the popular worship song The Blessing, featuring singers from all over Asia. Here it is:
Many of the sessions have already been posted on their website and to their YouTube channel.
One that I found particularly helpful considering all that is going on in China was a presentation titled Church and State Relationship in Asia Today. You can see the video here.
I encourage you to spend some time on their website; there are fantastic resources for understanding God’s work in Asia today.
Original link: https://www.chinasource.org/resource-library/blog-entries/blessing-asia/
Image credit: Andrea Brucker, via Unsplash
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