Uncertainty clouds Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN (May 16, 2025, East Asia Forum)
Timor-Leste's admission into ASEAN remains undecided due to concerns about its economic, social and geopolitical conditions, despite potential benefits of eased market access, security, regional socialisation and the potential to boost its economic growth and modernisation efforts.
Oct. 7 massacre aimed to block Israel-Saudi deal, documents reveal (May 18, 2025, Ynetnews)
An 'extraordinary act' is needed to prevent such an agreement, according to minutes of a high-level meeting held days before the attack, uncovered in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza; Yahya Sinwar says a normalization deal would marginalize the Palestinian cause.
Afghanistan isn’t what you think – But it’s still on the brink: Mohseni (May 12, 2025, Alarabiya News)
Three years after the chaotic and abrupt US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the country remains under Taliban control – but the worst fears of a complete collapse have not come to pass. According to Saad Mohseni, founder of the Moby Group, the country is not as isolated or dysfunctional as many assume. Yet a litany of challenges remains, including economic collapse, humanitarian crises, and a lack of inclusive governance.
Myanmar’s earthquake devastated the war-torn nation. For its reviled military leaders, it has brought opportunity (May 2, 2025, CNN)
Earthquakes are devastating for those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods, but for military dictators clinging to power, such disasters can also bring opportunity.
The perpetual horizon: Armenia, Azerbaijan and prospects for peace (May 16, 2025, European Council on Foreign Relations)
Armenia and Azerbaijan have never been so close to peace—but bilateral issues and geopolitical complications mean a new escalation is still possible. The EU needs to use what levers it has to help the two countries ensure the former comes to pass.
How China Has Responded to Southeast Asia’s ‘Scamdemic’ (May 20, 2025, The Diplomat) (Subscription required)
Since the rise of this “scamdemic,” China’s response has been confusing. Beijing has ample reasons to crack down on these operations, due to the “negative publicity they generate affects China’s image, reputation, and influence in Southeast Asia.” However, there has been a great deal of variation in where China has intervened to quash scam operations – and how.
The End of Extended Deterrence in Asia? (May 22, 2025, Foreign Affairs)
For Chinese leaders, U.S. extended deterrence is not a defensive strategy but part of a broader effort by the United States to contain and even roll back China’s rise. Beijing also dismisses the idea that extended deterrence exists because U.S. allies want it. Rather, Chinese officials see Washington’s strategy as an imposition on Australia, Japan, South Korea, and others that, in Beijing’s view, belong in China’s rightful sphere of influence.
How Beijing is using pop culture to win the soft power war (May 25, 2025, Business Mirror)
The spectacle of a young American burnishing China’s image to Western audiences is hugely significant as it provides an example of how soft power norms have been upended in recent years–and how China appears to be having some success in winning over the global youth.
China’s 2025 National Security White Paper: ‘Holistic Security’ Amid Rising Global Tensions (May 16, 2025, The Diplomat) (Subscription required)
“National Security in the New Era” will see the CCP expanding its “absolute” leadership over a wide variety of domains. It’s not hard to understand why, given the heightened global uncertainty in the Asia-Pacific region, marked by changing power equations, technological competition, and ongoing flashpoints from the Taiwan Strait to the South China Sea.
US-China Relations in the Trump 2.0 Era: A Timeline (May 14, 2025, China Briefing)
The Trump administration has lowered the de minimis tariff rate on parcels from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong from 120 percent to 54 percent, aligning with the recent US-China agreement to reduce reciprocal tariffs.
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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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