The trade relations between the Netherlands and China are currently being threatened by the Netherlands priority of national security as well as the US-China trade war. National security concerns and geopolitical conditions can and are shaping the semiconductor industry of the world.
China’s dominating influence of the global critical mineral markets poses a pressing threat to international supply chains. These minerals are vital for advanced technologies, from semiconductors to renewable energy. With a global energy transition reliant on critical minerals, their increased demand has provided Beijing a whip hand to utilise in other geopolitical spheres.
U.S. state governors are increasingly stepping onto the international stage, asserting themselves as key players in economic diplomacy and global policy. Traditionally confined to domestic issues, these leaders are now forging trade agreements, leading diplomatic missions, and building partnerships that directly shape international relations. Among them, California Governor Gavin Newsom.
North Korea’s reported deployment of troops to support Russia in the Ukraine war marks a significant shift in its global posture. What does this reveal about Pyongyang’s intentions, and how should the international community respond?
As Xi Jinping’s November visit to Brazil wrapped up, high-level talks between the two Global South giants expanded on a wide set of agreements. However, Xi’s visit also highlights a delicate and nuanced balancing game played by Brazil, fueled by domestic political struggles and the expectation of a second Trump tenure.
Beijing’s recent use of soft power to influence Taiwan has evolved to include a strategic focus on Taiwanese influencers, particularly those with a significant youth audience. While leveraging cultural events and celebrities for propaganda is not new, this approach represents a shift towards subtler, more pervasive tactics aimed at shaping the perceptions of Taiwan’s younger generation.
On July 24, 2024, a Sino-Russo bomber formation was patrolled in the Arctic Circle near Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone for the first time. While some might interpret the event as a move by the great powers to establish the Arctic’s military presence to contest future access to the Northern Sea Route and regional undersea resources amid climate change, the joint exercises reveal deeper security motivations. The findings show that the event is largely attributed to the intensifying military confrontations between global powers in other parts of the globe while also raising the risk of an arms race in the Arctic region. Future security studies warrant examining how great power struggles in non-Arctic regions might affect their military moves in the Arctic.
Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGO) have shaken the Philippines’ perception of its internal security amid allegations of linked violent crimes and espionage. For several months the ongoing situation created more questions than any of the country’s officials can answer. Such issues have led to calls to raise it as a national security threat. However, security agencies refuse to do so despite the issue’s overwhelming severity.
China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal while simultaneously accelerating the development of advanced missile systems. This dramatic shift from the country’s long-standing policy of minimum nuclear deterrence is raising questions among global security experts. Analysts are scrambling to understand what’s driving Beijing’s new nuclear ambitions.
The development of key maritime infrastructures in Peru has been lately in the eye of the storm. The case of the construction of the Port of Chancay within the Belt and Road Initiative has been presented as an extremely strategic infrastructure for Peru, while serving Chinese aims to access key raw materials and agricultural commodities markets in the region. Yet, disputes over Chinese state-owned Cosco Shipping exclusivity right over operations in the port and the increasing Chinese presence and control in other infrastructures in Peru have been criticised by the US. The Chinese foothold in the country is indeed seen as a menace to Peru’s national security.
