The absence of the supreme leader, the internal doubts about his presence, and the power divisions are making Iran a failing state, spreading chaos up to China. What will Beijing do? Iranian regime media have claimed that the emerging Iran-Oman deal would enable Iran to maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz. Still, many Americans […]
On July 22, the Holy See announced the episcopal ordination of Giuseppe Chang Yanfeng as the bishop of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China. Although others were expected, appointments related to the agreement with China continue, albeit at a snail’s pace. Last March, the two delegations met in Beijing in a cordial atmosphere, which contrasted with the […]
Realpolitik and power competition are strengthening the Myanmar military and reshaping regional and global geopolitics in a new direction. At stake is the fate of almost 4 billion people. At a special meeting in Bangkok on July 12, ASEAN decided to re-engage with the Myanmar Junta after a long diplomatic freeze following the February 2021 […]
Can Nixon’s 1971 analysis of China be helpful today? The country is very different from 55 years ago, but the American challenges could be just as important. On June 9, 1971, Henry Kissinger arrived in Pakistan with a delegation. Something he had eaten must have disagreed with him for he retired to his room with […]
Blowing up the World China, Trump, the Straits, and migration are tearing the world apart. We need a different way of looking at things. China is developing its own ‘independent’ view. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not an isolated episode but the latest in a series of blows to the global trade […]
Four humble suggestions for the American administration to restart bilateral ties on the right foot. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arriving in Rome on Thursday to meet with the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Pope Leo XIV. The apparent purpose is to mend relations after recent ruptures and friction. […]
The US and Iran have reached a plateau where they could really negotiate, as the power balance in Tehran evolves. Meanwhile, China’s game could be at a turning point, and the Pope is in it. In a twilight between war and peace, Iran may not yet have found its new dimension. The nation is in […]
