The World Views

For centuries, humanbeings have exploited the planet for the sake of  development, and we have to accept that our planet is now taking its revenge against us. Of course, our next generation will face a terrifying future and not able to be safe anymore.  A new study , led by former MIT research scientist Eun-Soon Im , revealed last August that South Asia, which is one of the poverty-hit regions and a home to 1.5  billion  people, will become the hottest place on earth to live by 2100. And people will be endangered. It also forecasts that a mass migration will emerge and bloody conflicts, of course, are inevitable. The countries like India and China are known as the biggest carbon emitters or the biggest air polluters, and are deemed to be contributing to this humanitarian  catastrophe .  Asides from extreme weather, India is now facing another security thereat, which is running out of ground water, and this will heavily affect 600 million...

(Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN)  While addressing the World Economic Forum in Cambodia in May, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as the ASEAN chair said that ASEAN countries needed to work together to ensure a drug-free and a terror-free region. It seems that the Philippines keeps human security as the key priority for this regional grouping as it turns 50 this year. The recent clashes between Philippine government forces and Islamic State-inspired militant group “Maute” in Marawi City, followed by Jakarta’s suicide bombing that killed five people, drew more attention that indicates the region is in urgent need for a more effective joint mechanisms to cope with new security challenges especially the rise of terrorism and extremism, that currently posed a major threat to ASEAN community and its unity. Among the militants that were killed in Marawi city were Malaysian and Indonesian citizens, an indication that extremists operations was actually engaged and coordinated be...

During US presidential debates last year, Afghanistan was only mentioned once by the  nominees, and it seems the new administration has no clear policy and strategy to address the decade-long conflict still raging there.  There is major concern by Afghans that the administration of President Donald Trump will completely withdraw from Afghanistan and end its unconditional support for the Kabul government. His “America First” rhetoric generally creates more doubts about US retreat from major conflicts worldwide.  In a recent open letter, written by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, he urged Mr. Trump to leave Afghanistan. The letter, according to Al Jazeera , accuses the US of having achieved nothing in 15 years of war in Afghanistan, warning that peace can only be achieved when all  foreign forces have  completely pulled out. Mujahid stated that "the responsibility to bring to an end this war also rests on your [Trump's] shoulders.” Twelve ...

Southeast Asian nations Cambodia and Laos decided to decline official visits proposed by DPRK diplomatic Chief in July—a move that indicates North Korea’s regional allies tried to distance themselves from the regime due to its provocative actions including missile and nuclear tests.  North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho initially intended to make an official visit to Cambodia and Laos during his trip to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Laos in July, but his proposal was rejected by both countries, which have close ties with the DPRK.  The Forbes magazine quoted a document, which was written by an unidentified former North Korean official, as saying that Ri's "attempted ... official" visits to Laos and Cambodia in July 2016 were “rejected.  Cambodia and Laos have been known as traditional allies of North Korea, but the regime’s recent provocative actions have pushed these countries to forge closer cooperation with South Korea. In June, South Korea...

Egypt abruptly requested the United Nation Security Council for the delay of vote on resolution regarding Israeli settlement on Thursday apparently after President-elect Donald Trump had urged Obama administration to block the resolution.  UNSC originally was due to vote on Egyptian-drafted resolution which demands Israel to immediately and completely halt its illegal resettlement program in Palestinian territory and east Jerusalem. It was not clear how long the postponement would last, but it is reported by Reuters that Donald Trump held phone talk with Egypt’s strongman Abdel Fattah el-Sisi before delaying the UNSC vote.   “U nfair to all Israelis” Recently, Israeli government also called upon the US administration to vote against the resolution. In response, President-elect Donald Trump, who also promised to recognize Israel's illegal annexation of east Jerusalem, Obama administration to veto the resolution, adding that "it puts Israel in a very poor negotiating ...

The longest ruling leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein was captured today in 2003 after spending more than 9 months hiding himself from the targeting of the US. Saddam came to power and served as the Iraqi president from 1979 to 2003. In Mach 2003, after accusing Iraqi government of secretly producing weapon of mass destruction and committing crimes against humanity, the US administration, under the presidency of George W. Bush, decided to invade Iraq. In 2005, Saddam was found gu ilty of crimes against humanity and then was sentenced to death by hanging. However, the weapon of mass destruction was never found in Iraq as accusation of the US. The American invasion of Iraq has sparked controversy over the existence of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant or Daesh. There have been anti western rhetorics saying that the US-led military intervention in Iraq helped create Daesh. --- -Shia-Sunni split and the rise of ISIL There are two groups in Iraq such as Sunni minority and Shia majo...

" During the war, you have to reduce the ship to the shore. You don't run away because there is a war unless Syrian people want you to leave. If I am the reason of the war, I will leave," Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to be remembered as the man who saved Syria if his war-torn nation could strive to put an end to the bloodiest civil war. Iranian intelligence official was quoted as saying by Russian stated owned media Sputnik that President Assad has refused safe heaven provided by Tehran, where he could safely hide and command his army at home. But he stubbornly decided to stay in Damascus. In late February, US and Russia brokered a cessation of hostilities aimed to hinder fighting in Syria, paving the way for peace talks, but Assad's fate has still remained controversial since the West demands Assad to step down while Putin reiterates that Assad's future and Syrian internal affairs must be decided by Syrians ...

India is moving East to woo China's rivals in South China Disputes, and it is the time that India should arm them to counter the rise of China.         [Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Vietnamese Communist Party on Saturday on his two-day tour to Vietnam.] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Vietnam "a strong pillar of India's Act East Policy" during his meeting with Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Saturday before heading to China to participate in G20 summit. He added,"our bilateral ties are based on strong mutual trust, and understanding, and convergence of views on various  regional  and international issues." Act East Policy, transformed from "Look East", was launched in 2014 under the leadership of PM Modi. The policy aims at developing comprehensive cooperation with Asia Pacific nations in various fields including economic, politics an d...

During a Foreign Policy address in Ohio on Monday, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump pledged to his supporters that he would end the so called “Nation Building” and “Regime Change” strategies, vowing to establish more partnership with other foreign allies and moderate Islamic countries in an effort to fight against extremist ideologies. “[When] I become a President, the era of nation building will be brought to a very swift and decisive end, and new approach, whi ch will be shared by both parties in United States, by our allies oversea and by our friends in the Middle-East, must be to halt [radical Islam],” said Donald Trump. "Our current strategy of nation building and regime change is a proven, absolute failure" Trump seems to be right at this time pointing out the failure of American foreign policy which focuses too much on nation building and regime change. Generally, the terrible mess in Middle East emerged when some western countries tried to in...

( Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev walks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen during his official visit to Cambodia last November  )  Russian President Vladimir Putin inviting ten ASEAN leaders to Russia to attend the ASEAN-Russia summit in Sochi in May is seen as a historic and as a reaffirming of a new commitment of Russian government toward strengthening the relations with this regional bloc. The Russia-ASEAN Summit, which will be held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the official dialogue partnership between ASEAN and Russia, is very important in itself since it  will be serving as a very special forum to discuss some very important  topics such as energy, defense cooperation, food security and disaster prevention and relief. The summit proposed by Russian government essentially illustrates the new effort and commitment of Russian government to get closely engaged with the countries in the Asia Pacifi...

(Phnom Penh,Cambodia. Photo: Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Facebook) Cambodians have struggled to rebuild and transform the country from the killing field to the land of hope after having gone through 2 decade long civil war. This country could fully realize peace in 1998, almost 5 years after the UN-backed and first democratic election was held, by integrating Khmer Rouge solders into the society. Since then, the kingdom has strived to apply for a member of various international and regional organizations, paving the way for the rapid growth by receiving the international community's assistance. Almost 2 decades now Cambodia has so far been able to sustain its growth basing upon agricultural sector, light industry and green industry, known as tourism, and Cambodians enjoy the so called negative peace, which is the absence of war and stability. Actually, peace and stability become the centerpiece for the country's growth and contribute the increase in number of fore...

Syrian civil war already enters into the fifth year as it has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions of people to flee the country. This country has also become the save heaven for international terrorist groups including ISIL or Daesh, Nusra Font, and many other.  Syrian crisis is no longer a civil war but a proxy war, which many countries have their dirty hands in. And of course, many involving parties including regional and super powers have complicated the peace process. But yesterday became the landmark event when Russian Foreign Minister and US Secretary of State brought together a peace plan to United Nation Security Council with an aim to bring Syrian rivals to negotiation table. Before the adoption of resolution, UN’s secretary general Ban Ki-moon told the council that Syria is in ruins, convincing all members that it is the time to take concrete action. And eventually, the peace plan was adopted unanimously by 15 members of the Council. General...