Over the past six months, Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen has begun to rapidly consolidate control over his country in the lead up to scheduled 2018 parliamentary elections.
On November 26-27, the Sixth Summit of the Heads of Governments of China and the sixteen countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe took place in Budapest, marking the fifth anniversary since the establishment of the 16+1 platform. The meeting itself was business as usual. At the same time, unlike in the past, this Summit gained unprecedented coverage in international media, with skeptical and critical takes on China-CESEE relations dominating the discourse.
“China has become a new option for PNG when it seeks external opportunities for economic and development cooperation. It has become a bargaining chip for the island country in acquiring more aid and benefits from traditional donors”.
The Philippines’ relations with China have recently experienced turbulence, with the occurrence of various controversies and disputes. The issues behind development projects have cast doubts on the integrity of Chinese investments and revealed the venality of Philippine institutions. Moreover, the fiery and contentious maritime row between the two countries has led to the deterioration of bilateral ties. These long-standing hostilities have brought diplomatic relations to their lowest point since they were established in June 1975.
[IT] Nel corso degli anni 2000, il deterioramento della sicurezza in mare ha suscitato sempre maggiori preoccupazioni, tanto a livello globale quanto nazionale. Il riemergere di fenomeni come la pirateria o l’acuirsi di tensioni geopolitiche rappresentano infatti sfide complesse, che richiedono risposte trasversali, coinvolgendo svariati attori a più livelli. Il numero di Human Security che va a chiudere il 2017 si occupa quindi di sicurezza marittima, offrendo ai lettori approfondimenti e analisi di questioni che raramente sono oggetto di dibattito pubblico, specialmente in Italia: antipirateria, sicurezza privata, potenze marittime e libertà dei mari.