Indo-Pacific

Kishida’s Resignation and the October 2024 General Elections – A Turning Point in Japanese Politics?

With the announcement of Fumio Kishida’s leadership coming to an end after his resignation in August 2024, a sense of shifting political powers emerged in Japan. Kishida served as Japan’s Prime Minister (PM) between 2021 and 2024, leading the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The end of the Kishida administration aimed to bring a fresh start for Japan, leaving room for his successor Shigeru Ishiba to be appointed LDP leader, becoming the new PM on 1 October 2024. Soon after coming into office he called for a snap general election, which was held on 27 October 2024. With the result of the election leading to a political impasse and looming uncertainty, what can be expected of Japan’s political developments and the future of EU-Japan relations?

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Forging Ahead: Restoring EU-Philippines FTA Negotiations

In the complex geopolitical context shaping international dynamics — characterised by a plethora of (in)security dynamics, encompassing shifting alliances and global tensions — the significance of a solid partnership based on economic resilience and an increase of sustainable development has never been more relevant.

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Bamboo Diplomacy Meets 5G: Europe’s High-Stakes Bid on Vietnam’s Telecommunications Transformation

In January 2024, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved Vietnam’s sweeping Information And Communication (IC) Infrastructure Plan For The Period Of 2021 – 2030, With A Vision To 2050. With ambitious goals such as connecting 100% of households to fibre optic cable by 2025 and for “5G mobile broadband coverage to reach 99% of the population” by 2030, Vietnam has gone all-in on overhauling its domestic economic policy to become a technologically integrated, highly developed state with full sovereignty over its data within the next 30 years.

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EIAS contribution to the Scholars Programme on EU-ASEAN Relations (SPEAR)

On 28 February 2024 EIAS Director Lin Goethals contributed as a speaker to the “Scholars Programme on EU-ASEAN Relations (SPEAR)” organised by the Delegation of the European Union to ASEAN for researchers from the different countries in Southeast Asia. This Fourth Session of the Scholars Programme discussed the EU Strategy on the Indo-Pacific: A Regional Initiative to Complement ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

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