Current Affairs

analysis of world events

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  • Europe’s vision of China

    Ursula Von de Leyen, the leader of the European Commission argues that ‘China is becoming more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad.’ She says that China has turned the page on an era of reform and opening and ‘is moving into an era of security control.’ This is certainly different from the language that has…

  • Power politics

    Beijing has made an argument for the cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. But underlying it are a number of issues that will not end the war at the present moment. IN their plan they argue for an immediate end to the fighting and for peace talks to begin. But that would leave Ukraine…

  • President Xi’s visit to Russia

    China has argued in their twelve point peace plan that territorial integrity is paramount. They argue that the war should end and that the integrity of Ukraine should be respected under the United Nations recognition of its borders. Putin argues that the war will continue because he has now signed agreements with China for trade.…

  • Does China have a say in Ukraine

    China has a role in the conflict in Ukraine, but surprisingly it is a role determined by the values that it shares with Russia. China is now Russia’s largest client for gas and oil production. The market is now valued at $250 billion, but when compared to the trade Russia had with Europe, it is…

  • The world is reeling

    While the world is still reeling from Putin’s so called special police operation in Ukraine a year ago, Diplomats were left clutching their sides in bellyaches of laughter, after the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of attacking Russia. This so called recalling of the special police operation into a farce that is reminiscent…

  • Snapshot of Russian oil

    Russia is the third largest oil producer in the world, accounting for 13 percent of world crude oil production (Breugel). The industry was privatised after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but has moved into government control over the past fifteen years. West Siberia and Volga-Ural oil and gas are the main geographical concentration where…