In 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan launched the New Southbound policy. The New Southbound Policy was meant to “…realign Taiwan’s role in Asian development, seek new directions and momentum for the country’s new stage of economic development, and create future value.”This Taiwanese policy aims to establish a relationship between Taiwan and the 10 ASEAN countries, as well as six countries in South Asia including India, Australia and New Zealand.

China’s foreign policy exerts a certain weight in the international community, and many have, in fact, likened the country to a superpower within the Asia region. However, like superpowers of the past and present, it cannot rely on just military and economic strength alone, but must also possess considerable “soft power”, manifested in what is referred to as Beijing’s “charm offensive”.

It is no secret that China is fast expanding its influence within the Southeast Asian region as it attempts to win over nations by offering lucrative pipelines of investment and credit. Thus far, the principle benefactor of Beijing’s actions is Cambodia, which hasn’t been shy to admit that China is the country’s “most trustworthy friend.” However, often overlooked in this game of regional geopolitics is the landlocked country of Lao PDR.

In December last year, Sri Lanka formally handed over its strategic port of Hambantota to China on a 99-year lease after failing to pay its debt to Chinese firms. The port was first developed in 2008 with the financial backing of Chinese banks. However, it soon developed a reputation as a white elephant due to mounting losses.

The great powers of the world share one thing in common: a desire for progress and the proper execution of that particular ideal. For China, a global behemoth in its own right, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is its own vision, which has now manifested into a political, social, and economic reality. At its most basic, this gargantuan plan is an expression of China’s desire to build on trade relations with both Asia and Europe.

International politics are looming large over the race among global investment banks to secure coveted permits for taking majority stakes in Chinese securities joint ventures (JVs).Switzerland’s UBS Group AG and Nomura Holdings Inc. of Japan in the past week became the first to apply for permission to buy 51 percent stakes in local securities JVs.

The World Bank will scale back loans to China. No matter, China wins anyway.That's because China will boost its shareholding in the Washington-based lender, under a capital increase approved by bank members late last month. The U.S. and Japan will each see their stakes trimmed a tad, though they will remain the two biggest voting shares.The World Bank was created by wealthy countries in 1944, to rebuild a war-shattered world and to reduce global poverty by lending to developing nations.

The relationship between India and China over the past two years has not been very smooth. The two countries have not seen eye-to-eye on several major issues. These issues range from China’s growing influence over the region through its infrastructure projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, border disputes and more. When China launched its ambitious BRI project last year with various heads of state in attendance, India decided to boycott the event by not attending.

Longstanding smartphone market leader in Southeast Asia, Samsung Electronics has been dethroned. According to latest data by the International Data Cooperation (IDC), Chinese smartphone manufacturers, Huawei, OPPO and Vivo have collectively edged out the Korean smartphone giant in 2017.Last year, Samsung shipped a total of 29.3 million smartphones, garnering a market share of around 29.1 percent.

Back in March, 2017, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was described by the international media as being broad and comprehensive, involving policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people connections. Notwithstanding, many foreign analysts claimed that this initiative is Chinese president Xi Jinping’s attempt to gain political leverage over his neighbours, including the fast-growing Southeast Asia region.