The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
The Elimination: A Survivor of the Khmer Rouge Confronts His Past and the Commandant of the Killing Fields
English Summary
This account examines the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, arguing that the horrific violence was driven by individual choices and culpability, rather than merely systemic orders. Using personal narratives, the work details the suffering of victims and confronts perpetrators, such as Comrade Duch, who are shown to have actively chosen their path into becoming agents of violence. The central finding is that accountability must be focused on individual responsibility, emphasizing that perpetrators retained agency and choice even within a brutal regime. For policy, this underscores the critical importance of transitional justice mechanisms and individual criminal prosecution when addressing historical mass atrocities.
中文摘要
本研究考察了紅色高棉的暴行，主張其殘酷的暴力源於個體的選擇和罪責，而非僅僅是體制性的命令。該著作透過個人敘事，詳述了受害者的苦難，並直面了行為者，例如杜奇（Comrade Duch），指出他們是主動選擇走上成為暴力執行者的道路。核心發現是，問責制必須聚焦於個體責任，強調即使在殘酷的政權下，行為者仍保有能動性和選擇權。對於政策層面而言，這突顯了在處理歷史性大規模暴行時，過渡正義機制和個體刑事起訴的重要性。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Chatham House analysis concludes that the UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will be viewed by NATO allies as a mixed bag, primarily due to its failure to commit to higher GDP spending targets. However, the plan signals critical strategic improvements by emphasizing novel technologies—such as autonomous systems and digital infrastructure—and enhancing readiness. Crucially, the DIP adopts an international focus through major collaborative programs (e.g., AUKUS, GCAP) and establishes a new National Armaments Director Group (NADG). This structural shift toward flexible, portfolio-based collaboration is strategically valuable for NATO allies seeking reliable partners as US conventional forces reduce their European presence.
-
3.
The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.
-
4.
Myanmar has collapsed into Asia’s deadliest conflict, marked by massive economic collapse, widespread famine, and extreme brutality from the military junta. Despite this catastrophic humanitarian crisis, international actors—including major powers and regional blocs like ASEAN—are largely ignoring or withdrawing support for democratic forces. This neglect allows the junta to consolidate power, receiving critical military aid from authoritarian allies such as Russia and Belarus. Policy implications suggest that global indifference is enabling a failed state environment, making Myanmar a highly volatile flashpoint whose instability threatens broader Indo-Pacific security.
-
5.
The Brookings analysis finds that EdTech scaling efforts in South and Southeast Asia often fail because decision-making prioritizes immediate motivation and feasibility over long-term sustainability and evidence, risking increased educational inequity. The core recommendation is for policymakers to shift focus from adopting specific products to defining clear learning purposes and measuring impact rigorously. To ensure lasting improvements, strategies must include strengthening local institutional capacity through teacher training, designing innovations for low-resource settings, and ensuring contextual relevance across the system. Ultimately, sustainable EdTech adoption requires a commitment to evidence-based policy that prioritizes equity alongside technological access.